Freshman into the mysteries of "smoking out" and "water-squirting," but these are kept up more by custom than any really hostile spirit. In fact, there is just enough class spirit to keep up a healthy rivalry between classes, and to bind firmly together those whose common labors and common pleasures bring them into such close union.

Course of Instruction.

The means and appliances for training and developing the minds of those who enter this Institution are gradually changing. There is an evident striving after more thorough scholarship. Examinations are more searching. Instead of depending on the chances of oral questioning, they are now almost wholly decided by the more sure test of written answers to printed questions. And written exercises and examinations are now much oftener employed than hitherto. There is also a tendency to attach greater importance to the sciences, both physical and metaphysical; not at all, however, to the exclusion of a proper and thorough study of the languages, both ancient and modern. We notice, in passing, that the German Language is now engaging the attention of students much more than in former years.

The rules of discipline here have been handed down from generation to generation, almost from time immemorial. To Discipline. read through the College laws, gives one the idea that he is in the midst of a despotism, or under an absolute monarchy. The student's sleeping and waking hours are guarded by law with the greatest exactness. His actions are watched with the keenest scrutiny. Suspicion seems to be the ruling spirit of the officers, and, as a natural consequence, the freaks of the students are more sly and mischievous. There is a great want of openness in the relations of officer and student. The rule that guides the officers in the discharge of their duties, in suspected cases, is, that a man is guilty until he is proved innocent. Threatening takes the place of friendly warning, and personal jealousy or irritation sometimes overrides prudence and even justice. Time honored custom presents no barrier, when private ends are to be attained or personal hostility satisfied.

The present graduating class has had more trouble with the Faculty than generally falls to the lot of a single class. When one of their number was dismissed for reasons slight and ill-considered, they united their influence in praying for his return, and he was returned. When an honor, which custom and common justice made their due, was denied them, and, because they grumbled, a new honor was created to appease them, they unanimously rejected it, and preferred to lose the pleasure of assisting in the inauguration of their new President,

rather than sacrifice their dignity to the whim of a committee of the Faculty.

When, at another time, it was threatened that the Glee Club, of which they constituted a large majority, should be broken up on account of a supposed interference with the College Choir, they added new life to its organization, and put its reputation on a firmer basis. They have many times protested against the police regulations of the government, and have tried to secure the adoption of a more manly and honorable course, but with little success. This reformation must be the result of time. Again, at the end of our College course, long custom has again been violated, in giving the salutatory oration to one whose rank alone would give him a dissertation. We complained of it, but the common answer was given-"What we have done, we have done;" and now all that is left for us is to advise any in the coming classes, who would stand some chance of getting high College honors, to make Latin their elective for the Senior year. To show their respect for the late President of the College, the class of 1860, which had been longest under his administration, have secured a first class painting of him, and will present it to the University, to be hung up in Harvard Hall. The portrait is by Mr. Wm. M. Hunt, of Newport, and, besides being a great painting, it is a most perfect likeness of the venerable President.

News.

The class of 1860 is the largest that has ever graduated. Fortysix commencement parts have been given out, but we trust that not more than two-thirds of them will be spoken. For the thought of more than four hours, on a hot day and in a crowded church, is enough to frighten even the most courageous. We think that a selection on the part of the government, of about twenty-five good writers and speakers, would make Commencement much pleasanter, both for the graduating class and their friends.

VII.-UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT.

THE Summer Term of the University begins with an Exhibition of the Sophomore Class, on the Thursday nearest the 20th of May, (this year on May 17,) and continues eleven weeks, closing with Commence

ment Day on the first Wednesday in August. As the Sophomore Exhibition is not common to all American Colleges, it hibition. may not be amiss for us to speak of it somewhat at length. Every member of the Class is expected to share in it, unless prevented by sickness or other unavoidable hindrance.

Sophomore Ex

The object of the exercise is chiefly to call out the most earnest efforts of the Student in writing and speaking at an early period in his course, thus changing the dry routine of writing compositions to the more pleasant task of investigating and expressing truth. The topics discussed are not intended to be of a distinctively philosophical character. The causes and results of particular historical events, the character and influence of individuals and associations, and practical questions of general application are treated in short orations and essays, of some six or eight minutes each.

This Exhibition is not made so prominently a public exercise as are those that occur later in the course. Those are held in a public room"down town," while this comes off in the College Chapel. (It will be remembered that the U. V. M. buildings are on an eminence above the village of Burlington.) The public, however, is always cordially invited; and our Chapel is always full on the day or evening of the exhibition. Here, too, the speakers are arranged alphabetically, and no honorary appointments are made. In the Junior Exhibition, and on Commencement Day, they are arranged in reference to the intrinsic merits of the orations and the general effect of the exercises. During the Summer Term, opportunity is given to as many as wish to take up the Modern Languages. A class of volunteers from the Sophomores may take up French, while a similar opportunity is given the Juniors to study German. Classes may be formed in other Modern Languages, but none have engaged in them recently. Little encouragement is offered for the extensive study of modern tongues, of which we may say more at another time.

