must have a last word on the subject. The Seniors have lately
taken to congregating on the steps of the Main and singing dur
ing the warm evenings—it is a step in the right direction, and we
hope the custom will spread to the other classes. Speaking of col
lege singing calls to mind our own college song, "Alma Mater."
The enthusaism with which this song of Professor Pattee's was
received when it appeared some two years ago surely indicated a
genuine appreciation of it on the part of the student body, yet to
day scarcely a man knows the words of the first verse. It is a
deplorable fact but a true one that few, very few men are familiar
enough with it to sing the "Alma Mater" without the words be
fore them. Everyone seems to recognize the real excellence of
the verses, and the dignity and beauty of the thought, everyone
seems agreed that this is and should be our State song ; when
questioned anyone will say this, in effect, but they say they "don't
know the verse because there's so much of it." This seems to be
the difficulty, as nearly as we can get at it, and we would suggest
that this mattter can well come within the province of the Ahletic
Association. Let a committee be appointed who shall select, say,
three of the six or seven verses now printed for the song, and let
these three be adopted and printed as the song has been heretofore.
It seems shameful almost to mutilate the verses thus, but every man
in college from Prep. to Senior ought to know "Alma Mater," and
be able to sing it anywhere, on the steps of old Main in the spring
evenings, or out on Beaver Field next fall at foot ball games. It
is too good a song to be allowed to fall into' disuse.
With this issue it will be noticed that the FREE LANCE has
passed into the hands of a new staff. All we have to say here is
to remind you that the. FREE LANCE is "published by the students
of the Pennsylvania State College," and is not a diversion for
eight men known collectively as the "Board of Editors." That is
to say, the LANCE is, ought to be, and can reasonably be expected
to be, dependent upon the student body for contributions of a lit
erary nature. The aim of the LANCE has always been to be an ex-