THE HESPERIAN
11
quotation. If ho should win the contest,
the University would claim it ns her victory.
If he fails to win, a movement will be, prob
ably, as usual, inaugurated to have the
University withdraw from the State associa
tion. If more seriousness were exercised
there would be no occasion for such a state
of affairs.
The University has felt confident of win
ning too many oratorical contests. The
dignified position of the University demands
that the students should take more real in
terest in oratory. The orator should receive
tho best possible training. He should not
be expected to bear tho expense. It is the
duty of the Oratorical Association to give
their orators liberal financial support. Pro
ceeding orators were sadly neglected. It
seems as if the Oratorical Association ex
pects tho orator, this year, to " paddle his
own canoe."
The monies of the Oratorical Associations,
it is suggested, should have been reserved
to assist the orator in preparing for the state
contest. I trust no one will say that the
University would not bo benefitted thereby.
The Oratorical Association was never known
to have sufficient funds to train its orators
as they should be trained. In my opinion,
the action of the Oratorical Association was
inexpedient and unwise. Other means should
have been resorted to in order to secure the
much needed funds for the Athletic associa
tion. The stud nts of the University may
not expect that ilieir orators will win state
contests or succeed in expressing the ideal
oratory, to any degree of perfection, so long
as oratorical contests are held for the bene
fit of the Athletic association. What in
ducement is there offered tho student to
enter an oratorical contest conducted on
such a plan? None whatever. If he wins
the contest, ho becomes handicapped, de
serted. His only support will consist in
vociferous shouts and tin horn blasts. It is
sincerely hoped that, in the future, tho
Oratorical Association will be more serious
and consider its own interests in disposing
of its funds.
tt is hoped that the members of tho Ora
torical association will sco to it that funds
are now raised and that tho orator receives
the liberal support that should by accorded
him. Geo. L. Siikldok, '92.
ATHLETIC.
Quite a number of the foot-ball players have
failed to return their suits, etc, to the custodian
of the athletic association. This is" not as it
should be. By this time the custodian should
have every article in his possession. This prob
ably is more a matter of neglect than anything
else, but it is a matter that should be attended to
at once. The suits are of little value to the indi
viduals, but if kept by them, it will necessitate the
purchase of new oneexi fall. The shoes should
not only be returned, because they belong to the
association, but also because they can be used by
the base-ball players. A hint to the wise is suffi
cient. The outlook for base-ball this season is excel
lent. A large number of last year's players are
still in the University, and there is plenty of ma
terial with which to fill the vacant places in the
team. But above all things, systematic training
is needed, and now is the time to commence if
the team expects to do good work. The college
base-ball season necessarily opens early, and for
this reason it is necessary to do most of the train
ing indoors. The players should get together and
settle on some time for practice. No doubt they
could get the exclusive use of the gymnasium any
evening. Unless this is done we cannot expect
to have a team that will do justice to the Univer
sity. It will be this indoor training that will give
us the advantage over our adversaries, for they will,
for the most part, be teams from neigboring
towns. For these reasons, it behooves our base
ball players to commence practicing at once and
to keep it up until the last game is played. This
is the only way wc can win, so let the manager
and captain get their men in shape as soon as
possible and victory will be ours.
Last year there was considerable talk of organ
izing a boating crew. Why the plan was not
carried out is hard to lell. This is a branch of
athletics that should be looked after; all our
eastern colleges have crews, some of which have a
world-wide reputation. At present there is no
reason why a crew should not be organized. The
managers of Burlington Beach have offered us the
free use of a boat. This certainly is a most liberal
offer and we should be willing and anxious to ac
cept it. If we expect to do anything in this line,
some immediate action should be taken. Effect
an organization as soon as possible, and then
when the season opens we will be ready for active
work. No doubt, there are a large numbervho
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