year ago against the co-educational system, in addition to reducing the attendance of female students at that institution, has had the effect of producing considerable discussion in regard to the advisability of young women attending many other seats of learning-places where the aim is principally the education of young men. It is needless to say, from the trend of all these considerations, that there appears a strong and growing sentiment against a system where young ladies are admitted upon the same footing in the class-room and have the same privileges as their stronger brethren; and it seems, from recent reports from the University of Wisconsin, Stanford University and Pennsylvania, that the co-educational fad is doomed. We cannot say that this is entirely practicable; but we do believe that in so far as the separation of the sexes in the college is concerned it is bound to come, while in the university it may yet remain a matter of doubt. It is now definitely settled that women in America have college and university opportunities of their own in a very extended measure, and, since this is so, why should they persist in attending institutions where their presence is not altogether desired, and where the results would be better

had they remained away. Especially should

this be so in view of the fact that there is no movement, as yet, heard of to open the doors of Vassar, Smith and Bryn Mawr to young men, nor do these latter desire to attend such institutions. Apart from this, when we take up this question of the education of woman, we

cannot but marvel at the extraordinary progress there has been made toward her development within the past fifty years. Julia Ward Howe, in discussing this advance, says "that Mary A. Livermore, who, a medal scholar of a Boston public school, sought admittance to Harvard College more than forty years ago, was warned off as an innovator of a dangerous type. More fortunate Lucy Stone put her pennies together and obtained a deck passage to Cincinnati and a place among the students of Oberlin College. Even here prejudice would not allow her to read her own thesis at her graduation, and, sturdy in her determination to speak for herself, she refused to allow it to be read at all." This spirit was early overcome, and many colleges soon invited, and some still continue to invite, women to share the same privileges that are offered to men. However, woman's claims for educational expansion have since resulted in the founding of many colleges, the first of which was Vassar, which was opened in the year 1861. Wellesley and Smith followed in 1875. To-day the country is abundantly supplied with colleges and schools, where there can be no doubt that the aspiring feminine student can find her yearning for that larger liberty and loftier inspiration in culture and refinement well and satisfactorily appeased. To these institutions, then, should she have recourse, else, as it is commonly predicted, the result of such arguments as "the presence of women is too restraining," and

the young men do not get the full benefit of discussion in the class-room that they would

have otherwise," will be to effectually lessen the popularity and the practicability of co-education.

As we had anticipated, many worthy competitive essays and stories have been handed in too late for publication in our last competitive number. For obvious financial reasons THE PURPLE must confine itself to a limited number of pages, hence several essays and stories of real merit have been necessarily excluded. This difficulty might have been avoided had the writers begun to compose earlier in Spring. .

J. E. McT.

The Minstrel
Show.

COLLEGE CHRONICLE.

On Wednesday evening, May 9th, nearly 2000 people assembled in Mechanics Hall to witness and enjoy a singularly successful performance by the College Glee Club. The daily papers and professional critics were so loud and lavish in their praises that the minstrel show of May 9th must certainly become a great event in the history of our college entertainments. The singing of the chorus and quartette was a revelation to many who had witnessed none of the quiet and careful rehearsals. Where everything was excellent it is hard and dangerous to select for praise any special feature. All classes and conditions in the audience seem to have been thoroughly satisfied; those whose tastes lay in the direction of artistic singing enjoyed a rare treat, while those who attend shows for the uproarious fun in them had abundant opportunity for enjoyment. Great credit is due everyone who in any way contributed to the success of the "minstrels." The new athletic field must have experienced a thrill of pleasure when the profits were being recorded. In former years the "Back Yard Quartette" monopolized all the musical talent, which they used for their own private diversion and the distress of their neighbors, but now that so many singers have been discovered it should be an easy matter to keep up the Glee Club as a permanent organiza

tion. We all know how dreary and sombre are the long weeks in Lent. Let the Glee Club see to it that they be dreary no more. We have been asked to make public expression of thanks to the good ladies who worked with such extraordinary success in placing the tickets. Following is the programme:

Part First.

FIRST EDITION,

Introducing J. W. FitzPatrick, '00, and G. W. King, '04. OPENING CHORUS BY ENTIRE COMPANY.

"You Were the One I Loved the Best,"

"Wake up, Ma Baby,"

JOHN F. REARDON, '02

GEO. W. KING, '04

"Do You Ever Sit and Dream?" GEO. A. STUART, '02

Introducing the premiers, Messrs. Hal McCabe, '04,

"Sometimes,"

and L. M. Shine, '03.

THOS. F. McKOAN, '00

LOUIS M. SHINE, '03

"When a Coon Sits in the Presidential Chair,"

"Waiting for Daddy," Mr. J. P. Mullen's latest and greatest success, introduced and sung for first

time, by

"Couldn't Stand to See Ma Baby Lose,"

"Pictures of the Past,"

JOHN J. BURKE, '03

HAL MCCABE, '04

EDWARD M. FARRELL, '00

H. C. C. QUARTETTE:

Messrs. Moore,'00, McKoan,'00, Farrell,'00, and Stuart,'03

FINALE:

"Soldiers in the Park," (parody) by Messrs. Shine, '03; McCabe, '04; Fitz Patrick, '00, and King, '04, assisted by the entire company.