three years for a position, and why cannot you do
the same ?
Again, we would cry for more men to furnish a
good strong second nine. No one can fail to
recognize the fact that a well organized second
nine is absolutely essential to the success of the
first. If we have an inefficient second, the first
team will lose just so much good practice. Then
too, the second team furnishes candidates from
whom are chosen men to fill vacancies on the first.
Nothing perhaps will do more to insure a pros
perous season to a representative college team,
either in base ball or general athletics than the ap
proval and support of the student body. The
first consideration is for men who are capable and
willing to train; the next is for the equipment
and general support of the nine. Those who do
not take part in any way have here an opportunity
to aid materially in putting forth a team in which
all can claim an individual interest. Let us make
it one that is guided by the best sentiment of the
college.
*■ * *
A GLANCE into the gymnasium almost any
evening during this term would have dis
closed quite a number of men busily em
ployed with chest-weights, rings, clubs, or bars.
The first impression produced is that these men
are in preliminary training for the out door sports
next term. A fe\fr questions reveal the fact that
a greater number of the men present are of the
freshman class or from prepdorn, and are simply
indulging in a few gymnastic exercises as a pleas
ant way of amusing themselves before study hours.
This is of course an admirable thing. But so few
are sure that they will compete in the out-door
sports. If asked, the answer is almost invariably
“Oh, I may, but I don’t know just yet.” This is
a deplorable state of affairs. When our college is
making such improvements in almost every direc
tion, is there to be none in track athletics over
last year’s performance ? To be sure, we advanc
ed a step last May as we did the year before, but
THE FREE LANCE
the number of points still needful to attain first
place was rather large to say the least.
It cannot be denied that we have advanced our
position in the S. I. C. A. A. during the last three
years. If these advancements are to continue,
good and well. But there is still a better way to
gain our true position in this association. A slow
but sure improvement is satisfactory only so long
as a rapid, permanent advancement can not be
made. If the students would only recognize that
we have grown to proportions when a little en
thusiasm and interest in the matter would enable
us to take first place this and succeeding years,
there could be but little question as to the result.
Without doubt we have material here that would
enable us to take this stride, and, when taken, to
maintain our position. Such being the case, it is
hoped that the few now training faithfully will con
tinue to do so, and that they will soon be joined
by determined recruits. Now is the time to be
gin training. Do not wait until the sports are
here before realizing the importance to be attach -
ed to careful, systematic training.
THE Lance has always tried to faithfully rep
resent the student body, and to call their
attention to matters connected with the in
stitution where improvement could be made. Es
pecially has it adversely commented upon any
tendancy to mar the general pleasing effect of our
campus. These remarks, heretofore, have been
restricted to path-making as that has been the
chief source of danger. With this issue, however,
we feel it our duty to severely criticise any tend
ency to throw rubbish from the rooms upon the
campus.
This matter has been frequently called to the
notice of the student by other means, but, when
the front campus is converted into a receptacle for
old, worn out shoes, the Lance feels that it is its
duty to put in an oar. That any one should be
guilty of such an atrocity would seem almost in
credible, but the last week of mild weather made
such inroads upon the snow as to bare the campus