THE FREE LANCE.
VoL. VIII.
THE .. FREE LANCE.
Published monthly during the college year by the Students
of the Pennsylvania State College.
STAFF:
EDITOR,
D. L. PATTERSON, '95
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
W. M. WHITTNN, '95.
H. A. KUHN, '96. Lit. Cr. F. W. HAwumir, '96. Loc.
F. A. Ilumpart.r., '96. Ex. C. W. limn, 97. Loc.
E. R. Henan, '97. Per.
Business Manager, DUNHAM BARYON, '95.
Assislant Manager, ALBERT C. Hoy '96.
1"
One Volume (9 0 mos.)
TERMS: Single Cofies, .
Payable in advance.
Contributions of matter and other information are requested
from all members and ex•members of the College.
Literary matter should be addressed to the Editor.
Subscriptions, and all business communications, should he ad•
dressed to the Business Manager.
Entered at State College Post Qifice as second class matter
THE same old thing that has been spoken of
so often in the LANCE, is again making it
self
. apparent, and this time more forcibly
than ever. We speak of the lack of interest in,
and degeneration of the • literary societies.
It is extremely unpleasant for us to take up the
old hue and cry on this one subject of all those that
come before the college calling man.
There was a time, now long past, when there
STATE COLLEGE, PA., MAY, 1894
R. L. MACDONALD, '9l
was a healthy rivalry between our literary societies,
and, as is always the case, this served to make
them better. Great interest was taken in the
work and much good literary work was done and
men were turned out from both societies who were
a credit to their society and their Alma Mater.
Every man who gives the subject a moment's
consideration, knows the good to be. derived from
literary societies and from partiCipation in any
kind of literary work. It gives : a man confidence
in himself, teaches him to express himself clearly
and correctly both in speaking and writing and
enables him, should the occasion ever present its
elf to stand before his fellow men and speak to
them intelligently and fearlessly on any subject
that the occasion demands. Men who cannot in
'these ways express themselves are always at a dis
advantage and always regret the neglect of their
opportunities.
We do not attempt to deny, for it is a fact too
self-evident that we have comparatively little
time to devote to literary work. This being a
technical school it must necessarily be so. For
this reason, particularly, we should take greater
interest in our societies. The time spent in the
study of our language is short. The amount of
literary work required of Us is small, and the on
ly way left for us to acquire correctness of expres
sion and self-possession before our fellows is by
work performed in society, in declamation, de
bate and oratory.
Every man must certainly realize the fact and
every one should reflect upon it and join one of
the societies. The trouble with us is not 'entirely
with the non-society ,students. • We have good
men in the societies, .but they are lazy or indiffer
ent. They either do„not attend meetings or do
not prepare good programes, and as a result the
society Might as well not be, for all the good they
get out of it.
No. 2.