THE YALE LITERARY MAGAZINE.-Conducted by the Students of Yale University. This Magazine established February, 1836, is the oldest col- lege periodical in America; entering upon its Sixty-First Volume with the number for October, 1895. It is published by a board of Editors, annu- ally chosen from each successive Senior Class. It thus may be fairly said to represent in its general articles the average literary culture of the university. In the Notabilia college topics are thoroughly discussed, and in the Memor- abilia it is intended to make a complete record of the current events of college life; while in the Book Notices and Editors' Table, contemporary publications and exchanges receive careful attention. Contributions to its pages are earnestly solicited from students of all depart- ments, and may be sent through the Post Office. They are due the 1st of the month. If rejected, they will be returned to their writers, whose names will not be known outside the Editorial Board. A Gold Medal of the value of Twenty-five Dollars, for the best written Essay, is offered for the com- petition of all undergraduate subscribers, at the beginning of each academic The Magazine is issued on the 15th day of each month from October to June, inclusive; nine numbers form the annual volume, comprising at least 360 A limited number of advertisements will be inserted. The character and All communications, with regard to the editorial management of the IT ON SHAMS. T is always easy to criticise, and it is but natural for a college man to stand out against the accusations of outsiders. It is even easier to praise, and quite too natural to assume an attitude of blind enthusiasm, and make statements, inspired by one's pride in Yale, the untutored optimism of which is the very sign of their inherent weakness. We are assailed now and then by the outside press and by individuals with criticisms. On the other hand, we are quite accustomed to the general line of college editorials, flatly contradicting each and every derogatory remark, upholding with intense enthusiasm every word of praise, and wearying the thoughtful reader with the incessant round of stereotyped phrases, whose general tone disgusts instead of interests him. We are not boys to be cajoled with the toys of phrases, we are not so verdant as to be bought with a few lines of printed panegyrics. What we need and what we want is some sound criticism, and if we are men and not bebadged and thoughtless numskulls we will read the lesson rightly. It is not hard for an observer to see that we are not right in all things here at Yale. Indeed, it is an insult to the college to take any other view than one of kindly criticism, as it is a "libel on the human race" to be any other than a pessimist. Under the outward appearances, below all the so-called joys of these few years lurks a poisonous undercurrent, that spreads itself into all the roots and fibres of our college life, and anon rises menacingly and lowering into view. On the sustinence that such a life-blood can give, grow and foster all the branches of our work. There is no man, whether he be high or low, whether he be strong, or weakly in the current, who does not feel it. He may be only a simple scholar, unknown to many of his class, but his life at Yale has been embittered, his struggles for victory over himself and his work have been left without a recognition, because of this blight on our fair fame. He may come here neither to become a great scholar nor to win the honors attendant on success in literature, his only aim may be to broaden himself into a Man, but if he lacks the ambition to attain position by questionable means, if he has not in him the worshipful spirit of reverence to a would-be Hero, his life here is dwarfed, narrowed, browbeaten into a sullen silence, and he leaves at the end with tears in his eyes, perhaps, for the tender associations of the few friends as noble and as independent as himself, and with inward cries of rage at the system of things that has brought it thus. It is all true, absolutely true. The materialism of undergraduate life to-day is something enormous in its reaching and portentous in its meaning. It is but a sad product of the spirit of our forefathers when they built these halls, it is but a dreary foundation for the coming generation to build upon. We are neither the students nor the Men that our predecessors were. A materialism insinuating in its oiliness has crept in upon us unawares and throttled us,—a materialism so deep-reaching that true scholarship is fancied but a mean goal to strain for in a college education,—a materialism so penetrating as to make a literary success a means to a social success,—a |