work; but this is not true. The training he gets acids ince].
culably to his ability to express himself. Nowhere else in
his college work can a man secure, if lie will, so much and so
good practice in writing its on the staff or his college paper•
Then too, if helakes a proper pride in his work, and does it
well, he gets not only the approbation of the student body,
but of all connected with, or interested in his college. Thor
ough and honest effort in any sphere deserve the plaudits
of the observer. This is especially true of our public serv
ant, the college editor. He works not so much for himself
as for the bode of students. The success he achieves goes
to their credit, so I say that ho deserves and should receive
nothing but encouragement from them.
It is necessary that with our rapid advancement in rank
and numbers, our successes in athletics, and our increased
facilities, of which we are so justly proud, should come a
correspondingly higher literary standard tor the LANOIL By
it we are judged, as we daily judge of our neigebors by their
periodicals. Do you think the LAINCH justly and fully rep_
resents us, and is keeping pace? If not, remember that in
your hands lies her future; you elect the staff and you, a•
lutnni included, are supposed to encourage them with items
of interest and by paying your subscription. If you can't
do this, don't discourage by depreciatory remarks or
letters. Aboveall, the students need to be careful in select
big the coming staff. It should be composed of not only the
oldest men but also of the most energetic men,—men who
can and will do the work. Too often is the honor of mem.
.bership given to the popular man, or along fraternity lines
resulting in a staff which cares nothing for its work, anti
does not do ns justice. Such foolishness cannot be too
deeply deplored.
Would you sacrifice in any degree the standing of your
alma mater for personal motives, or a petty fraternity feel,
ing? You say nay, yet we fear this is too often done. If
you would nnt, he careful in the selection of men-to repre_
sent you on the LANCE. Get tr,lent, but above all get oner
gy. I have nothing but pi also for those members of the
present staff who do their work. Some do it well indeed,
but the sluggard deserves our contempt. CARTOII.
THE greatest source of regret to a man after
spending four years at college is in the fact
that he has not made the most of his time
and his abilities. So many of the students idle
away the greater part of every evening, and never
give it more than a passing thought until it is too
late, and they have no way of changing their course.
Then comes the remorse from a sense of op
portunities neglected which so much displeases the
man who tries to review his college career. If
every one would stop to think, and decide for him
self whether he is coming up to his convictions of
what isright, and what is due to himself from him
self, there would be less of displeasing reflection on.
THE FREE LANCE.
a college life of dissipation and senseless indulgen
gences. Cowper says :
FOR the benefit of our successors we shall take
the liberty of paraphrasing the oft quoted
utterance of a well known man in his day—
Dr. Samuel Johnson.
Pin down your inspirations as fast as they come,
and at the close of the month you will be ready to
afflict a "suffering public" with a volubility not
equalled by your predecessors. Although this
policy has been in the main adhered to by the
present editors, a slight neglect of it has cost the
readers of the LANCE some of the choicest of literary
products.
It has seemed advisable, too, to drop several of
the subjects that were noted; namely ;—a brief re
view of Herbert Spencer's Philosophy of Style,—a
book every one who has found rhetoric a dull sub
ject ought to read and study; and, a review of
Gladstone's scheme for "Irish Autonomy." "See"!
However, if we .have learned anything from
FREE LANCE work, it is, that it is necessary to take
notes instantly when any subject presents itself.
It was because of failure to do this that the other
wise lugubrious pens of the assistant editors
failed to let down ink.
As will he seen in the local columns, the State
College has become one of the affiliated in
stitutions for the spread of University Ex
tension in America. The system originated in
England some twenty years since, but only after
several failures has it been successfully started here
within the past two years. Indeed, as yet, one may
question whether it will pass as a "fad," or will
take its place as a permanent educational move
ment as it has in England. However, there are in
llow readily , we wish time spent revoked,
That we might try the ground again, where once,
(Through inexperience us we now perceive)
IVe missed that happiness we might have found.
Catch on I Oh catch on,—
Grab the fleeting thought
Before it dies!