NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Yale, during the year past, has received gifts amounting altogether to the sum of $335,000.

The Nation, which has the advantage in forming its opinion of being on the ground and of having heard Oscar Wilde in his Chickering Hall speech, devotes one of its subtile and caustic satires to Oscar's utter annihilation. It says: "As a man of the world, he knows that the true way to attract attention to poetry is to shock people's sense of decency, * * * and that a very good substitute for fame is the notoriety attracted by silliness. * * * What he has to say is not new, and his extravagance is not extravagant enough to amuse the average American audience. His knee-breeches and long hair are good as far as they go; but Bunthorne has really spoiled the public for Wilde."

In his last annual report President Porter of Yale declares that, "The manners of the students at the chapel exercises have very steadily improved within the last few years. The attendance was never more full, the behaviour never more decorous, and the satisfaction with the arrangement [compulsory prayers and church] never more complete than at the present time."

A significant word on the subject of steamheating is contained in the following passage of his report: "The most serious foes to health are late hours, late suppers, insufficient clothing, and imprudent exposures to heat and dampness and cold. * * * The provisions for heating so many of our public and private apartments by steam is, and has proved to be, an important security against disease. The interest in athletic sports is, on the whole, an advantage to health and morals and good manners."