their drink, and die without knowing the villain who poisoned him. It is a glorious theory, and we are going into ecstacies over it-when we find time.

The remark just quoted deserves particular attention. It implies that woman is wretchedly and foolishly weaker than man, that flattery may be acceptably bestowed upon her in large measures, in short, that she is essentially a coxcomb and a pedant. Now this is an insinuation which we cannot endorse. It is taking some of the silliest specimens of the sex as its representatives, and making all guilty of the foolishness of a part. Men do not often realize how deeply a true woman feels insulted by an artful appeal to what is deemed by them a woman's weakness. Such a sentiment as that under discussion would meet with just indignation from all genuine women, and, so far as this point is concerned, we leave our author to their disposal. But we will remark here, that it may as well be remembered by us who use our tongues and pens freely, that he who casts a slur upon woman as woman, insults his own mother and sister, and ours also.

It appears to us that the first half of the essay in question does not set forth the elements and methods of enlightened discourse, so much as an ingenious theory of intrigue, essentially political in its nature and application, and carried out by means we have learned to despise in Iago and Uriah Heep. With the rest of it we have nothing to do. For the most part its sentiments are truthful and just. We most heartily concur in the strictures laid upon the talk of College.

In cultivating the art of conversation, we would say in the first place, be a true man. Then, far the larger share of the work will be done; and success will probably crown your efforts. Without manliness for a basis, it will be useless to build. If you attempt the practices of Sheridan, you will miserably fail, unless like him you are equal to them. If you follow the precepts of Chesterfield, unless you have the elements of true character, you will succeed only in manufacturing yourself into a fop. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

If you would influence men by conversation you must gain their confidence. Be honest, and they will take your word in matters of fact. Display good sense, they will confide in your judgment. Be good-natured and courteous, and you will win their favor. Be generous, and they will follow you, believing that you will lead them only when it will be for their own good. Thus, without condescending to anything beneath manhood or ruinous to self-respect, you may have a power over men which kings might envy and politicians in vain strive to acquire.

Conversation varies with the individuals who use it. It is an instrument which manifests its beauty and power only when a musical soul is master of the keys. Then it may awaken harmonies in all souls privileged to listen. Addison somewhere justly remarks that there can be no full communion between more than two persons. And our ideal of conversation is that which occurs when two noble characters, two great souls, pure and beautiful, meet in full freedom and sympathywhen the door is thrown wide open and the veil of the Inner Temple is lifted-when the weaknesses of both are themes of mutual sorrowwhen their struggles and longings are of common interest-when their triumphs are sources of mutual joy, and the wealth of each nature and each experience is freely poured out to enrich the character and ennoble the life of the other-this it seems to us is some approximation to the highest use of this Divine gift. Then all art is insignificant. No skill is needed to prevent a break, for silences will occur as eloquent as harmonies and joys that cannot be uttered can make them. There need be no striving after brilliancy, for the discourse will ebb and flow as the tides of spiritual life and sympathy rise and fall. It is an exquisite sentiment of Burke beautifully expressed, that "the perfection of conversation is, not to play a regular sonata, but like the Æolian harp, to await the Inspiration of the passing breeze." With such an impression we are content to leave the reader to mould his own theory and practice.

S. H. L.

Book Notices.

The Atlantic Monthly. Boston: Philips, Sampson & Co.

THIS is the title of the new Magazine intended to come up to the standard of the best English periodicals. It starts fair. The array of talent at its command is the best in the country. The present number promises well for the future. The leading article on Douglas Jerrold is well written and interesting-"Illusions" is both profound and instructive-the "Autocrat of the Breakfast-table" is full of wit, humor, and wisdom and speaks admirably for the lighter portions. Nothing seems wanting to its success but a full and hearty support from the better class of American readers. This it ought to have. The example of Putnam is hardly flattering to American taste. As students we ought not to be

the last to aid in elevating the standard of our periodical literature. Subscriptions will be received by Mr. Pease.

Emerson's Magazine and Putnam's Monthly for November.

This number is of unusual interest. To be had of T. H. Pease, 83 Chapel St.

Memorabilia Valensia.

PHI BETA KAPPA.

WM. A. BUTLER, Esq., of New York, Author of "Nothing to Wear," has signified, in a letter to Prof. DANA, President of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, an acceptance of the appointment of Poet for the next Anniversary of the Society.

GIFT FROM THE SONS OF DR. MANTELL.

A large number of charts and drawings, illustrative of the Science of Geology, have lately been presented to Yale College by Messrs. WALTER and REGINALD MANTELL, Sons of the late Dr. MANTELL, the distinguished English Geologist.

