DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 129 



a debater and in the moulding of character as well. Of the debates in 

 which a decision was rendered our team won twice as many debates as 

 it lost. It is with great pleasure that I have read the comments made 

 on the team in the papers published by the students of the institutions 

 in which our men debated. Our boys acquitted themselves as debaters 

 and as men. Thej won gallantly and lost gallantly. They were freely 

 accorded the superiority in one institution in which no formal decision 

 was rendered. They left on the minds of those Avho heard them a most 

 favorable impression of our forensic activities, our debaters, and the in- 

 stitution which sent them forth. 



In connection with our debates I wish to refer to their financial sup- 

 port. Some ten years ago when the blanket tax was first adopted the 

 student body and the faculty recommended that a definite i)erceutage 

 of this tax to be devoted to our forensic contests. The Board of Agricul- 

 ture, however, decided that instead of dividing the blanket tax the Board 

 itself would get behind these contests and support them adequately, even 

 generoush', through an annual grant of funds to tlie English Department 

 This policy has been adhered to consistently. With financial support 

 assured, our contests have been a credit to the institution. More students 

 try out for our teams, our debates improve in quality from year to year, 

 and more and more it has become clear that our debaters go out from 

 M. A. C. as graduates of whom we are proud. They show after graduation 

 that they possess genuine ability to make themselves felt for good in the 

 life of the State. I ask that you satisfy yourself of these facts and that 

 the financial backing promised us under a preceding administration be 

 forthcoming year after year. Mr. Milne has devoted himself to our contest 

 work with great ability, and the carrying on of these debates takes much 

 of the time of others besides the coach. We give this time gladly and ask 

 in turn that our efforts receive full administrative support. 



Two plays were given this year under the direction of Professor King. 

 In the fall term a modern comedj' was given in the auditorium of the 

 People's Church. The house was crowded, and the play was well received. 

 In the spring term the annual commencement play in the Forest of Arden 

 was given, the play chosen this time bein^ "The Merry Wives of Wind- 

 sor". All members of the cast conducted themselves creditably and a 

 large number of people saw the performance, eveiy seat being taken. 



I wish to express my appreciation of the very fine service rendered 

 by the mennbers of my staff and of the splendid spirit with which the men 

 carried a schedule which was at times excessively heavy. I wish to thank 

 you for the interest which you have shown in us and to express the hope 

 that the Department of English may develop rapidly under your adminis- 

 tration. I firmly believe that it would be wise to establish without delay 

 a major in English in the Division of Applied Science. Already we have 

 the teaching staff and the courses of instruction for major work. Wben 

 the University is so crowded with students as to be clamoring for relief 

 and when many excellent young people here are eager to take more Eng- 

 lish than is permitted in any one division, it would, I am convinced, be 

 to the interest of all concerned to establish a major in English. With 

 such a major established I should have much less difficulty in obtaining 

 and holding a teaching staff of high grade. I frequently lose men who 

 wis:h to go to other institutions where major work is given by the Depart- 

 ment of English. Last year, for instance, I lost Mr. Greene, a fine in- 



