WRITING FOR COLLEGE PAPERS.

THAT the practice of writing for college papers is advantageous, is an idea firmly fixed in the mind of the Harvard student. Many other articles in his creed have been cast aside, but for half a century the truth of this has been undisputed. At the present time, however, this subject is rendered not altogether inappropriate by various considerations, chief of which is the fact that the Sophomores are to discuss it in their next theme.

The number of illustrious men who in their undergraduate days contributed to college periodicals is by no means small. To these the student looks with reverence; and although it does not by any means follow that he who contributes frequently will attain an eminence equal to theirs in his after life, yet while here he is sure by his efforts to win the respect of his associates. Most men come here as Freshmen, with but a slight idea of literary excellence. It may be said, to be sure, that even here no high standard is set before them. But the standard of a college paper, if not the highest, is one at least which all who write are endeavoring to raise. Probably no issue, in all its articles, satisfies the undergraduate critic, and this same critic, when he writes, will do his best to excel that in which he so readily found faults. To the authors themselves, also, very few of their articles are satisfactory, and a second essay will very rarely be found inferior to the first.

The readers of a college journal are probably as exacting in their demands as those of any other periodical. Not only must the ideas be satisfactory, but the style must be pleasant, and the whole invite perusal. The writer who endeavors to please by his wit is sometimes charged with "pandering to a low taste for jokes"; the man who would satirize prevalent follies hears his piece called sick unless he has proved himself equal to the task. Another who would enforce his opinions, on consulting his friend, finds that his essay has been unread. Such rebuffs are naturally disheartening; but after the first shock is over the truth is recognized, and the mistakes of the past are avoided. Not alone to the writer is the freedom of criticism allowed here valuable, to the reader also such an exercise is beneficial. Even those who never write demand, as a consequence of their practice in this criticism, a higher style of excellence in books and magazines and papers. Not suddenly, of course, do they come to look upon what is mediocre with loathing; but because the process is slow it is none the less sure.

Those who object to this custom of supporting a paper in college urge that what time is spent in writing the spicy article or in discussing college topics could better be spent over Greek plays or on the Merovingian dynasty. While no one can doubt the propriety of doing the latter, still it is a pertinent question to ask, wherein have such studies any superiority over writing as a means of discipline. Moreover, it is a recognized fact that the men most ready to write are those who are also most ready to study. In this case there need be no fear of their neglecting their tasks in order to attend to the duty of writing, - a duty that can scarcely be called more pleasurable. If those, however, are induced to write, whose custom it is not to study, save to avoid warnings and conditions, there certainly need be no fear lest these shall neglect still more what was already given as little time as was practicable. As much of their time as before will be given to French and Natural History; to secure time for writing, they will play one less game of whist, stay at home one more night from the theatre. A slight acknowledgment, also, of the value afforded by this practice has been given by the College in requiring themes and forensics. No one who indorses this action can object to voluntary writing on the part of the student. As was said above, our readers are good critics; and if they do not, like our instructors, examine so closely as to discover all the superfluous adjectives and phrases, at any rate they can tell whether a piece be true or false, dull and stale or lively and new.

There is also another purpose which a college paper serves. It is the custom to praise the habit of gathering in a friend's room around the fire, and conversing on the various subjects suggested by life here. Men from all quarters of the country, it is said, come together, and the ideas a man obtains from conversation are worth more to him than all the contents of his text-books. But the truth is, that men in different sets rarely meet to join in any long conversation. A college paper, however, furnishes a place in which communications, from all members of the college, can be printed, and men the most unlike can thus exert an influence on each other far more effective than any likely to result from disjointed remarks, such as are usually heard in the course of an evening.

E. K.