The Conference Francaise.

In October. 1886, the Conference Francaise was organized at Harvard. The aim of the founder was to form a club which should afford practice in speaking French and create an interest in the political situation in France. The society is not formed of students solely. It has the names of Professor Bocher and Assistant-Professor Cohn. Mr. Saunderson and Asst. Profs. Hart and Taussig on its rolls. The first officers of the society were as follows: President, L. McK. Garrison, '88; vice-president, M. D. Mitchell, '87; secretary, F. D. Kalapothakes, '88. It is intended to keep the number of members at about fifty. Meetings are held once a fortnight, and on each evening a paper is read on some literary or political subject; or a lecture is delivered. It is expected that all conversations will be carried on in French, and if any questions are to be asked they must be clothed in the prescribed language. After the lecture or reading, the meeting adjourns, and a slight lunch is offered of crackers, cheese and beer.

Until very lately the meetings have been held at the rooms of different members of the society in the yard, but recently with the consent of President Eliot, the society has voted to use as a club-room in future, the large back room in the second story of Dane Hall. The committee appointed to furnish the room has done its best with the limited sum allowed them. The middle of the room has been curtained off and a platform built at one end of the room. A piano and chairs have been put in, and some French flags are to be draped on the walls. Already the room has a cheerful aspect, and the society is preparing for an active winter. Besides the periodic lectures, it is intended to have some plays which will serve to increase the interest in the society and will help along the social side. The expense in fitting up the room has called for an extra subscription from the members, and consequently the most rigid economy is necessary. It is hoped that the Deutscher Verein will find it for its advantage to use the room also for their meetings and so the expense would be less felt. To all those men in college who have a fair knowledge of French and who would take an interest in the society, an appeal is made to send in their names as candidates for election.