DePauw University - Mirage Yearbook (Greencastle, IN)

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Q EDITORI L. HEN in the course of college events, it comes handy and convenient for the class of '93 to publish an annual, a modest respect for past customs requires that they set forth some of the causes that have impelled them to its publication. ' 1 To the faculty and students of the university in particular, to the college world in general. and to the pa- trons of learning and progress everywhere, the class of '93 presents this issue of the LIIRAGE without apology and without apprehension. We have been interested spectators of the many and important changes that have in the past few years been wrought in the administrative policy and general management of college affairs, have beheld with pride and satisfaction the magnificent success that has accompanied these changes, and with hope and confidence look forward to yet greater and better things in the future. Animated by this spirit of reform, the new DePauw is fast cutting loose from the traditions and heresies of the past and now holds front rank among the colleges of the West. But while we recognize and commend this forward movement and while we verily believe that much more improvement will be made in the near future, we can not shut our eyes to the fact that evils still exist, that institutions and customs ofthe benighted past yet linger. Should the mmual take upon itself the duty of pointing out some of these evils, of criticising certain institutions and methods, and of suggesting eus- toms more in harmony with the progressive spirit of the times, let it be understood that it is not done with malice aforcthoughtl' but with a sincere desire to promote the best interests of the University. A word as to the annual itself. The province ofthe annual should be at least two-fold,-to amuse and to instruct. It reflects the inner life of the students as no other medium can. It is a sort of privileged charac- ter not held responsible for jokes and criticisms that strike at the very roots of matters. By this means are the students enabled to square by the straight-edge certain minor QD faults and shortcomings of the professors. The annual is the college mirror. If the college has good points it reflects them. If it has weak- nesses Qand all colleges del behold, they are there also. Is the college prosperous and progressive? The an- nual shows it. Is it inert or on the decline? The annual is wanting in 1i.fe and enthusiasm. In all cases the annual is a good thing for the college, and experience teaches that it is not one of the least effective agents in securing much-needed reforms. In most respects the RIIRAGE will speak for itself. We desire to call attention to a few special features. Instead of putting out the usual pmnplzlet edition that falls to pieces with one reading, we have at great ad- ditional. expense prepared a handsome volume permanently bound in cloth in the class colors-a book that would grace any center-table. 'I'heff'r1tc1'111ft1fcs are also given better representation than ever before. To the E71 .

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usual design of the fraternity, is added a plate including an excellent portrait of every member of the chap- ter. We are pleased to present elegant 17Ol't1'1lltS ofthe president and deans of the various departments. There are also a number of handsome plates of various organizations more or less closely identified with the interests of the university. The artistic and literary features of the work are unique and need no comment. No MIRAGE appeared last year. No one was disappointed however for it is a well known fact in most Methodist institutions that men do not gather figs of thistlcs. There is but one case on record and that some- where in Genesis where we have .wnncthing 1-mniozg out of ozotlziny, and no one dreamed for a- single instant that this great law would be violated in the case of '92, True they blustered around in their usual boisterous and meaningless manner and openly avowed their intention to generate a BIIRAGE, but when they ascertained that energy, pluck, brains and money were necessary for such an enterprise they quietly relapsed into their former l:'Il'Il0lf'lt0llaf clcsiufhulc. To our friends with whom we seem to have taken considerable liberty, we would say: Keep cool, do not fly into a passion and vent your spleen in violent and useless railings against the editors, but bear it calmly and philosophically. Remember that we are simply endeavoring to assist you in seeing yourselves as others do and console yourselves with the refiection that 'tis better to be mentioned and to be damned than never have been mentioned at all. Above all do not peut and sulk over imaginary wrong and seek revenge in boycotting the lNIIRAui: but remember rather that you are Ialmswl when men shall revilc you and say all manner of evil against you falsely, and that you are taught to pay those who despitefull y use you, pay mul curse 'not We rejoice in the increased interest manifested by our people in educational ll11ltt01'S,lll the advancement made by American colleges generally, and in the continued unparalleled prosperity of our own institution in particular. The higher plane now held by DePauw, the increased number of her students, and the thorough- ness and efhcicney that characterize their work best bespeak the wisdom and success of the new administra- tive policy. i A number of changes have occurred in the Faculty. We congratulate the University on having at last discovered that something more than a magic la'nlvrn is rcqui1'ed to keep up the department of physics, and upon having secured a man like Prof. Naylor, broad, liberal and b1'ainy to fill that position. We believe that greater good will accrue to the student of subjects political and historical from the pursuit of laboratory methods and original investigation than from parrot-like recitations from an inferior author. We believe that the University sustained a great loss in allowing Profs. Carhart and Jenkins to be taken from it and we heartily condemn a financial policy tl1at does not guard against such misfortunes in the future. The recent acquisitions to the Faculty have been as follows: Profs. Bronson and Wilkerson in the dc- partment of Englishg Prof. Underwood in Botanyg Prof. Norman in Biologyg Profs. Manning and Iglehart in department of Modern Languagesg Dean Mason in the Law Schoolg Profs. Dotey, Conklin, Moore and Higdon in the Preparatory Schoolg and Profs. Dahl, Burmeister, Jones and Webster in the School of Music. In the fraternity world a new society-Sigma Nu-has appeared and established itself on firm footing. DePauw now has nine fraternities and four sororities, and if 1'llll1Ol' may be credited a fifth will soon be added. Let the good work go on. l3l