THE MARTYRDOM OF HALE.

Photographic copies have lately been presented to the Trumbull Gallery and to the Linonian Society, of an admirable sketch by F. O. C. Darley, representing the martyrdom of NATHAN HALE, a Yale graduate of the Class of 1773.

The sketch is supposed to illustrate the moment when "the martyr-spy" exclaimed, "MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I HAVE BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR MY COUNTRY."

The donor is Mr. HENRY HOWE, of Cincinnati, formerly a resident of New Haven.

CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE COLLEGE CHURCH.

A Historical Discourse, commemorative of the foundation, in 1757, of the Church of Christ, in Yale College, was delivered in the Chapel, Sunday, November 22d, by Rev. G. P. FISHER, Livingston Professor of Divinity.

PORTRAITS OF PROFESSORS SILLIMAN AND DANA.

We are informed that likenesses of Professors Silliman (Senior) and Dana, of Yale College, have recently been requested for publication in a Gallery of Por

traits of Eminent Men of Science, now issuing in Vienna, under the direction of Mons. LENOIR.

This work is to be published in excellent style, of folio size, and will include likenesses and biographical sketches of the most distinguished naturalists of all countries.

SOCIETY ELECTIONS.

The Society Elections were held in Linonia and the Brothers in Unity, on Wednesday Evening, Oct. 7th, with the following result:

LINONIA.

President-M. S. EICHELBERGER,
Vice-President-J. E. KIMBALL,

Secretary-WM. B. DARRACH,

Vice-Secretary-J. F. SEELY.

BROTHERS IN UNITY.

President-S. H. LEE,

Vice-President-WM. N. ARMSTRONG,

Censor-F. A. NOBLE,

Secretary-W. K. HALL,

Vice-Secretary-G. H. GRIFFIN.

Editor's Table.

"We hope here be truths."

COURTEOUS READER-most courteous Yalensian reader-Before attempting to give utterance to the "thoughts that shake mankind," (i. e. their sides,) which is always expected in the closing pages of the Lit. we would like to whisper-very distinctly however-in your ear, a few words which come-as our Chemical Instructor would say from the neighborhood of the præcordia. Our whisper will be comprised in a couple of queries, with remarks thereon, by which we hope to drive home sundry convictions to your souls. "Conie, Prepare" Query first. Why don't you subscribe? Not because the Lit. stands equal with any college publication in the land-not because it is looked upon as the representative of Yalensian literature and therefore ought to be well sustained by Yalensians-but because it is fast becoming more and more involved from want of support, and how are we poor its redless pocket-stricken servitors to bring about its evolution? Not one of us but has more than once apostrophized it in the lines (slightly varied) of Edmund to his "fair maid."

Q. S. Why don't you write? Among our reminiscences of Freshmen year we recollect reading a number of the Lit. where we noticed that numbers of pieces had been rejected-some from demerit-some from want of room—all of which seemed to our verdancy to indicate that the sanctum was flooded with articles of varying length and character, a judicious selection from which composed the Lit. But Alas,

"Whither is filed the visionary gleam,

Where is it now, the glory and the dream?"

No fatted reams waiting for immortality greet our view. Ah no! "One cheerless blank, one rayless mist is there," and what is far less interesting nos quinque are expected to fill up said cheerless blank" and dissipate said “rayless mist." Write!! We can stand it. The malicious eagerness of Shylock for his "pound of flesh," or the importunity of Richar dfor "another horse," were nothing to our desire to hear from you.

While our fit of cynicism is on we would notice an article in the October number of the New York Scalpel on Yale poetry. The article is foolish and puerile enough, but the evident malignity of the writer makes it worthy of passing notice. The writer appears to be a person who at one time was a member of Yale, but was either "shipped" at an early day for defective scholarship or was hooted out by his classmates for attempting to criticise poetry. piece he has selected to "let himself loose on," is the Hymn usually sung at the close of the meeting of Alumni. We give the first verse and his treatment of it.

"Beneath these sacred shades

Long severed hearts unite,

The tempting future fades,

The past alone seems bright.
O'er sultry clime

And stormy zone

Rings clear the tone
Of memory's chime."

The

With regard to the third line he says, "We demur very seriously to the future being described as tempting; for the simple and plain reason, that for anything to be tempting it must be present." The quickest and most conclusive way of refuting such a proposition is to state it. Again he says, “The sixth line, And stormy zone,' is also nonsense. There is no such zone as a stormy one, for all the zones are subject to storms." How "all zones can be subject to