young men now than at any previous time within the memory of the writer. The chief sign of growth is the willingness of the members to do their own religious work, instead of calling upon outsiders. There are two desirable results from this: the Christians themselves, who take part, are helped as they could never be helped in any other way; non-Christians respect and admire an organization that can maintain itself and carry on its own work with enthusiasm. Christian young men, persist in this laudable service, even at a sacrifice, and no sacrifice is too great. Here again, the lack of financial support is a serious handicap. The direction of these religious organizations demands time and money, just as the direction of less important secular organizations demands time and money. If the way is not clear just now to employ a regular secretary to look after these organizations, might not material assistance be rendered them, and at the same time two capable, deserving Christian students, one man and one woman, in their effort to secure an education, by paying the salary of a student assistant or of a fellow for services rendered in connection with the Christian organization? To be sure, such work is a labor of love, but bread and meat are necessary for the prosecution even of labors of love.

The greatest need of the religious interests in the University is the manifestation on the part of Christians in the Faculty and in the student body of the same enthusiasm in their spiritual life as characterizes their search for abstract truth in the daily routine of duty. If the Christian teachers would set the Christian students the example of attending chapel exercises, and if all the Christian students in the institution should affiliate with the Christian organizations, and together with their present membership attend morning prayers, a much larger chapel room would be in demand, and the life of the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. would receive such an impetus that a wave of spiritual awakening would sweep over the whole school and submerge all opposition or indifference to the march of Christianity.

D. A. P.

PHILOLOGICAL ESSAYS BY DR. PENICK.

Herodotus in the Greek Renascence (Johns Hopkins Doctor's Dissertation), by Daniel Allen Penick. Baltimore, John Murphy Co., 1902. pp. 41. Notes on Lucian's Syrian Goddess (extracted from Studies in Honor of B. L. Gildersleeve, pp. 387-393). Baltimore, 1902.

The subject of these essays is the influence of Herodotus on the narrative style of Lucian, a subject of considerable literary importance, if many people knew at first hand that Herodotus is one of the most delightful of story-tellers, and Lucian a teller of piquant tales of at least as great merit as Kipling's-if we try to rid ourselves of the glamor of his up-todate-ness. It is but piping to a deaf generation to sing the praises of the splendid doctrine of Virgil, the immediateness of Catullus; to echo a

critic's verdict that Livy commanded perhaps the best of all prose styles; that Lucian is wondrous droll, piquant, delightful.

That Lucian was influenced by Herodotus was a surmise long before The bow of a philological "debutter" is made to scholars, his elders, and his peers, and his essay is rarely an adventure into wholly new territory; he is not a surveyor blazing out a new track, but a road builder, making such a trail into a broad way.

That Lucian was influenced by Herodatus was a surmise long before Dr. Penick undertook to verify that influence, but his painstaking labors have confirmed what was before merely a happy divination. Guessing and verification, guessing and verification: these constitute the condition and the method of scientific progress. By the study of stylistic correspondences, for instance, in the use of the particles and participles; by pointing out similarities in subject matter and in the composition of tales; Dr. Penick has made good his contention that Lucian was a disciple of Herodotus's and in doing so he has shown insight and good judgment; and given marks of his sound philological training under our master philologian, Professor Gildersleeve.

Into matters of detail it befits neither this reviewer-who is not primarily a Grecian-nor this periodical, which appeals to the general reader, to go. But this reviewer does feel privileged to express his conviction of the solid worth of Dr. Penick's two essays.

EDWIN W. FAY.

THE STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION.

At the departmental elections in October, the following were elected to the Executive Committee of the Students' Association: Academic Department, Chas. W. Ramsdell, W. O. Wright, T. M. Rector, L. W. Parrish, R. F. Jones; Engineering Department, W. O. Washington, J. E. Mitchell, S. J. Maas, J. B. White, C. M. Bishop; Law Department, A. B. Lacy, W. A. Cocke, J. G. Logue, J. S. O'Keefe, Ed. Crane.

At the general October election H. P. Steger was elected editor-in-chief of the Cactus with the following as assistant editors: J. R. Swenson, Ed. Crane, Clinton Brown, Claibe Johnson, Joel Watson, Louis Bibb, C. W. Hill, S. S. Searcey, Miss Bess Brown, Miss May Steadman, Miss Alma Proctor.

The present year has been rendered notable by the acquisition of the Texan and the Cactus. The Texan is the college weekly paper, and hitherto has been the private property of Messrs. Geo. S. Wright and J. M. Newsom, from whom it was recently purchased. At the same time, by an agreement previously entered into with the Athletic Association, in whose possession it has been for a number of years, the Cactus, by virtue of the purchase of the Texan, has likewise been transferred to the Students' Association. The Association now owns and controls all the student

publications. Mr. Alex. Pope has been elected editor of the Texan, and Mr Hugh Bardin business manager of the Cactus.

C. W. R.

FRATERNITIES.

The most interesting recent development in fraternity life, at least from a general viewpoint, has been the practical working out of the agreement made among the several chapters during last session, neither to invite, to pledge, nor to initiate members from among the first year students until after the beginning of the second term of the session. The aforesaid agreement grew out of a general feeling on the part of the authorities and many of the fraternity members themselves, that some experiment should be made to remedy the "rushing" and over-hasty initiation, which had become the established custom at the commencement of the Fall Term. The Regents, through a committee from the Faculty, suggested that the chapters should consider the advisability of postponing the initiation of new students a year. After due conference between the Faculty committee and representatives from the chapters, it was, however, thought expedient to adopt a compromise, towit: the present experiment. As to results, it is just now somewhat difficult to decide fairly how the new arrangement has helped the situation. To all appearance, the eagerness and disorganization of the rushing season have simply been removed to the Winter Term, but, on the other hand, it has seemed evident that the initiates, who had the time to become acquainted with University conditions have, in general, been able to act with more mature consideration, and that the fraternities have had likewise a fuller opportunity for deliberate choice. If this impression be correct, then, in time, the new system would tend to minimize the mistakes committed through hasty initiation, and the final result would be beneficial to the fraternities themselves. Of course, it can not be claimed that "rushing" was avoided during the Fall Term, but it does not seem that any one stood committed at the end of that time, and this in itself is distinctly a gain.

