FROM the combined effect of low grades and faculty intervention, it has become an im portant question, before each game of foot ball on foreign grounds, whether or nut we can send our whole team to represent us. As to the justice of the ruling which might hinder some of our first team men from taking a trip, we will raise no question, but hope that we will soon be able to dispense with it, and that in the mean while it will cause us no serious trouble. Before a recent game, however, it seemed likely that it would do so, and remarks were heard from cer• tain quarters to the effect that it might be more .politic to cancel the garrie, reasoning no doubt that if the college could not be represented prop erly it should not be represented at all.. In other words we would be doing what we so often blamed and anathematized other colleges for do ing towards us. Right in line with these remarks, the LANCE received a letter recently which we here publish. Ir reads as follows : To the Editor of the Fexr, LANCE If I may be pardoned for trespassing on your time, I rle• sire to give expression to a thought which recent events have impressed upon my mind. According toaccounts, we have been the victims of broken engagements with the ath letic associations of at least three colleges during the pres• wit season. After dates had been made for engagetnents and the football management bad gone to certain expendl• tures on account of the same, the managements of these several teams proceed 1.) cancel their• dates and obligations as iid.htly as if there were neither legal, moral nor flnan• Wel principles involved, and for no real reason : though there was a curious coincidence in the w.thdrawal of two collegiate games immediately after our crushing defeat of Lafayette, and later the canceling of a game by the Uni. versily of Pennsylvania after its low scoring against the same team. I desire to ask if it is possible that college athletics have fallen to so low a moral standard that the managers for the teams representing institutions, which are presumed to be examples of rectitude for all conditions of men, can regard contracts so lightly as to set them aside for such frivolous reasons as have been advanced by them in extenuation of their acts? If so, no wonder that odium is heaped upon them in the public press. On the other hand, is it possible bat foot-ball and the other forms of athletics have so far become the ultimate end and not the means to an end that their devotees lack the true spirit of manliness—are cow ards, if you will -and will only play when compelled to after they find "they are in for it 7 1 If that is the ertpla• nation of the acts here complained of, then it is none too soon to now cut oir athletics as a college exercise. Then THE FREE LANCE. should the faculties limit the participation in sports of the field to the training of a good phsyique fortunately, however, I think that only a few colleges are so unforim nate as to harbor athletic organizat one whose reputations are of the nature indicated above. But it is deeply to be regretted that these tow managers fail to matt tice the high principles of honor and courage which would command the respect of all men. While no comment on the above is necessary, it being a full and true statement of facts, we wish merely to add that it is an example and timely warning to ourselves both as to our deal ings with others and the manner in which we are dealt by. We can profit by our past experience in canceled dates, and at the same time, let us not fall into the same error ourselves. THE tendency of most students pursuing en gineering courses at the College is to pay too little attention to literary work. IVhile technical studies are of prime importance to the engineer, still the literary branches are al so of great value. The student, who has ne glected his literary training cannot be said to be broadly educated. His education is one sided. He is conversant only with one particular tech nical branch of knowledge. Note the contrast with the student who has devoted at least part of his time to securing a general education. He has been able to do just as much technical work, and is the much more thoro s ughly educated man of the two. The literary training has been a source of profit .and of rest from the technical studies and his interest is kept awakened in both. The literary society with its declamation, de bate, and public speaki.ng is one of the best Means for securing a general training. The college library is another. Many ari • hour is spent in loafing or useless employment that could Le used to great advantage in this kind of work. THE account of the .Lafayette-State game in a recent number of the Lafayette was Euf ficiently. amusing from our point of view to insure for the sporting editor of the journal men AN Onssavirn
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