A DIVISION OF LABOR.

It comes over us every so often that if we were only more sensible, we would be judicious in the appointment of our fellow students to positions in the various organizations which play such a considerable part in our existence, and see to it that these positions, with their responsibilities, were so apportioned that they would be most acceptably filled. The economic principle of the division of labor applies equally as well in this undergraduate community as anywhere. If it were carefully applied, the result would be positions filled more successfully and greater peace of mind for the few individuals who are now imposed upon to the extent of doing most of the work.

The writer has in mind that character familiar to all of us and so deserving of sympathy. The energetic and able young man, who is careless enough to show his ability early in his career, finds himself at the end of his Junior year the secretary of this organization, the treasurer of that, a member of an executive committee of still another society, and probably implicated more or less in athletics at the same time. When he is finally chosen for a class committee in his last year, he will probably begin to realize the absurdity of the whole thing. First to be neglected is his College work and then his various duties are liable to suffer in the reverse order in which he esteems them.

The fault as a rule lies more with the men who are responsible for the appointment than the man himself. It is praiseworthy to desire an active part in the affairs in which one is interested; it is unfortunate when a man is obliged to take more on his shoulders than he should attempt because other freer men will not. What is the remedy? Make sure that the man appointed is not already burdened with more than he can carry. Strive to bring out more men in each class available for offices by a wider selection of committees and the like in the early part of the life of the class and have more respect for the man himself.

Our College life will be saner when we distribute our labors carefully and thus strive to strike a more perfect balance between the two ultras, automatic officers and automatic loafers.