OUR EXCHANGES.

IF our admiration for the Yale Lit. has not been unbounded, at any rate it has always been sincere. For this reason we were extremely sorry to see in the January number an inexpressibly and incomprehensibly silly production, entitled "Beatrice : A Flirtation Homily." For the amusement, or rather amazement, of those less unfortunate readers of ours who do not see the Lit., we give an outline of the story. It is that of a conceited puppy whose ideas of man, woman, and flirtation may be seen from the following quotation : -

"If there is one thing more than another which I despise in a woman it is flirting. In a man it is more pardonable, for there is no illusion hanging around him to be spoiled by the vulgar reality of flirting ; . . . . he is just the kind of being you would expect to de scend to the vulgarity of flirting. . . . . But a woman ! as a woman she seems something divine," etc, etc., ad infinitum. The character of the gentleman, who says he is twenty-eight, but who, from strong internal evidence, is barely eighteen, may further be understood from the following remark : "How often have I had a dear foolish girl inflicted upon me, and fairly writhed at the intellectual torture to which she has subjected me by her remarks. But there has been no escape. Everybody would have called me a boor had I ventured to tell this young lady how empty was her pretty head."

To proceed to the story, this interesting young man goes out "buggy-riding" with a young lady who is described as an incorrigible flirt, but who is really in love with her companion. Why, with his insufferable conceit, he is not aware of this fact, we are not told; at any rate, he is not aware of it, and proceeds to lecture the young lady on the sin of flirtation. She is so cut to the heart that she persuades the horse to run away, throws the reins out of the buggy, and faints. By a wonderful gymnastic feat the Puppy seizes the reins and stops the horse. Upon remonstrating with Beatrice for her peculiar behavior, she replies, with great presence of mind, in a quotation from Cherbuliez' Meta Holdenis (which, however, is not given as a quotation), "Since I had not your heart, I was determined that no one else should." The Puppy proceeds to take her home, where she is immediately seized with a fever, on her recovery from which she and the Puppy are happily united in the bonds of holy matrimony. Not having the pen of Gail Hamilton, we will make no criticism. We simply extend out cordial and sorrowful sympathy to the editors of the Lit.

IN an article on the marking system the Spectator advocates the abolition of daily marks and the substitution of thorough examinations at stated intervals. This, it says, is the "German plan," and "if Harvard, the leader of advance in this country, adopts the German plan, our descendants shall go to Harvard." A short experience in the charms of monthly examinations would probably change this writer's mind. The Spectator is eminently interesting, and noticeable for its great good sense.

WE should like to criticise the Amherst Student, but have a wholesome dread of so doing, for behold the fate of Potter's Monthly :-

"The article on Amberst College, in Potter's Monthly, gives about as much idea of Amberst as a milking-stool does of a cream-pie."

WE have devoted so much space to the Lit. that there is little room for saying anything else; fortunately, we have little else to say! However, as we are not so lucky as to have a Crimson correspondent from Wellesley, we cannot pass over the letter from that sister college of ours to the Dartmouth. To think that we should have to get our news in such a roundabout way ! The dear things have got back from their scarlet-fever vacation, and are enjoying the skating and coasting. They too are suffering from examinations; with this difference, that in order to prevent cramming, the day of the ordeal is not announced beforehand. Well, it's bad as it is, but let us be thankful for our advantages; forewarned is forearmed !

THE Columbia Spectator is publishing a series of "Letters to a Freshman." "Imitation is the sincerest of" - No, we won't quote that again !

"We wish to go to England under no false pretences. We do not claim to be the champion four of American colleges. No such thing exists, and the attempts of our contemporaries to manufacture the title are as absurd as their protest against our supposed assumption of it." - Acta Columbiana.

THE Yale Alumni Association has for some time had under consideration the project of obtaining a place at which its members and other graduates of the college could assemble frequently. It is proposed to erect or rent a building in which to fit up a reading or club room, and to furnish the remainder with bachelor apartments, which can be occupied by the members of the college and their friends. It is understood that the building corner of Twelfth Street and Broadway may be taken. - Ex.