NEW ELECTIVES.

IT is not too early to think of the list of electives for next year, and to call the attention of those who are to get out the pamphlet to several courses which might be added, that would prove beneficial to a number of students. There is a tendency here for men to devote most of their time to specialties, and they finish a four-years' course without having any knowledge, even in a general way, of many branches of learning with which every one ought to be conversant. The reason seems to be that most of the electives are too technical, and deal too much with details to offer attractions to the specialist in some other course. To remedy this, a few general courses, which should aim to give only the salient features of the subject, might be introduced.

A step in this direction was taken last year, when elementary courses were established in Political Economy and in Geology; the success of this measure is proved by the number of students who are taking advantage of these electives this year. There is a similar but greater need of such a course in Chemistry. The twenty lectures given in the Freshman year are so interesting that many would gladly pursue the subject further. Chemistry 1 is justly a popular course, but those who take it think that enough might be left out to make it count only two hours, and yet attain the same result. It seems unnecessary to the general student to follow every element into all its combinations when only a few will be found of any practical use. In Physics, also, there is room for a course which should meet the wants of a larger number. If it is possible to treat the subject in a way that would not involve abstruse problems in mathematics, such a course would be popular; for many feel their lack of knowledge in Physics.

Moreover, in the department of Fine Arts there is a much needed course. Now it takes at least two years to go over the history of Art, and to accomplish this at least nine hours of electives must be devoted to it. But there is here an excellent opportunity to give a general view of the whole subject, discussing only the important points, and the relations of one period to another. The general student would undoubtedly be interested in knowing the characteristics of each school of painting or sculpture, although he might never have the time nor the facility for going deeper. Such a course as this was given some years ago in the School of Fine Arts, at Paris, by M. Taine, and any one who is acquainted with his lectures will appreciate the advantages to be derived from a similar course here.

To sum up, then, while there is every opportunity for a specialist to perfect himself in his chosen work, there is undoubtedly a scarcity of electives to meet the requirements of those who do not wish to pursue a subject in detail, but cannot afford to remain entirely ignorant of its important features.