Volume VI. Number 1 (c ~ March 25, 1911 j · . lIninn mitrrary &nrirtu .tr!ttgsn &tatt i\gritultural cnlllltgr .e .e East fjsnsing, .td,tgan .e J9 Vol. VI East Lansing, Mich., March 25, 1911 No.1 When the builders of the original Lit House raced across the campus to see whO' cDuld throw the first shDvelful Df dirt, they thDught that they were beginning a house that WDuid meet the needs of the Society fDr all time. But now the U. L. S. finds itself quite in the predicament of wondering hDW it ever gDt along in the old building-just as it dDubtless won dered twenty years ago how it ever got along in the basement of Wells Hall. On returning to' cDllege last fall after the summer vaca tion, we had to' accustom oursE;'lves to the new quarters. But it did not take long to become accustDmed to the additional spa ce. Few nights now pass but that a group gathers in the den aft er supper, and continually the f,ellows drop in through out the day to' spend a few moments, Dr a spare hDur, studying, visit in g, or reading the magazines. We subscribe regularly to' McClure's, The World's Work, Life, and the Saturday Evening Post. On Sunday afternoons quite often guests are entertained, and on Sunday evenings it has become the custom fDr as many fellows as can to meet in the den, and enjoy a supper In this way, great which has been 'prepared by a cDmmittee. use is made Df the house, and the fellowship Df the society is promoted. Our fall term party was held in the building, and it proved the need and utility of the alterations, fDr it was by far the most delightful dance held in recent years. The as sembly room was lighted by real pumpkin jack-D'-lanterns on the walls, and the ceiling lights were hung with clusters of autumn leaves. Upstairs in the library were more such lan terns and leaves, and a wigwam of corn stalks made a cosy corner in one end Df the room. The den was left untouched it seems that nO' decoratiDns could improve that home-like - room. The value of the literary and business meetings is greatly enhanced. The assembly room is large and airy, and it has fine acoustic properties.. Such meetings as Faculty night, Alumni night, and open meetings fill it to the limit, but the crowding so often met with on similar occasiDns formerly is not felt in the least now. The parlDr makes an attractive re- • ception room, as does also the library upstairs. The latter has also been used several times for business meetings. Another improvement is the installation of an electric pressing iron in the basement in place of the smoky, dusty charcoal ones that used to litter up most of the basement. The fellows now can do all their pressing at a most reasonable expense, and with but little time and trouble. The basement, too, contains remnants of boards, etc., from the operations last spring, that keep the fireplace in the den well supplied with / fuel. On the whole, we feel that the house now more fully meets the needs of the Society, and that the changes were without doubt warranted by the spirit of growth which is pervading the college. Many Alumni have visited us, and their expressions have been only those of a.pproval and com mendation. It is hoped that the cuts found elsewhere in this issue will convey to tho'le who have not seen it, an idea of the interior of the house as it now is. Mr. Gunson's host of friends in the society will regret to learn of his impaired health. For the past several weeks he has been feeling very miserable. He is now spending a couple of weeks in North Carolina to get a rest from his many duties here. If good wishes avail anything, he will return to us soon, his old self again. One of the saddest blows which the Society has sustained in many years came in the news that Frank J. Phillips, ' 03, had ended his own life in Nebraska where he was head of the Forestry Department in the University. Failing health is sup posed to be the cause. The deepest sympathy of every Lit brother goes out to Mrs. Phillips and her son, Frank, Jr. A U. L. S. Christmas party was held the first week after the winter vacation. By lottery, each member was assigned some other member to purchase a present for, same not to exceed twenty-five cents in cost. Mr. Gunson, as Santa, handed them out from a miniature tree, and the jokes that were sprung made much ·merriment. The classes got together and made presents to the house, too. The Seniors gave two wall brackets with tungsten lamps and shades; the Juniors, a punch bowl, glasses and engraved silver ladle; the Sophomores, a table for the parlor; and the Freshmen, a 8tand lamp for the library table. wqr Inion tit Published at the Michigan State Agricultural College during the tenth week of each term, by the UNION LITERARY SOCIETY, East Lansing, Michigan. K. D. VAN WAGENEN, '11 G. V. BRANCH, '12 G. L. DIMMICK, '11 Editor Asst. Editor Business Manager VOL. VI MARCH 25, 1911 No.1 Address Alumni news to the Assistant Editor. Business communi cations to the Business Manager. Subscription, 50 cents per year. The proposition devised by the Finance Committee, which appears in this issue, is in a measure responsible for the non-appearance of our fall term issue. We wanted to have a clear cut program outlined, and it took time to consider and perfect it. Another reason which aided its postponement was the financial one. But E. E. Nies, '08, came to the rescue, and donated the services ' of his printing establishment for three issues, as his pledge towards the building fund, and the result of this courtesy you have before you. We were gratified, how ever, at the number of inquiries about our fall term tssue. With a new building, and a debt, it seemed necessary to have the constitution of the Society revised, in order that new officers be created, duties be definitely outUned, and obsolete parts be eliminated. The revised constitution was drafted, debated, approved, typewritten, and bound-the old one being included for the sake of preservation. The original constitu tion, dated 187·6, in faded ink on yellowed paper, is with us yet. About seventy-five couples gathered at the Commencement meeting last June, and the Hall-barely completed and with varnish hardly even dried-was overtaxed. The banquet was the largest since the Semi-Centennial, but at the Alumni busi ness meeting not as many attended as was hoped for. Some 18 men gathered together, five of whom were charter members. $ 2 8 9 was raised, of which $119 was in cash. ®ur IJ1tuaurinl ~tntu!l It is always a s·ource of great satisfaction for one who is contributing to any sort of a financial enterprise to know that the money given has been Judiciously expended and careful record kept of all tile transactions. The Society has been very careful in all the building op erations to see that it realized full value for the money spent and that accounts were carefully kept. Without exception, every alumnus who has had a chance to see the remodeled house, has been more than enthusiastic over the work and please,d at the outcome. Not one adverse criticism has been heard on the plans that were carried out or the price paid. The financial system used has also been complete and well handled by first the finance committee and then the registrar. A card index system of all pledges and payments is used and prompt notification given when pledges are due. It is our purpose in each issue of the Union Lit to give the al umni a financial report of the building fund not especially as a reminder to those who are behind in payments, but to show all who are interested just what moneys are taken in and dis bursed. Mr. E. C. Sanford, the present registrar, has prepared the following report which will doubtless be of interest: REGISTRAR'S REPORT Receipts From Alumni From Active Members From Initiation fees From Alumni dues From Mortgage, American Savings Bank From Note, W. K. Prudden Surplus from old building fund Sinking fund '09-'10 Total Disbursements To J. C. Hagameir, materials and labor To E. A. Bowd, plans and specifications To Ed Gibbons, plumbing and supplies To W. M. Ball, furniture To Silver Lead Paint Co., supplies To Mich. Agricultural College, supplies $1434 10 356 60 35 00 15 00 2000 00 361 00 103 23 61 90 $4368 83 $3290 39 111 30 230 63 227 25 100 60 150 27 wqt Ntw 'rnpnaitinn For some time to come the active L·it will be faced with the fact that there is a good wholesome debt on the Society's hands. This fact has both a stimulating and depressing effect. It prompts a ction, but it also gets on the nerves like any other debt. Hence we have, with the Alumni Advisory Committee, had much discussion as to just the best way to make that $ 2,400 mortgage nat urally shrivel up and die. To be sure the new system of alumni dues together with the $5 initiation fee which is now charged new members, will in time make an im pression, but it will take lots of time-somewhere around In 'that time the fifteen years. Here is what grinds, though. so ciety will have paid out of the pockets of the active members some ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN INTEREST. Now don't think that the active members are not willing to dig down for the a pproximate $125 a year. What we dislike is that this amo unt of money cannot be applied on the principal. If some scheme ,could he worked out whereby there would be no in terest to pay, then the payment of the debt would be compara tively simple. The active members could pledge-say $100 a year out of the treasury, and this together with the initiation fees and Alumni dues would take care of the principal in from seven to ten years. It was E. W. Ranney of Greenville who first suggested the following proposition which we are going to submit to our Alumni. Mr. Ranney is a 1900 Lit who now makes refrig erators, but he hasn't grown cold. He is one of the most en thusiastic supporters of old U. L. S. Mr. Ranney was here the other day and we quote his own words: "Why shouldn't I be loyal? I put in four of the greatest years of my life here and won an M. A. C. wife." The Proposition Mr. Ranney wants to be the first of twenty-five Alumni Lits to lend the Society $100 for not to exceed ten years, with out interest. This would enable the Society to payoff the interest-bearing mortgage whHe the donations of those who made the loans would consist of the interest-they getting the principal back proportionally each year or in a lump sum at the end of a specifi·ed time. Now surely among nearly five hundred Alumni Lits this is not an unreasonable proposition. Maybe such a loan would brighten up your interest in old U. L. S. and freshen the memories of old days. Why not pre sent that boy with the Society's note for $100 so that he will have a nice little start when he gets ready for college? Think i~. ,over, talk it up with your old classmates and then help us to make this movement a success. I , \ ) wqr Ntw Jrnpn.&Uinn To be sure, many have already made cash donations. We are mightily thankful for these, but if you have a hundred to' spare don't let that previous contribution balk a good inten tion. MDreover, there is about 85 per cent. Df our Alumni mem bership which has not respDnded at all as yet. If you are among this number give this proposition unusual considera tion. U. L . S. must certainly prDmpt a "respons.ive interest" in the hearts of more than fifteen per cent. Df its old members. This scheme has the hearty approval of the Alumni Ad visory Committee---Messrs. W. K. Prudden, O. C. Howe and Thomas Gunson-sO' don't feel that it has nDt been well con sidered. If it meets your apprDval let us know immediately. You will hear more in detail later. m~r &tatr Ql)ratnriral