Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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with student life and student sports, daily recognizing more and more clearly the fact that there is much in a college course be- yond the mere curriculum of studies. A young man in deciding where to spend the four best years of his life, may properly con- sider well all pros, and cons. Other things being equal, shall he not wisely choose in selecting that college for his Alma Mater, where, the day ' s work done, facilities for healthful sport surround him. where a glowing college spirit prevails, evidenced by live societies, reading room, athletic organizations and other similar signs of a good college tone ? It is the recognition of the important bearing of such influ- ences upon the growth of an institution, that has led to the publication of annuals at many of our colleges. Public spirited students have sought by this means to lay before the public, that important branch of the course of education, that catalogues never can show, the real college life itself. Ami now among this list of honorable publications our modest little • Epitome for the first time asks a place. It does not claim to he a literary publication: that is not its genius. The causes that have led to its birth demand of it that it shall be simply an honest exponent of all our college organizations, and this, kind reader, is all we have sought to make it. Ere dropping our editorial quill, a few words of explanation to those who will compare our athletic organizations with those of other colleges. In fairness please remember, that Lehigh University is essentially a SCIENTIFIC school. That large class from whose ranks are mostly drawn our boating and our ball men, those who having both time and money go to college as much for the culture derived from college life as from the course of study, is wholly wanting at Lehigh. This class rarely finds 4

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EDITOBIyU, X presenting to Lehigh University students and Lehigh ' s friends the first issue of The Epitome, a few words of in- troduction may serve to show the causes that have led to its publication, and prevent any misunderstanding as to its charac- ter and mission. In the past few years no feature in the history of our American colleges has been more striking than the astonishing interest that has been developed in athletic sports. Having its origin among the students, at the outset in many colleges frowned upon by the authorities, the enthusiasm has gradually spread, until now student and professor alike anxiously await the news from Saratoga or hear with joy or sorrow of the victory or defeat of their college nine. Instead of having obstacles thrown in the way of their sports, the fortunate students of to-day have the cooperation of the college authorities. Gymnasiums have been multiplied, until now there is scarcely a well-equipped college in the country which has not one, and a striking illus- tration of the importance that is now attached to this portion of a college paraphernalia is found in the fact, that if a college can- not advertise that it has gymnasium de facto, it is sure to have one in prospectu. The above is a prominent though single illustration of the fact that the public is daily growing more and more in sympathy

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its way into scientific schools. As is well said in the New Education, The student in a polytechnic school has a practical end constantly in view; he is training his faculties with the ex- press object of making himself a better manufacturer, engineer, c. Instead of boating and base-ball, our exercise consists largely in surveying, laying out railroad curves and the like; athletic sports serving only as a reserve with which to occupy the few idle moments that an unusually severe course permits us to call our own. With these few words of explanation we think we have cause to be proud of the condition of our different organ- izations. The Class Histories show what has been done in athletic sports. The Engineering Society has lately shown unmistakable signs of renewed activity. The Chemical and Natural History Society proposes to treat us again this year with one of their exceptionally good courses of lectures. And the Junto is likely to rise from its ashes, not like the Phoenix, still as a Phoenix, but with another plumage in the form of a Reading Room. She will be hailed with joy in her new form by many students who have long seriously felt the want of a first-class reading room. Our brief editorial life has about expired. Yet ere our demise, we commend to succeeding classes the tender sprout planted by the hand of 78. Cherished by your fostering care, may she grow to be a noble tree, under whose, wide spreading branches may many come to slake their thirst from Lehigh ' s fount of knowledge.