With the transformation of Brazil the fall of monarchy on the western continent is complete. Some feeble remnants nominally remain, but the spirit is dead. It is the spirit of liberty that animates and dominates the people.

As regards the new world the artist's fancy is about to be realized; when, girt by two oceans, from the frozen North to the Southern wastes, the nations of the two Americas shall unite in one vast empire of freedom and one sisterhood of republics. L. A. GROAT, '90.

Editors' Table.

THE ELECTIVE SYSTEM IN HAMILTON COLLEGE: SHOULD IT NOT BE IMPROVED? The doubt implied in the question does not pertain to the necessity and blessing of electives in the American colleges. The elective system has come none to soon, and come to stay. It has conquered a place step by step, overcoming the natural conservatism of our colleges by the force of larger opportunities and demands. The new studies have crowded the old curriculum. Fifty years ago Arnold of Rugby wondered if the time would ever come when a play of Shakspere would have a place in education beside the play of Sophocles. The time has come. A college man is ashamed not to know as much of his own language and literature as of the classics. English has become a classic; and the development of English studies is paralleled by the growth in history, modern languages, sciences and sociology. These are college studies-not university—and must be considered by educated men. But the old curriculum demanded enough of the student. Therefore it is evident that the only chance for the new studies is through the elective system.

Then the social and economic conditions in this country have greatly changed within a generation. Law, medicine, theology are not the only learned professions. Other callings equally demand the trained mind, and the open doors of modern life must affect the studies chosen in the course of adequate preparation. Not only have the demands of modern life worked for an enlarged choice of studies, but the idea of education itself has undergone a change. Studies are no longer considered chiefly as mental gymnastics. Teaching is becoming a science; and the closer study of individual conditions and aptitudes of the student has led to larger freedom of choice in studies. The attempt to train all college students, whatever their nature, taste and prospect, by one uniform, unchangeable course, no longer rests on scripture authority, Train up a child," etc. The idea of uniformity is known to be bad exegesis as well as unnatural. There is a growing demand in higher education for a greater adaptation of means and methods to the need of the individual student.

But

Such are some of the forces that have produced a veritable revolution in the American college, the adoption of the elective system. We are still in the process of change. No one can safely predict the exact form of the college course. the experience of the past ten years would seem to ensure a place, vital and influential, for elective studies. This experience is best summed up in the words of Professor Ladd, of Yale University: "Increased willingness in study, and even a new and marked enthusiasm on the part of a considerable number of students, is the effect of the new course already realized. The entire body of students in the upper classes is more attentive, regular, interested, and even eager, than ever before."

Is this also the testimony of Hamilton College? We are sorry to be forced to answer in the negative. Some good has been gained; but something is lacking of the highest good. We believe it to be the feeling of students and professors that our electives are not what they ought to be,—not what they might be.

As we have already said, we have no quarrel with the elective system. Elective studies can harmonize with required studies. Required studies should be kept in the last years. A man has no right to a literary degree without some knowledge of political science, mental philosophy and ethics. But it seems to the writer that the defect at Hamilton is in the particular system of electives—or rather the lack of system.

There is no plan, reaching through Junior and Senior years, for consecutive and related choices. When there is a partial plan, the student is often compelled to choose outside the limits, because of conflict of hours or paucity of choices. So the practical result is the shutting up of choice to a single term. There is also great diversity in the quality of electives, and the quantity of work required. One elective is allowed to drain the strength of another to the discouragement of pupil and instructor. Consequently the honor groups are not a truthful index of the fidelity and attainment of the student. What can be done to improve our system?

A study of other college catalogues may suggest lines of possible progress. The ability to choose wisely is supposed to increase with age and culture. The Junior should be given greater liberty of choice than the Sophomore, the Senior than the Junior. The following table will show how Hamilton compares with three representative colleges:

Hamilton's first column is only for the third term Sophomore, and from this, the first opportunity of choice, there is little enlargement to the end of the course. Our system, then, does not increasingly call for wise forethought and determination.

The idea of the elective system is to match the man and the subject, to lead to self-knowledge, and evoke the highest individual aptitude. No man is supposed to go through college under this system without being led to ask, what are my powers and tastes, what use am I to make of them hereafter, what studies are the most helpful? Do half the men in Hamilton ask such questions? In the present state of our electives, it would be useless if they did.

The value of election, both its disciplinary and moral value, depends upon its consecutiveness. It must look ahead and choose studies that fit into each other and lead to a completed course. The choosing of this to-day, and that to-morrow, wholly unrelated, is hostile to discipline, knowledge, power. Work must be continuously done, if a sensible impression is to be made. The changing choices, the shifts between the "hards" and the "softs" will leave only blurred impressions on the mind. Far better the old, cast-iron system for all than such worthless choices.

