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