THE FREE LANCE.
Vol. VIIt
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:
E. P. Harder, '95. R. L. Mao Dona dd, ’95,
If. A. Kuhn, ’96. Lit. G. F. W. Hawi.uy, ’96. Loc.
F. A. llismi'hiu,, ’96. Ex. C. W. llardt, 97. Loc.
E. R. Hkii.io, '97. Per.
Business Manager, C. W. Burkett, ’95.
Asst. Business Man., G. M. McKee, ’96
C One Volume (9 mos. )
TERMS :< Single Copies,
(_ 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 be ad
dressed to the Business Manager.
Entered at State College Post Office as secondclass matter .
TOO much can not be said on the importance
of engineering societies to the student who
is pursuing a course in engineering, and
who intends to follow that vocation after leaving
college.
In most of the technical institutions of merit,
some such student organization exists, and the re
sults attained in them are certainly most gratify
ing. They afford the- widest scope for investiga
tion in each of the various branches of engineer
ing, whether it be civil, electrical, mechanical,
mining or chemistry ; net considering the vast
unexplored field which time alone can develop.
STATE COLLEGE, PA., FEBRUARY, 1895
We have here in our own institution ample fa
cilities for carrying on this branch of work. Our
two student societies, though fairly successful,
should be but the forerunners of a more extended
and vigorous movement in this direction.
Each department should have a society that
will bring out the best effort of all its members.
To be a success the societies must be interesting
and instructive, and they can be made so if every
man takes part in bringing this about.
Perhaps some would say, that studies and other
duties leave too little time to prepare a paper for
discussion. If this be true, in all probability ar
rangements could be made to have a certain time
allowed from the regular schedule for this pur
pose.
In one sense the engineering society is the link
which binds the scientific with the practical
truths. While it is said, “Science is, like virtue,
its own exceeding great reward,” still it is the ap
plication of the truths of science, to practice
which is demanding so much attention at the
present time. In the discussion of the engineer
ing problems of the day, in the review of the
leading scientific and engineering journals, in
original research, in the discussions themselves,
much valuable information and training is se
cured. The principles taken up in daily recita
tion are more easily understood after having seen
and discussed their action in actual every day use.
Then too, a valuable habit is acquired, that of
reading up and keeping posted on what is being
done in the engineering world, a habit which will
prove most useful after leaving college. No ine
lastic curriculum restricts the range of investigation
but on the other hand the utmost freedom exists.
Will there not then be a stronger incentive to
make the engineering societies what they rightly
deserve to be, a success?
No. 8.