ing. Whatever may have been the excuse for last year’s non representation, the failure this year is doubtless due to the demise of the faithful old literary societies that have appointed the contest ants heretofore. These organizations, almost as old as the College itself, have struggled long and bravely against the inevitable, but since last term we have practically had no literary societies, al though the libraries and reading rooms are still maintained. This is lamentable, to say the least, but from the constantly decreasing popularity of the societies during the last two years, no prophet was needed to predict their future. The several very excel lent scientific and engineering societies replace them to a certain extent, but lack some important features. It is not too late to resurrect the litcra ries, however, if we want them. Do we, or do we not ? THE Lance feels justified in asserting that nev cr before has so much interest been dis played in base-ball practice and prospects at State. This was especially noticeable in the early part of the season when interested admirers by the.score watched the practice games in good weather and bad. This interest is partly due to the unusually careful playing occasioned by the sharp competition lor team positions. There need be no complaint on account of the number of applicants, and present indications seem to point to a strong team for the coming season. The new uniforms arc decidedly neat and we are glad to see the big S. appear on the sweaters, The reported strength of several of our rivals will compel State to play ball to win, but we are con fident that she can do that. The first trip was somewhat unsatisfactory on account of the team weakness occasioned by the retention of several members with conditions, but gives a good idea of the team’s strength. The schedule of games, as completed to date, appears elsewhere in this issue. We are pleased to note several new and worthy foemen among the number. E LANCE. THE FR AS yet no inter-class base ball schedule has been given to the public. The season is early, but not too early to arrange these dates. Let the committee act and show that we appreciate the gift of Prof. Waters, as well as af ford the college classes some friendly rivalry and amusement. The former plan of shortening all games for this cup to seven innings and playing them after 3.30 p. m. was a good one and did not interfere with the arrangements of the first team. Let us have the games. A REPLY TO THE EDITORIAL ARTI CLE, “PATRONAGE AND EDUCA TION, ’ ’ SENT TO ‘ ‘ THE PRESS' ’ MARCH 22, 1895. An editorial in the Press of yesterday under takes to show that the bill now pending in the Legislature to establish free Scholarships in The State College ought not to pass. Such an article from such a source is amazing. It is conceived in a spirit so different from that manifested by the Press when advocating the interests of Higher Education generally, and contains so many obvi ous inaccuracies of statement and inference, that I must ask space for a reply, which I will, for the sake of brevity, condense under a few separate heads: 1. The Hill does not propose any expenditure whatever “for all time to come,” nor any specific expenditure for any time. It proposes to estab lish for the next two years one Free Scholarship for each Senator and each Representative, and ten for the State at large, to be filled by appoint ment of the Governor. This is a maximum of 264 Scholarships at a maximum expense of $52,- 800.00 a year, or $105,600,00 for the next two years if every Scholarship should be continually filled—a thing which, in the nature of the case, could hardly be expected. The appropriation for Public Schools for the next two years is expected to be $11,000,000.00, of which the maximum amount thus set apart for free Scholarships would
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