THE LITERARY SOCIETIES.

O observant student can truthfully say that properly conducted literary societies are not an important element in the complete scheme of a College education. Any student. who contemplates a future participation in the professional occupations of life, must necessarily acquire some previous training in the art of elocution, not only in its theoretical but also in its practical form.

In the section room the first may be gotten by diligent application and careful study, but even at those schools and colleges where periodical recitations and orations are required as a part of the system of elocutionary training, there is afforded very little opportunity for independent effort.

What the mind needs is opportunity for independent action, untrammeled by the arbitrary rules of our text books and the restricting influence of such teachers as are usually provided in ordinary schools and colleges. None of our Universities, we believe, attempt to teach elocution practically, but rather leave it to the individual inclination of each student, the literary societies found in all of them being the legitimate forum.

These observations are of universal application.

Our own societies, we are afraid, while they are moderately well attended, do not receive that share of attention from the older students which they deserve, and which would have a tendency to elevate their tone above that into which, although

there are many commendatory things to be predicated of them, they frequently fall through the heedless levity of some of the younger members, and we are constrained to almit also the thoughtlessness of men who should know better.

Some remarks on the past and present condition of the Graham Lee and the Washington Societies, are not out of place in this connection.

The session of '78-9, was not a prosperous one for the socie ties, growing, it was thought at the time, out of the fact that the medals which had previously been entirely under the control of the students, were that year controlled by a committee from the faculty.

Last year ('79-80) the faculty, at the request of the societics, relinquished the power which they had assumed, with results known to all who are sufficiently interested to care anything about it, and which none of us are willing to experience again. This year a new experiment has been tried, that of abolishing the medals altogether, and so far as we can see from what we have heard of the session of '78-9, with more prospect of succeeding in their aims without the disadvantages then incurred.

Whether the students feel that there is a difference in prin. ciple between their buying the medals and allowing the faculty to confer them, and having no medals at all, or whether there is a radical difference between the present and the old body of students with regard to inclinations to society work, we are not prepared to say, but are rather inclined to put it upon the former ground which we esteem well founded.

At any rate, the societies are both in good working order, with comparatively well filled treasuries, and considering our rather small number of members, accomplishing within their limited scope the purpose for which they are designed.

We urge upon those students who have not already connected themselves with one of the societies, the propriety of doing so at an early date, feeling confident that if done with an intention to conform to the rules and regulations, and work for the success of the society, they will feel proud in after life

to be able to refer to the Washington or the Graham Lee as the foster mother of elocutionary powers which are so necessary in a country like our own.

Of the law society we need say nothing. It is a very necessary part of a law student's course, and no one should fail to take advantage of it. Nearly all the "bicks" indulge in speech-making with good results, which they themselves must see more plainly than we an humble member of the brotherhood can describe.

Let us see the membership of our societies rise to propor-. tions more appropriate to the number of students in the University.

COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS.

E naturally feel loth to remonstrate with those who are so our seniors in years and experience; but, as the subject of Examinations is one in which we are particularly interested, we beg leave modestly to state our objections to the present system, and to make a few suggestions as to the course to be pursued. There are two powerful objections to the present system of Examinations. They consume time unnecessarily in preparation, and the intense and long-continued application implied in this preparation is absolutely pernicious to the mind, as calculated to destroy its powers. We suppose that it is not necessary to enter into a discussion to prove this last. It is self-evident. But if proof were necessary, many examples might be cited to prove the ill effects that always follow the taxing of the mind to its utmost capacity, or even of longcontinued mental strain. But it may be said that reviewing promotes thoroughness, and to this we cordially assent; but, while we think that reviews are good and even necessary, we also think that the whole month spent in examinations in each session might be more profitably employed, and employed in such a way as not to leave lasting ill effects on the minds of those students who are only too anxious to excel. It is evident,

and all our professors will tell you, that mere marks ought to occupy a very secondary place in our thoughts while at College; yet strange inconsistency! the same professors compel us to spend one-ninth of the whole year in standing (to say nothing of preparing for) examinations, which, while productive of no good, are irksome and disagreeable in every way, and all merely to ascertain marks! which might be ascertained just as well and a great deal more readily in some other way. Is this progress? Rather a standstill or retrogradation, and the little culture we have is using its strength to turn the wheel backward. This is no idle talk, but sentiments well matured and long entertained. One, or more than one perhaps, of our American Colleges have already taken a stand against the present system, and these will soon be followed by one of our great representative Colleges, representative, or rather we should say second to none, both in respect to the number of its students and the facilities which it offers for profound and extensive learning. We h pe to see the time when the present system of examinations will be abolished throughout American Colleges, and even in our own conservative Washington and Léc.

A CORRECTION.

E regret that the spirit of an editorial which appeared in our last issue has been misunderstood. Led by our sympathy for a fellow-student, and under a misapprehension of the facts of the case, we made an allusion, which we are now satisfied did grave injustice to a member of the Faculty. What we have since learned convinces us that the Professor's conduct in the case was all that could have been asked, and in the highest degree praiseworthy.

In the same article it is said that the examinations put up for the Latin, Greek and Mathematics medal were so difficult as to "give coloring to what has been suggested, that in some way the money for purchasing the medal has been exhausted,

and that members of the Faculty are careful not to put in the reach of applicants something that they would not have the means to purchase." The reference has been drawn that wẹ intended to endorse this supposition, and to intimate that funds had really been misused, and the examinations purposely put out of the reach of competitors, to save the money which the medal would cost. The words are unequivocal, but we did not intend to say that they expressed our opinion, which is quite the opposite, or personally to impugn the motives of any one of the Professors in question, for every one of whom we have the highest respect. It is evident, however, that whether the object of the Professors be to raise the grade of the institution, and this object we are personally inclined to assign to them, or whatever else it be, ambitious students are the sufferers; and we believe from the fact that the best men have for several years past failed to secure this medal, and that others have been deterred from applying for it; that the requirements are such as to render it practically unattainable, and to that extent, to defeat the purpose for which it was instituted, if, indeed, we are right in supposing that it was meant for this medal to be conferred on such men as the College finds itself able to produce. This is our opinion; and where there is room for difference of opinion, we shall always claim ours. The students have their point of view in these. matters, and we regard the COLLEGIAN as the proper channel for its presentation.

QUESTION FOR THE LITERARY SOCIETIES.

INCE the Honorable Board of Trustees has decided that we shall no longer bestow medals in the Societies, as a reward of merit, or otherwise, the question arises, What is to be the character of the joint celebration at Final? It is evident that the plan must be different from that of all former final celebrations, inasmuch as the remarks of the president and the replies of the recipients of the medals occupied a good portion of the whole time, which portion must now be filled