Modern Languages.

Duties of the

During the Summer Term, the Freshmen read Roman History, Tacitus, and Geometry. The Sophomores finish the Summer Term. Pure Mathematics with the Calculus, read Thucydides, and hear lectures on Chemistry. The Juniors finish the Classical Course-except Plato-with the Greek Drama, and have lectures and readings on Crystallography, Mineralogy, and Comparative Anatomy and Physiology. The Seniors are finishing their course with the Evidences of Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Geology. In the former branches they have the excellent direction and instruction of Prof. Torrey; in the latter, beside their lectures and readings, they make some interesting exploring trips with Prof. Hungerford. They usually

close the regular labors of the Term about the first of July, so as to gain a few days' respite before their final examination and graduation.

All classes are expected to spend their spare time, during the latter Summer Exam- part of this Term, in reviewing for examination. As a inations. good standing is the highest honor given in the U. V. M., and as the Professors will persist in ruthlessly cutting down all who do not sustain a thorough examination, there is considerable anxiety among us about this time. Some fear they will lose their place in the "first third;" some are anxious to win their way to that goal; and others still are laboring earnestly to reach the "Rubicon Ten," which they must pass in order to go on with their class. These examinations commence on the 16th of July,-the third Monday before Commencement, and continue about two weeks. After these are finished, the several classes hold their annual celebrations or "Class Suppers." The Secret Societies, of which we have three,-the Lambda Iota, or "Owls," the Sigma Phi, and the Delta Psi,-have private celebrations during Commencement Week. The annual meeting of the Phi Beta Kappa takes place on Saturday before Commencement, July 28th. The Society, as also the AssoWeek. ciate Alumni, holds a biennial celebration on Thursday of Commencement Week.

Secret Societies.

Commencement

The several public exercises will be as follows:

Sunday, July 29.

Baccalaureate Sermon, at 2 P. M., by Pres. Pease.

Celebration of the Society for Religious Inquiry, at 7 P. M. Address by S. S. Cutting, D. D., of Rochester, N. Y.

Tuesday, July 31.

Celebration of the Associate Alumni, at 10 A. M. Orator, Hon. E.. C. Palmer, St. Pauls, Min. Poet, James H. Scott, Esq., of New York. Celebration of the Literary Societies, (the Phi Sigma Nu and University Institute,) at 2 P. M. Orator, G. B. Cheever, D. D., of New York. Exhibition of the Junior Class, at 71⁄2 P. M.

Wednesday, August 1.

Commencement Day,-Speaking of candidates for graduation, at 10

A. M.

Public celebration of the Sigma Phi Society, at 3 P. M. Orator, Prof. A. D. White, of Michigan University. Poet, Samuel Burnham, Esq., of Boston, Mass.

The National Guard Band, of New York, will furnish music for the various exercises of Commencement Week.

VIII.-WILLIAMS COLLEGE.

COLLEGE life at Williams during the summer term has many pleasures which are not enjoyed in the other portions of the year. These pleasures are sought chiefly out-of-doors, and away from the more immediate routine of College duties. Williamstown has long been famous for its attractive scenery. The mountains, which guard us on every side, are rich in their treasures of beauty, and entice us to frequent rambles upon their rugged sides. Thus the thoughtful student finds pleasure in uniting the study of the College text-book with that of Nature's book, which is constantly open before him.

Summer Recreations.

Aside from these mountain tramps, the sports of the "Campus" are in high repute. The "discus" and " pila" have their especial favorites, and occasionally a healthy excitement is caused by a match-game of ball between chosen champions of different classes. Foot-ball is not so popular among us. A somewhat unusual occurrence was a game of this kind a few weeks since, between the Sophomore and Freshman classes. The Freshmen were victorious, but the Sophomores have since retrieved their lost honor by a victory in a game of round-ball. Occasionally, friendly contests are provoked with neighboring Colleges, and arrangements have been made for a match-game of ball between representatives of Amherst and Williams, at Westfield, on the coming "Fourth of July." A chess tournament between chosen champions of the same Colleges has been arranged for the same time and place.

The Senior Examination took place on the 19th and 20th of June. Senior Exami- This examination is oral, and conducted by the Profesnation. sors, and Rev. gentlemen "from abroad." It comprises in its review the studies of the Junior and Senior years, and though occupying but two days, is yet considered very thorough. At least we might infer as much, from the peculiar interest with which it is anticipated by the Seniors. When once the ordeal is past, however, they are very free in their accounts of perfect examinations, often seeming to undergraduates quite incredible. The honors of the graduating class are as follows: