admission of the separate constituents. If a doubtful connection is found uncongenial for some reason to many, and yet is insisted upon, why upon another ground may not there be a similar successful appeal? If upon such various and conflicting qualifications, societies become organized, where, with an understanding among all of their admirable endowments and a consequent pride in defending their value, is there much prospect of an harmonious union, and of that strength which is its natural result? For the purposes for which they were founded, in accordance with the convictions of the members themselves, the changes in societies are fairly made. And here again the beauty of the system is to be observed. The after fittingly supplement the former organizations; and by judiciously rearranging associations according as time and culture develop in different degrees, the members of a class perform, in a public manner, an act of justice to all. Jealousy truly may ensue, but it is little more than was naturally arising from the steady shifting of companionship, independent of distinctive societies.

But yet there remains one feature of college life, to which some are pleased to point as conclusive evidence of class injustice. While it may be conceded that the constitution of societies is based upon just grounds, it is yet urged that, in their working, they obtain an undue and even criminal influence over matters involving the welfare and happiness of the private members of the class. As a specific instance they refer to The Coalition!-that mysterious agency which galvanizes into metallic life inanimate politicians, and which like Jonah's gourd is the creation of a night. It is held indeed by some, suspected of some acquaintance with the wires of that powerful battery, that all political action in college is of the nature of robbery; and that to enjoy the spoils is conditional upon connection with the theft. The worth of this argument may be denied, as not only due to the truth of this subject, but also in justice to some of those, who, in partaking of the fruits of such combination, must rightly be little thankful for the dubious compliment paid in their defense. Let us take, for example, the coalition which is formed for the election of the Wooden Spoon Committee. By arrangement, two of the three societies of the Junior Year, secure the choice of the most worthy candidate in one of the uniting societies. Now what is the design of this institution? To set over against the pride of scholarship the honored character of the gentleman —the man :—not to throw discredit upon the former, nor to intimate any natural antagonism between the two, but to show that while we appreciate his worth who shall educate and lead society, we also esVOL. XXVIII. 43

teem him who shall grace and ennoble it. Is there dissatisfaction after the choice of the nine is announced? Do not all acknowledge the fitness of the tribute? Is there not at the basis of the coalition a deep sense of duty to some deserving man? How then can one raise a charge of injustice in this connection? While the usual and controlling motive in these unions must be justice, there may be supposed a case in which after justice is satisfied in the choice of one, injustice may take to herself the credit of the many companions. Suppose there may be some who have enjoyed in a high degree the affection of all their classmates-an affection justly felt for unmatched virtues of head and heart; but also may, to satisfy the grasping and unbecoming avarice of a very few, be supplanted by those, who, with no doubt many amiable qualities also, have not perhaps succeeded in sufficiently displaying them beyond a very limited circle, as to excuse a palpable and painful act of injustice. In such a case the matter passes from the selfish control of any society into the hands of a disappointed and indignant class. Of what character is the audience before which a whole class sends a chosen few as representatives? The most refined and cultivated assembly of the year, drawn thither from all sections of the country, personally interested in the success of the occasion, and anxious to compare their ideal college heroes with the actual; moreover, graduates filled with memories of former glorious festivals; an expectant class, having tried their best to show what men they have to boast of and to feel an honest pride in; and lower classes, critical, and in great measure able to leave behind the verdict upon the value of the whole class, derived from its partial exhibition. It is a question for each candid man to take home to himself,-how far am I responsible for the good name of the class? There may be some who come to this University to negotiate treaties, to appease a prurient itch for public notice, to cast firebrands of hatred and envy among a small collection of men; but there are many more who, before entering public life, with its corroding cares, its unkind and selfish struggles, would, if they might, gather here a little treasure of esteem and respect, to become hereafter a refreshing memory. The fact that similar sentiments became the common language of the whole college, and that to offset them, arguments, in confession, are made, to prove that latent is better than patent worth, attest the natural and ruling love of justice which is the principle of college life.

In conclusion, in college life, independent of societies, of all social and political distinctions, men generally are fairly estimated. It is true that where good qualities are, from any reason, withdrawn from public

notice, a lower judgment is passed upon them than they merit; but upon all who challenge general scrutiny, a reasonably impartial verdict is bestowed. There is about the same sense of justice here as in the world, and hence, it must be a governing principle here, for no one distrusts the instinctive and universal love of equity which controls and dignifies society at large. Should fairness ever be held in somewhat more esteem than now, perhaps the old days of energy and enthusiasm would return, for high positions, then filled, not merely occupied, would contain those who would add to the union displayed in support of college institutions, the ability to defend them, and thus relieve many from the necessity of apologizing for the decay of college spirit.

My Search for Health.

No sooner did a certain distinguished friend of mine, editor of the Lit., behold me returned to these classic scenes, than he begged me to make public the heroic deeds which he thought that I, pro mea virtute, must have performed during my absence. In his suppositions he was correct, for my nature, ever hostile to repose, has with irresistible impulse urged me to the accomplishment of feats compared to which the piling of Ossa on Pelion, and rolling on Ossa "leafy Olympus," was but a trifle.

