But since we cannot give more quotations, we commend every one, who wishes to read a most entertaining book of travel, to the work itself. We know not how much confidence to give M. About's views of Greek character, but they certainly are deserving of attention, as he had unusual facilities for observation. Brittany and La Vendee; Tales and Sketches. By EMILE SOUVESTRE, New York: Dix, Edwards & Co. For sale by T. H. Pease. A volume of short and graphic tales, some of which have been made familiar to the public, by translations in the magazines. They are, apparently, truthful delineations of character and life for a field comparatively unknown. Prefixed to the translation is a biographical notice of the author. Life of Tai-Ping Wang, Chief of the Chinese Insurrection. By. J. MILLON MACKIE. New York: Dix, Edwards & Co. For sale by T. H. Pease. We hardly know what to make of this book. Its outside is fancifully decorated with Chinese characters, and English letters that look like Chinese, and the internal matter consists of a strange mixture of facts, and fiction founded on fact. The book is very entertaining, as indeed everything is which the author writes. But it is unpleasant to peruse a book which is neither fiction nor history, as this seems to be. You cannot tell whether to believe or disbelieve, for the author has such a proclivity for thrusting in the humorous, at every turn, that you half expect when your read a serious statement, to find it all end as a joke. The appendix, however, is very carefully compiled, and contains some very interesting information as to the progress of the Chinese Revolution, and with a due degree of caution as to incidents in the life of TaiPing-Wang the book may be considered as reliable as it most certainly is interesting. How to Write: A Manual of Composition and Letter-Writing. New York: Fowlers & Wells. For sale by T. H. Pease. A very useful little book, and written so as to exactly meet a great many wants. It is by no means a common letter writer, filled with samples of fustian correspondence, but one which gives in a few brief and terse rules, all that a man of common understanding need to know. The Confidence Man: His Masquerade. By HERMAN MELVILLE. New York; Dix, Edwards & Co. For sale by T. H. Pease. Mr. Melville's new book outdoes in strangeness and eccentricity even his own later stories, which have made people wonder, by the odd kind of metaphysical wildness which pervaded them. We can use no terms which will adequately characterize this his last production. It has evidently a moral, and yet this is so hidden by grotesque incidents and strange situations, that we cannot be sure that we have hit upon the right key to this metaphysico-romantic novel, in which there is no word of love, no heroine and a hero who appears and disappears in as many parts and characters, as the sole actor in a small theater. The conclusion seems to promise a continuance of the Masquerade, and we shall be glad to see it, for we are in a state of utter bewilderment as to the real faces under the masks of the present book. Yet, in spite of these drawbacks to the complete understanding of the book, we could not best be charmed by its pure style and by the beauty of many of the thoughts. If its plan is poor, (which we cannot decide without further light,) its execution is sufficient to redeem it. The book may attract by its novelty, but we doubt if it adds anything to the reputation of the author of "Typee." This book, as well as the others published by Dix, Edwards & Co., is issued in that neat and elegant style which marks all the publications of this house. Memorabilia Valensia. THE Yale Chess Club, numbering nearly 40 members, has been formed in order to indulge in that most honorable and ancient game. They have played two trial games in the Brothers' Hall, in both of which the representatives of the Junior Class, were victorious. Mr. Daniel C. Gilman, Assistant Librarian of the College, embarked for Europe by the Persia, March 18th last, intending to be absent a few months. During this, his second trip to the old World, he intends to pass through England and France, but more especially to see Switzerland and Italy, countries which he left un visited on his former tour. While abroad he will make purchases for the College Library, which his extensive knowledge of books and book markets qualifies him to do with great advantage. He is also commissioned to obtain for the Hall of the Linonian Society, a copy of The School of Athens, a painting of Raffaelle's, which justly bears the title of the Magnificent. The following persons have been elected by the Senior Class to deliver the Valedictory Oration and Poem before the Societies: Brothers: Linonia: Orator,-Moses Tyler, Detroit, Mich. Poet,-George Pratt, East Weymouth, Mass. JUNIOR EXHIBITION. The annual Exhibition of the Junior Class came off, on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, the 7th inst. The exercises were generally very interesting, and some of the addresses were excellent. Dodworth's Band discoursed most excellent music. The following is the order of the speakers, with their various subjects: ORDER OF EXERCISES. AFTERNOON. Latin Oration, "De Veri Amore," by JOSIAH WILLARD GIBBS, New Haven. Dissertation, "Public Opinion, the Severest Tyrant," by GEORGE FAIRLAMB SMITH, West Chester, Pa. Oration, "The Dreamer," by ARTHUR NELSON HOLLISTER, Hartford. Poem, "The Sacred Band of Thebes," by CHARLES BOARDMAN WHITTLESEY, Berlin. Oration, "Time's Contrasts," by JOHN TAYLOR BAIRD, Cincinnati, O. Dissertation, "The Religious Teachings of Nature," by GEORGE EDWARD STREET, Cheshire. Oration, "The Ideal as an Incentive to Excellence," by DANIEL AUGUSTUS