OUR EXCHANGES.

THE New York World has sent us two most amusing little pamphlets, "The World's Almanac for 1879" and "Archibald the Cat." we recommend the first especially to our readers, who can hardly fail to buy it when we tell them that it contains many more of those amusing fables which the World published last year.

The Courant has a very good article called "Smashing," which might very well have been written by a young lady, whether it is or not. The parody on "The Raven," in which the shade of Hallam is represented as suffering tortures on account of his "Constitutional History," is fairly good but nothing more. On boating prospects the Courant says:-

"On Saturday last the candidates for the University crew made their first appearance in the Gym. Of the thirteen who have gone into training only four are of last year's crew, and five are from the Freshman class; a fact which speaks encouragingly for the future, if not for the present..... Thus far the men have done a little more than half work, but they will gradually settle down to work of last year. To attempt any estimate of our prospective crew for '79 would be premature and a patent absurdity, and yet there are indications which, though not infallible, are nevertheless encouraging. The average weight is considerably above that of last year, and the men, though inexperienced, seem desirous and capable of a thorough training. Considering this, there seems to be no necessity for despair, but encouragement to a determined and systematic training."

THE Era has the following editorial on the action of the boating authorities at Cornell, from which it would seem that the Navy Directors are very much like our Executive Committee in the power they have and the use they make of it:-

"The Navy Directors, in so far as they are connected with and dependent upon the students at large. have acted lately in a manner which is liable to criticism. Last fall the University was surprised to hear that we had challenged Harvard to a race next summer, and that a meeting had been called to ratify the challenge. One would naturally suppose that the students who bear the expense, and without whose money the race could not be accomplished, would have been consulted in the matter before the challenge was sent; but such a proceeding would not have been in accordance with the dignity which the Directors had assumed, and therefore the students were tossed a sop, in the shape of a chance to ratify the challenge when it was too late to do anything else. Those well acquainted with our position and prospects had grave doubts as to the propriety of challenging Harvard at all, and they should have been heeded. Instead of that, they were told to make a virtue of necessity and ratify the challenge. Now, we are equally surprised by the news that the Navy Directors have withdrawn the challenge to Harvard, and upon their own responsibility. Doubtless the withdrawal of the challenge was proper enough, but the way it was done was not. If the voice of the students is worth anything, it is of importance in such steps as these. The challenge, having been given in the name of the University, required the consent of the University before it could be withdrawn. A further and fitting action on the part of the Directors, and which would show still more clearly the idea they have of their responsibility to the students, would be to call a meeting to ratify this last action of theirs in the matter."

The Era also goes over the matter of the withdrawal of the challenge and the reasons therefor, and repeats the charge of unfairness against Harvard, The following extract shows that even at Cornell there are, or at least were, two opinions about the matter:-

"Much surprise was occasioned in the last week of last term by the withdrawal of the challenge to Harvard for a university boat-race next summer. Many remarks upon the action of our Navy Directors were made, some favorable, more expressing disapproval, but by this time the general sentiment of the students is with the Directors and indorses their action."

IN one of the many "pocket companions" that are distributed gratis through the College rooms is found the remarkable statement that Pius IX, is the present Pope, January, 1879!