University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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its importance. The Faculty issues numerous publications freighted with information of the greatest value; but after all, there is a want which they do not supply. In them, we find no history of that phase of college life so dear to the heart of every student. Our social, literary, musical and athletic organizations would be entirely without records; and in after years we would be compelled to rely exclusively upon imperfect recollection for all data concerning these beloved institutions, if the Blue and Gold did not beneficently become their historiographer. Yet, while the Blue and Gold in the abstract needs no defenders, the same cannot be said of the concrete. There is a constant danger of stepping beyond the bounds prescribed to college publications, and of advancing outside of the realms of amateur journalism. This danger we believe to have been realized by our immediate prede- cessors, and we have resolved to avoid the rock upon which they stumbled. We have made no attempt to imitate them in any par- ticular, believing it to be safer and better to return to the old estab- lished principles. Yet, while we have not wished to distinguish ourselves by the bulk of our book, we have desired to make an advance in another direction. We have endeavored to present this volume in a little better dress, hoping that the bright attire, being in consonance with the general rejoicing resulting from the present era of prosperity, would be duly appreciated. This reference to improvements naturally suggests the really important feature of a Blue and Gold editorial; for the history of the past year consists mainly of a history of improvements. We do not believe in “ booms,” and think that they are being carried to a ridiculous extent; yet we must confess that we are experiencing something very similar to a “boom.” In every department advance- ment has become characteristic. The source of this is not difficult to find. We all hoped that our President, who had so distinguished himself in other fields of labor, would not do otherwise in the new; and we were not disappointed. The transfusion of new blood imme- diately made itself felt, our University awoke from its lethargy, and began again its healthful growth. Our professors, no longer feeling themselves handicapped by the lack of appreciation which their labors formerly encountered, have heartily co-operated in every plan devised for the advancement of the cause of higher education. Different departments have been enlarged and broadened, and additional facilities for instruction have been afforded by increasing

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Editorial Another year, with its joys and sorrows, its hopes and fears, its griefs and pleasures, has passed into eternity, bearing with it its record of weal or woe for each and every one of us. Old Father 'rime has once again turned his glass, although we scarcely realized that the sands were falling. Our college days have been gliding away with a rapidity of which we have only been conscious as the landmarks have been neared and passed. The Freshman year, the experimental age of college life, with its uncertainties, its difficulties, its disappointments, and its cruel rebuffs; the Sophomore year, that reckless, careless, happy year, with its cool assumptions, its arrogance, its bluster and its brag,—both are behind us, and nothing but pleasant recollections remain. The Junior year, the age of growth and devel- opment, with its cares and perplexities, its opportunities and its great responsibilities, is now our glorious present. One of its responsibil- ities we were not courageous enough to undertake; another one, if we would, we could not have avoided. Junior Day concerns us alone; but the Blue and Gold is a college institution, and cannot, with honor, be abolished by any individual class. We may have hesitated at the magnitude of the task which we were called upon to perform, but no thought of shirking our duty ever presented itself. The Blue and Gold is an established fact, and needs no excuses or explanations. Years ago it was considered necessary to apologize for each successive volume; then it seemed proper to assume a defiant tone, as if it were only published in spite of the authorities: now, however, students and faculty alike recognize the permanence of the institution, and any explicatory remarks would be superfluous. Indeed, a calumniator of the Blue and Gold would seek in vain for a substantial argument upon which to found his attack. A glance at the subject-matter of its pages would convince the most skeptical of

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the corps of instructors. The selection of these instructors was entrusted entirely to the Professors in whose departments their ser- vices were required, and the quality of their work daily testifies to the faithfulness with which this trust was executed. A long-felt want has finally been satisfied by the establishment of the Professorship of the French and the Spanish Languages and Litera- tures. Professor Owen, of the State University of Wisconsin, through the instrumentality of President Holden, was secured to fill this chair. A complete reorganization of the department was at once commenced, and now, no longer an object of contempt and derision, it assumes its proper position. The improvements being made upon the grounds are still in such an embryonic state that it is not possible to comment upon them. However, judging from the thoroughness of the commencement, it is easy to predict that a wonderful transformation scene will be enacted before the end is reached. Unusually large additions have been made to the library and museums, and new apparatus has been secured in the Mechanical and Scientific Departments. The Military Department, under the management of Lieut. Harrison, has been entirely remodeled; “cuts” are now the excep- tions, and “extra drills” have passed into “innocuous desuetude.” We have come to an “about face,” and have carefully rectified the alignment. The students themselves have closely imitated their elders. Many new features have been introduced, and some old ones revived. Two new fraternities now bid for Freshmen; a Freshman debating club has sprung into existence, while the Juniors and Seniors have organized a rhetorical society. The old lawn tennis club has risen like a phoenix from its ashes, and once again feminine glee makes the Campus vocal. An organization of the student body has been perfected, and we may soon expect to see a University spirit, and that unanimity and harmony of action which can alone bring strength. In athletics we have at least not retrograded. Our football team still leads, in spite of the dismal forebodings that were every- where expressed when the term commenced. Baseball has received unusual attention, and now we are able to put in the field a formid- able nine, which promises to win new laurels for our colors. The other branches of athletics are not neglected, with the exception of