Naturally, the members of the several chapters vary to a striking degree in their attitude toward the new agreement, some being in sympathy with it, while at least a few are not satisfied. The "rushing" of the Fall Term is a very delicate matter, subject to the individual interpretation of each chapter, and some jealousy and a certain degree of distrust certainly do exist. Yet, all the thoughtful must agree that fraternity ideals here have, on the whole, suffered gradual deterioration; and that if fraternities lose dignity, so that they do not confer some honor on their initiates, it is likely that they lose most of their worthiness. And that they have a sphere of undoubted potency and usefulness in college life can hardly be gainsaid. It therefore behooves these societies to strive with energy and good will from within, until there is fair working order under the present or some similar system.

One new chapter, the Sigma Nu Phis, composed of law students, was organized toward the end of last session.

Fraternity halls have become the rule. Two of the chapters, the Kappa Sigmas and the Phi Delta Thetas, occupy large, handsome houses of their own; most of the others have leased or rented houses. With this new custom, the fraternities have entered upon a new phase, and will doubtless find new questions confronting them. To the outsider the chapter halls seem fairly successful.

As usual, the social side of the fraternity life has, as a whole, appeared somewhat pronounced during the past year. On the other hand, the natural mingling in politics has, at least on the surface, appeared perhaps less intense and more judicial.

The women's societies, established in 1902, have been gradually seeking to work out some definiteness of policy. They present difficulties, as every untried movement does, and have a great temptation to stress social activities; likewise, for them, the interpretation of “rushing” has been a source of some anxiety. Competition has been acute. Still, it must be said that they have displayed a spirit of commendable good will. Perhaps, since the women's societies are now here, and here to stay, it might be beneficial to have the presence of a third. While there has been some mention of such a possibility for some time, nothing definite has yet materialized. One of the women's chapters, the Kappa Kappa Gammas, has this year congregated in a chapter house which is managed by the lady of the house. This seems to work fairly well.

In conclusion it may be said that there seems to be in the air, in reference to fraternity activities, a spirit which the University student, with his usual good sense and fairness, may be expected to use finally so as to leaven the mass, and give the societies new vigor.

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS.

Affairs in the world of student publications this year have met with some innovations. These changes have been long expected and hoped for; but it has only become possible during the present session to get our periodicals on a logical basis of management and editing. To any one with half an eye for the eternal fitness of things, it has always been a thing to wonder at that the Athletic Association should have control of the most representative and essentially democratic publication coming from the hands of the students. Some five years ago the Cactus was, by formal action, taken from the classes and given over to swell the funds for athletics. If you wanted to vote for its board, you had to pay the poll-tax. Now, however, the Students' Association elects the entire staff, management, and editors.

At the first regular meeting of the Association, held October 20, the following board of editors for the Cactus of 1903-1904 was elected: Harry Peyton Steger, Editor-in-Chief; Associate Editors, Mary Stedman, Alma Proctor, Bess B. Brown, Ed. Crane, Clinton G. Brown, J. R. Swenson,

L. B. Bibb, Clyde W. Hill, Seth Searcy, Joel Watson, Claibe Johnson. In addition to several artists on the board, Ed. C. Connor is doing some excellent work in the way of original drawings. Much literary material has already been collected. By means of this early beginning, it is hoped that the annual will be put into the hands of the students as early or earlier than heretofore. However, no rash promises are made. Much depends on the way in which the students who write will respond to the board's appeals for help. The management will be in the hands of Hugh Bardin, who was recently elected by the Students' Council. Mr. Bardin has already put his work well under way.

The University Magazine has been astoundingly prompt in its appearance this session. James E. Hackett is the manager. Helen Raley, who has for the past two years done considerable writing, is at the head of the board of editors. Her associates are Hallie D. Walker, Emily Maverick, Clyde W. Hill, William Longino, George W. Gray, Mary Stedman, Joel Watson, L. B. Bibb. The initial number was among the best that has appeared for several years. Its successor, however was only mediocre. The Christmas number is not yet in our hands, but we understand that it is to be of high order. Here, as in the case of all college publications, the greatest difficulty lies in securing contributions. It is evidently the intention of the board and management to give us a series of surprises in the way of covers. This is a good move, for one grows tired of the same weary design.

The Texan has just been acquired by the Students' Association. Messrs. George Wright and J. M. Newsoms have been retained as managers for the remainder of the session, but the title to the paper has passed from 'them' to 'us.' For the first part of the session Alex. Weisberg was at the head of the board; but, in October, he resigned, owing to pressure of work; and Alex. Pope was elected to fill the vacancy. French, from lack of time for the work, is no longer on the board, while Curtsinger and L. G. Shaw have been added. The other members are D. A. Frank and Lewis Johnson.

The literary societies have been able to add no little to the prestige of the University in the past by winning victories in contests with teams from other universities. The prospects for a continuance of success for the present year are exceedingly bright.

During the past year two debates were held, one with Tulane and the other with Colorado University. In addition, the Oratorical Association sent a representative to the Southern Interstate Oratorical Contest. W. A. Cocke and J. B. Dibrell represented Texas at Tulane; A. P. Barrett and W. S. Moore, at Colorado. Both teams won over their opponents,