MILES, Worcester, Mass. Dissertation, "The Superstitions of the Soul," by EDWARD THOMAS ELLIOTT, Towanda, Pa. Oration, "The Civilizing Agency of Science," by ARTHUR MATHEWSON, Woodstock. Dissertation, "The Courage of an Honest Life," by GEORGE MILLS BOYNTON, Orange, N. J. Dissertation, "The Influence of Science on Poetry," by GIDEON WELLES, Wethersfield. Philosophical Oration, "Conscience," by GEORGE BOARDMAN MACLELLAN, Oklibbeha Co., Miss. EVENING. Greek Oration, “Oi 'EdAnvikoì dλaves," by ROBERT CHANDLER HASKELL, Weathersfield, Vt. Dissertation, "Humanity, a Characteristic of our Age," by ELISHA SMITH THOMAS, Wickford, R. I. Dissertation, "The Philanthropist," by DAVID MARKS BEAN, Sandwich, N. H. Dissertation, "The Age of Beauty," by HAYDN KELLOGG SMITH, Madison, Wis. Oration, "The Moral Element in Civil Government," by EDWARD SEYMOUR, Bloomfield, N. J. Dissertation, "Liberality of Opinion," by WILLIAM HERRICK WOODWArd, Woodstock, Vt. Dissertation, "The Earl of Chatham," by EBEN GREENOUGH SCOTT, Wilkesbarre, Pa. Oration, "The Skeptic," by HENRY ANDREWS PRATT, Litchfield. Dissertation, "Individuality," by SAMUEL HENRY LEE, Lisbon. Dissertation," Hero Worship," by CHAUNCEY SEYMOUR KELLOGG, Bridgewater, N. Y. Dissertation, "The Elevating Influence of Labor," by MARTIN SYMSER EICHELBERGER, York, Pa. Dissertation, "Incitements to American Intellect," by Walter Stanley Pitkin, Philosophical Oration, "The Relation of Theory to Practice," by ADDISON VAN Editor's Table. April showers Bring forth May flowers; Bur the showers are oftentimes more abundant than the flowers. Yet in the woods of pilgrim Plymouth there is one little flower, which earliest springs from surrounding desolation, and heralds the approaching army of blossoms,-it is the May Flower, or Trailing Arbutus. Generally before the close of April, certainly by the first of May, it may be found creeping under the dry leaves which winter has strewn around, sheltering itself and growing by the sunny side of some rock. We well remember the eager search for the first blossom when we were boys. And some who read these pages will recollect a year ago, when in Plymouth woods, we pushed our way through briars innumerable, and thickets almost impregnable, to find its fragrant blossoms. But we will not obtrude our recollections, pleasant though they are, upon you, dear reader, but just close with this bit of prossaic advice, drawn from a varied experience. If you go Maying this vacation with young ladies, persuade, entreat, nay, command them to don their oldest dress, for if they seek the May flower it must be by a thorny path, and dresses are apt to be reduced to an elementary condition. Speaking of youg ladies reminds us of a table of matrimonial statistics of the present Senior Class. It has been carefully collated from the most reliable sources. Of the class of '57 there are, This last number was much greater at the commencement of our College course, but by degrees the majority have fallen off from their first faith, being influenced thereto by certain members of the "female persuasion." We pity the remainder, and trust that in good time they will see the error of their ways. So mote it be. • Prevented from speaking by sickness. While we are in a statistical mood, we will give a few items which may afford matter of interest to any future political economist of College. The Shanghai Club, over which great and glorious institution we have the honor to preside, during the last two years, has paid bills amounting to nearly five thousand dollars. The average number of students in the Club has been rather less than twenty-five. The truth is, we think that the catalogue misleads as to the price of board. It gives the range of the price for board as from $2.25 to $3.50 per week, making an average of less than $3.00 per week, whereas the price actually averages at least $3.50, and this is the least at which we can procure tolerable board, except that some clubs may bring it a trifle lower. But it was not our purpose to write a dissertation on Board and Boarding Houses, although the theme is a fruitful one. We merely wished to present the following estimate. Assuming that the price of board per week averages $3.50, then the six hundred students in the various departments of College pay annually for their forty weeks' sustenance in New Haven the very pretty sum of seventy-two thousand dollars, ($72,000.) This excludes all those extras in the shape of oyster suppers and lager bier, which would add one half to the bill for college eating and drinking. Truly hunger is a grievous thing. Here is one who seems to be in a very bad condition. He sends us some "Lines to a Young Lady who daily passes my Window," and, in a note appended to the verses, states that "his constitution has been broken down in fruitless endeavors to discover the fair object of his soul's adoration. We give the first and last stanzas, fearing that the whole might be too much for our readers. The lines are very good, and the author deserves to find out the name of his lady-love. If any young lady is guilty of daily passing the window of any student we hereby demand her name. LINES Addressed to a Young Lady who daily passes my Window. In the desert a fountain is springing, In the lone breast a blossoming tree, And the bright bird of Hope is singing Sweet songs of enchantment to me; For this morn, while the spring sun was smiling, Dissolving the cold bonds of the snow, A lily white hand waved, not beguiling, A ruby ray flitted below. Say beauty, (whose name, not whose grace is unknown,) When the little white moon is above, And Venus in the night seems alone, Do you never wish for a love I'm sure the rib God took from old Adam Shall then the conventional "Madame, H. M. B. |