The electives and the hours should be so arranged as to lead to continuous study of subjects. We know what concentration does for us in athletics. The man who is training for a contest does not take a little tennis, a little bowling, a little foot-ball, a little rowing. With the whole system kept in good condition, he devotes himself to the most perfect training of the powers to be used in the contest. The illustration fits college study. The general mental soundness and vigor are to be gained by the required work; and then we should have the choice of so various related courses that we may train our particular powers continuously. As it is now, the mind does not rest long enough on one subject to become absorbed, trained, creative in it.

It does not seem to us that the true elective system means the renewed choice, each term, of the whole list of elective studies. The choice should be of a course and not of single, unrelated topics. It would be possible to arrange five or six courses beginning with Junior year; such as the classics, the modern languages and English; or the sciences and the modern languages; or political science and history: or philosophy, ethics and English. There might be a limited opportunity of passing from one course to another, but the desire would be lessened by the necessary relation of one topic to another.

If we have pointed out some of the defects of our present system, it is with no carping spirit. The best methods of education are always costly and Hamilton College is poor,-shame be it to the rich citizens of central New York and the sons who have forgotten Alma Mater!

It is a question whether the small colleges, imperfectly supported, can successfully compete with the large faculties and the splendid opportunities they offer. But more can be done than has yet been attempted on College Hill. The determined effort, as far as men and means will allow, to carry Hamilton abreast of the best educational methods of the day would satisfy the student world and quicken college loyalty and enthusiasm.

JUST now, perhaps, the question most frequently asked around college is : "How are the athletes getting on?" If this question is answered honestly the reply cannot be altogether satisfactory; for, if the condition of our, or any, athletes is to be all that can be desired, there are three requirements which the men must heed: exercise, diet and sleep. At present, the men in training are not meeting all these requirements. Exercise is being taken in a fairly regular manner, but, we fear, little or no attention is being paid to diet; and this can never be attended to as it should until a training table is established.

The benefits gained from sitting at a training table, every man who has had any experience in athletics well knows. It is here that the muscle and “wind". developed on the training ground, are guarded from the disastrous effects of illchosen food, for the men will be obliged to eat what is to be found on the training table, where new strength is acquired for further exertion. It is here where all the members of the athletic team meet together, where those accustomed to pander to taste learn to do without dainties" from the force of example set by others, and it is here that individual enthusiasm is kept up for the coming contest. But valuable as it may be, salutary as may be its results, a training table is something that the athletic association cannot be expected and cannot afford to

to furnish. This must be started and managed by the men of the team; but in order that the table may be established, some, or all, of the members of the team will be obliged to give up their present boarding places. This may not, in all cases be pleasant, but it must be remembered that in athletics, as well as in the affairs of the nation, private convenience must be sacrificed to the general welfare.

We hardly think it wise to put the men on training rations this term, but we do strongly urge that the first Monday of next term will find the members of the athletic team sitting around the training table. Let this much be done by the men for the good of the college, and, with “our own Billy" to do the rest, the inter-collegiate pennant will remain in Hamilton's keeping.

IF the converse of the old adage be true, and "all play and no work makes Jack a bright boy," then the members of the Hamilton College Glee and Banjo Clubs, on their return from the week's trip should have outshone the constellations in brilliancy. "Play" was certainly the principal event of the week's program, as the fact of a rehearsal every afternoon and a concert every evening will testify. We will leave it to the faculty to judge whether this rendition of the adage be correct.

The first concert was not a good omen for a successful trip. Lent probably lessened the size of the audiences everywhere, and particularly was this true in Oneida. A few of the Oneida young ladies remained after the concert and rendered the evening pleasant socially, if not profitable financially.

Upon arriving at the Globe Hotel at Syracuse, we found the corridors crowdded with blue-coated and brass-buttoned veterans. The state encampment of the Grand Army was at Syracuse, and in consequence the members of the two clubs had to pitch their fifteen respective tents in one room. The room was provided with thirteen cots and a bed, and looked like the hospital of the state encampment. There was one advantage in the arrangement, none of us had an opportunity to feel lonely.

After a rehearsal in the afternoon we wended our ways to the handsome residence of Mr. Northrup of the class of '75, where we were warmly welcomed by Mr. Northrup and his family. A charming company had been assembled and the reception was pronounced by all one of the pleasantest ever attended. The concert was a success. The audience was fairly large, select and very enthusiastic, and both clubs acquitted themselves very creditably.

The audience at Rochester was very small but repeated encores attested enthusiasm and appreciation. Had it not been for the fact that the man to whom the manager had entrusted the advertising failed to perform his part of the contract, there would undoubtedly have been a large audience.

The sojourn at Cazenovia was both pleasant and profitable. All were very pleasantly entertained in the afternoon at the home of Mr. E. C. Covell, of the class of '90. At the concert the presence of many of the seminary young ladies incited all to greater efforts for a perfect concert. Many tender glances in the direction of the "Sem" were probably to ascertain whether the efforts were successful. If Dame Rumor speaks correctly the ladies considered the music and the men perfection.