When deified Esculapius ordained that I should leave for a while the fields of my many collegiate triumphs, I retired to L―, a town that boasts itself the crowning wonder of that all-beauteous State, New Jersey; where I was received with greater honors than the cities of old bestowed upon the Olympic victors, for while a breach was made in the walls for their entrance, I entered in a pair of breeches.

Our family medical adviser enjoined upon me to take exercise, and accordingly my father procured a horse, recommended especially for his meekness; not that I am in the least timid, but the state of my health forbade excitement.

Early one morning the intelligent quadruped was dragged up to the door. Never shall I forget his appearance. The careless grace of every movement, the philosophical indifference to things around him expressed by his half-closed eyes, and the horizontal sway of the

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ears about that intellectual forehead. Like another Alexander approaching another Bucephalus, I marched to his side, took hold of the saddle with both hands, and was about to mount, when the small boy in attendance remarked sub voce, "T'other side, Sir." I am averse to unnecessary exertion. After a moment's thought as to whether it would be shorter to go round his head or round his tail, I concluded to take the middle course and crawl under him. I now placed my boot in the stirrup, but was interrupted by a "T'other foot, Sir." The suggested change was made, and my first effort to get up resulted in an abortion of a hop. Charles," said my father, "before you put your leg over the horse, you had better lift it from the ground." The force of this observation struck me, and having essayed another hop, I managed to raise my foot a little, when it most unaccountably swung under the horse, and I found myself in a fine position to enrich science by observations on shooting stars. Miss Parson's female seminary turned the corner at this moment. My chivalrous devotion to the sex inspired me with a new energy. Mustering all my strength, with a prodigious spring I plunged desperately over the steed, caught my toe in the crupper, and hung across him like a meal bag, till, by a sort of circus feat, I wriggled into an erect posture, and after a minute of serene triumph, proceeded to insert my boots into the stirrups. "Turn the stirrups t'other way," said the boy. Wherefore?" said I, justly incensed at his continued impertinencies. "Coz then if you falls off, you a'n't so likely to hang and drag." Not so likely! Then there's a possibility of it in either case! In great emergencies I am always self-possessed. "Hold this horse," I said, calmly but decisively, "I'm going to get off." My father hit the animal with his cane and he started off toward the advancing school-girls. I don't think his horizontal motion would have produced any sensible change in the aberration of the fixed stars, but the way he went up and down was uncommon. Remembering a picture of a certain jockey of repute who was represented as leaning forward, I leaned forward and thought I'd try if I could reach round his neck. Oh horror! He directs his course on to the side-walk; I hear the shrieks of the terrified females; some one says something about reins, but in times of peril, when one is preparing himself for another world, what has he to do with reins? I am conscious of being in the midst of the fair creatures, of gradually slipping from my seat, and am conscious of nothing more till I find myself on my own bed. I have never seen that horse since, and I don't want to see him.

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The word exercise, though apparently a harmless tri-syllable of re

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a

spectable parentage, became to my ears a frightful bug-bear. It was the burden of entreaties, threats, and expostulations, aimed at my distracted head, until finally father bought me a fowling piece on condition I should use it every pleasant day. On the first pleasant day, therefore, he urged the fulfillment of my promise, and I resolved to gratify him. Just over my window, under the eaves of the house, was a swallow's nest, where a feathered matron was superintending the diet of six or seven young ones. I loaded both barrels, and having adjusted the gun scientifically on a chair, carefully sighted it through the blinds, attached a string to the triggers, passed this through the key-hole of a clothes-press, shut myself therein, pulled, and fainted away. When I came to myself I was the center of a group of distressed relatives, in whose minds the prevailing impression seemed to be that, having shot myself, I had crawled into the closet to die, for they had materially disarranged my morning's toilet and were seeking for a wound. "Where is it, Charles? Where is it?" they exclaimed in agonized tones. "Is it gone?" said I. "The wound, Charley, the wound?" 66 'Well," I replied, "I fired both barrels at once, and at pretty short range, and I guess if there's anything left it's mostly wound." Saying which I gracefully held up my pants with one hand while I cleared my way to the window with the other, and thence. contemplated the absence not only of the swallows and nest, but also of about a yard and a half of roof. There's a gun locked up in my father's closet, which he will sell at half-price.

About a month afterwards I found a copy of Walton's Angler in the library, and was so much pleased with it that I resolved to become a fisherman, and I indulged in several blissful day-dreams about meeting milk-maids and getting them to sing for me. The subject (minus the milk-maids) was discussed at the dinner-table, and father, influenced, I think, mainly by the consideration that I couldn't blow up the house with a fish-pole, equipped me throughout after a picture of an angler in our tailor's fashion plates. The coat, with its innumerable pockets, was pleasing to look at, and wonderful as an exhibition of human ingenuity; but it had its disadvantages. I didn't wear it when I went fishing, and as its history is altogether a thing by itself, I will relate it here. When I had distributed a gross of Limerick's among its countless receptacles, I tried it on. I couldn't put my hand into a pocket except at the risk of lock-jaw. I couldn't sit down for fear of fish-hooks, I couldn't turn round for fear of fish-hooks, I felt generally like a porcupine with his quills struck in. When I took it off it dragged all my other clothes with it, and as no one dared touch the brist