DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 123 



for a poem entitled "The Factory" and the second prize, of SIO, for a poem 

 entitled "To The Wild Rose". I sent the poem winning the second prize to 

 Contemporary Verse, and it was accepted for publication. Others who won 

 prizes in this contest were IMr. Fred Henshaw and Mr. H. E. Laing. The 

 judges of the contest were Dr. Dorothy Scarborough, who is a member of the 

 faculty of Columbia University and who is well known as a poet and author 

 of short stories, Howard Brubaker who is one of the best known short story 

 writers of the United States, and John Muirhead, Professor of English in 

 Hobart College. 



The Lawson Contest and the Eunomian-Holcad Contest serve as valuable 

 incentives to our students and have resulted in the production of some highly 

 creditable essays, stories and poems. It mil be recalled that a number of 

 poems for the latter contest have been published in "Poets of the Future," 

 an annual anthology published by the Stratford Company of Boston. It will 

 be recalled also that R. S. Clark's ^^^nning poem, "Rime of the Plowman," 

 was purchased by the American Magazine. Through a bequest left by Mr. 

 George E. Lawson, the permanence of the Lawson Contest has been provided 

 for. It would be an excellent thing for Michigan Agricultural College if 

 friends of the institution would provide a fund which would insure the per- 

 manence of Eunomian-Holcad Contest. At present this contest is maintained 

 only through appropriations made annually by the Eunomian Literary Society 

 and the Holcad management. 



This year, as has been our custom for seven years, we debated Iowa State 

 College and Purdue Universit}'. For the first time in four years we lost our 

 debates. The question for debate was, "Resolved, that the United States 

 -should adopt the cabinet-parliamentary system of government". The 

 young men representing Michigan Agricultural College were Arthur Dela- 

 marter, Howard Chapel, H. K. ]\Ienhenick, Victor Whittemore, S. P. Nelson 

 and J. B. Lazell. The first three constituted our affirmative team, which 

 met Iowa State College upon our home platform. The last three supported 

 the negative of the question and met Purdue's affirmative team at Lafayette. 

 We lost each debate by a 2-1 decision. Although we were not victorious 

 this year we have everj^ reason to congratulate ourselves upon the work of 

 our debaters. Each of our six men was making his first appearance in inter- 

 collegiate debate, and each acquitted himself well. Our men's analysis of 

 the question was good and their presentation of the argument pleasing. 

 Much credit is due to Professor Brees, who, as coach of the teams, prepared 

 them for the contest. In connection with out forensic activities I am greatly 

 pleased to inform 3'ou that Michigan Agricultural College has been granted 

 a chapter of Pi Kappa Delta, a national fraternit}^ of high standing. 



Special mention should be made of the commencement play "Ingomar" 

 given by the M. A. C. Dramatic Club under the direction of Associate 

 Professor E. S. King. Almost a thousand people saw the performance, 

 every seat being taken. The performance was of a high order of merit and 

 reflects great credit upon Professor King and the Dramatic Club. The part 

 of Ingomar was taken by Mr. D. V. Steere, that of Parthenia by Miss 

 Mary Emily Ratmey. 



On the whole, the year just closing has been one of the best the department 

 has ever kno^vni. Relative smallness of freshman sections has enabled us to 

 do much better teaching. We have Been able to see students improving 

 steadily from week to week. 



Among elective courses special mention should be made of Professor 

 Weaver's work with senior engineers. These courses, given this year for the 



