THE HESPERIAN
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say. Many regard tho action of the organ
izers as not only inconsistent and untonablo,
but as absolutely treacherous and unprinci
pled, considering tho fact that many of them
have, in tho past, boon loudest in their de
nunciation of fraternities though it must bo'
admitted this was done only when, by so
doing, tho denouncers furthered their own
private interests. To many, this appears
like an entire abandonment of principles, a
mere act of policy, a conversion for revenue
only. But wo recognize the fact that our
prospective fraternity friends will easily ex
plain this seeming inconsistency, on tho
indisputable ground that every man has a
right to change his opinion, that they have
only experienced a change of heart, that
they see the error of their past ways, and so
on ad infinitum.
But as was said, it is not for .these pros
pective fraternities or their organizers that
this article is written. We wish to give a
little plain, timely, fatherly advice to our
friends the "barbs" in the literary societies.
Though it may be true in some, it is not true
that in all cases these men are deserting the
literary societies simply as a matter of policy.
It is more than questionable whether such
action is politic. There must, then, bo some
other and deeper motive; and this is found
n dissatisfaction with the work that the lit
crary societies have, of late, been doing.
This is not a pleasant admission; but it is a
fact, and we might as well face it, and the
sooner we do face it and act on it, tho better
for the "barb" cause. Some of these men
who now propose to enter fraternities un
doubtedly believe that in so doing they will
advance themselves mentally, socially, and
in other ways to a greater degree than they
rXi COukl by rGmainig i the open literary so
v.Wfcjoty. Whether they will do so or not. it is
not the purpose of this article to discuss.
Their actions show conclusively what they
themselves think. We might as well hon
estly admit that the work of the open socie
ties has not been up to the standard of a fow
years ago; that interest in debating circles
has almost died out, while interest in the
literary socioty is on tho wuno. Now there
is one, and only ono, way to chock this tend
ency to "fratism." The literary socioty
must do bettor work in both a literary and
social way. Make the student fool that the
socioty offors him more and better advan
tages than any fraternity can, and he will
stay with tho society; and undor no other cir
cumstances. Wo have numbers and senti
ment with us; which side has the arguments
is a disputed question. One thing is sure ;
in the end tho best will prevail. If we barbs
do not win, we do not deserve to. It is not,
in any way, a question of sentiment, it is
one of hard fact to bo settled by the princi
ple of tho survival of tho fittest.
There is no doubt that the batallion is an
important factor in our University. It is
important within tho institution because of
the discipline it affords to the body of male
students. It is important without because
of the benefit derived within, and because it
is known as one of the best disciplined and
drilled cadet batallions in the west. Tho
cadets spend a great deal of time doing drill
and tactics work. If they derive pleasure
from their work, well and good, if they do
not, there is no relief for them, for tlioii
work is compulsory. There is nothing done
through tho college year that will give all
the cadets genuine pleasure and furnish a
land-mark, as it were, by which they will re
member their military work. Wo bolieve it
would be a good plan for the cadets to givo a
military reception and ball at the end of each
year's work, and this would be a good year
in which to start tho ball rolling. A rccop:
tion in which all might meet in social con
verse, would bo something which the aver
age cadet would look forward to with joyous
anticipation, and look backward upon with
pleasure. A military ball might bo held in
connection, for theimjoyment of those who
dance, although this might be loft out if tho
batallion so chose. To make 'this one of
the features of commencement week, would
place a premium on the work of the military
department, and cadets would more willingly