pedestal on which the noble conscience placed it. The reading of "Romola " leaves the idea of a lofty character, overshadowed by a dark cloud, small, but distinct and impressive. His power, his faith, his greatness of purpose, his lofty ideals are set forth, but this cloud hangs over all.

Before pronouncing this view a just one, let us look for a moment at the character of its author. George Eliot was a moralist. She had never known the Spirit of the Infinite, with its uplifting and ennobling influence; its power of inspiring heroic devotion and self-forgetfulness. Could she, in her cold analysis of character, understand its workings in the great soul of the Monk of St. Marco? Despite all tributes to his greatness, wherever there was a choice of motives we find the less noble attributed to him. Having placed herself where she was compelled to defend and justify her conduct before the world, living a life far from bright and joyous, is it not more probable that she would see the baser motive?

Nowhere do we find a just appreciation of his great social and political work. Savonarola was eminently a reformer. In an incredibly short time he changed the gay, pleasureseeking Florence into the semblance of a Puritan community. In "Romola" we find an appreciation of his power over the people, but not of the great practical reforms, which, by means of it, he carried out. Like Puritanism in England, he lost his power, but the value of his influence was immeasurably great, not only in Florence, but throughout the whole world.

The value of his political power is nowhere fully recognized in "Romola." "In the first agitation of the revolt against the Medici, when the people had run wild with rage and terror, when the streets were thronged, as only an Italian wild crowd of men can throng them; when a breath would have driven the populace into the wildest excess of mediæval revolution, the Prior of St. Marco alone stemmed and turned back the tide. Through all the trouble, din and tumult, the figure of Savanarola is almost the only one that rises clear out of the crowd. From his pulpit in the Duomo, the great Dominican friar rose grandly over the multitude,

swaying them with an anxious, glorious magnetism, the sway of the one utterly true and steadfast man in the troubled community."

Savonarola was not a selfish seeker after vain power and glory. When he saw, as he must have seen, his power slipping away, would not a union with his opponents have restored to him even greater honor? Constantly tempted by the opposing political factions to throw the weight of his influence into their side of the scale, we find him always standing firmly for his convictions of right. "He died, with hands pure of any selfish stain, having sought nothing but to establish Christ as King of Florence, and to drive out from the temple, as his Master drove them out, the merchandise and the impurity."

George Eliot is unjust in her treatment of Savonarola. FRED W. WELSH, '92.

Editors' Table.

SHALL inter-collegiate field day be held permanently in Syracuse? This is a question which the various colleges represented in the New York State Inter-collegiate Athletic Association will soon be called upon to answer. The fact that Hobart and Colgate University so willingly waived their claims in order to give Syracuse University a trial this year shows that there is a strong tendency in favor of the proposition made by the latter institution.

This is a question of such importance to the college and the athletics that it should be very carefully considered before any decisive action is taken. Its exact influence upon Hamilton as a college, and upon athletics in general should be thoroughly investigated before we accept the proposal of Syracuse.

The chief reasons which Syracuse University urges are that her position is central, and that, if held with her, the financial success of every field day would be assured. These are good reasons and should have due weight. The management and proceeds will be divided among the colleges so that, in these respects at least, no one college will have an advantage over the others. The scheme has many arguments in its favor. Still it becomes a question to be seriously considered whether there are not objections which overbalance these arguments.

That records would be bettered by holding field day in the same place each year may, perhaps, be accepted as true. But is there not a danger that the interest in athletics would gradually die out if the sports were thus held? Does not much of the interest of field day consist in the fact that each year a different college is visited and new scenes are viewed? If, year after year, the athletes wended their way to try their muscle in the same place, would they not, in time. become tired of the monotony? Would not the interest gradually lessen? Moreover, where the same burden is placed upon one college every year, there being no division of labor as now, would not that college gradually lose its interest and not expend the requisite amount of energy to make the field days successful? Under the present system the expenses of attending field day in the long run even up. Under the proposed plan Syracuse would be entirely free from the expenses of travel, etc. These are considerations which affect all the colleges belonging to the association. It is for us to act for the best interests of Hamilton. Syracuse University must see special advantages to herself in the plan she proposes or she would not be so eager to assume the extra burden which would thereby be imposed upon her. If field day be held with her permanently she could offer the greatest possible inducements to students of sporting tendencies, for she would be the very center of the sports of the New York state colleges. Moreover, by having for daily practice the grounds upon which the sports were to be held, she would have a decided advantage in athletics over the other colleges. This advantage may not appear this year, but it would

necessarily appear in time. She would be very likely to take and keep the lead in athletics. In so far as athletics are a boom to an institution of learning, Syracuse University, if her plan be adopted, would have the advantage over all the colleges of the New York State Inter-collegiate Athletic Association.

This year Syracuse holds the field day on trial. Sentiment in Hamilton College upon this subject is divided, some favoring the scheme others claiming, if any change at all is necessary, that the location should be neutral. Let us consider carefully the arguments pro and con, but let us ever remember that our first duty is to Hamilton.

WHAT is to be our standing in the Inter-collegiate Base Ball League this season? is a question that concerns most vitally the college, the nine and the management itself.

So far as we can learn our competitors will be stronger than last year, and hey are now perfecting themselves by practice.

Our own nine, so it appears to us, is materially stronger in its make up than last year; but, up to date, very little has been done in training of any kind. While this ought not to be be, it can be largely remedied, perhaps entirely overcome, by a constant, enthusiastic field practice and a series of bi-weekly games until the season opens. There is an imperative need to arrange for all the practice games possible between now and the opening of the season in May.

It is the duty of the manager to see that every man on the nine gives all needed time to his practice, and that, so far as work is concerned, nothing will have been omitted.

Being assured of this and, with each player doing his best work and doing it enthusiastically, the college will give, as it has ever done, its earnest, generous support, and the Nine will win for itself and the College a place of honor.

In the spring of 1889 the Faculty gave the students a two weeks' vacation at Easter. This year, despite the fact that a petition for a two weeks' recess, supported by strong arguments, was presented by all the classes, the Faculty saw fit to grant us but one week. A trial has now been made of the two periods and it is possible to judge which of them produces the best results.

It was especially necessary this year that the longer period should have been given us. The past term was one of hard work. It seemed as if the members of the Faculty vied with one another in attempting to get the most work from the students. The majority of the students were ill at one time or another during the term and therefore had much more work to make up. The result was that all were bohned out" after the strain of examinations, and were in need of more rest and relaxation than could be gained in a vacation of one week. So short was the vacation that it was impossible for students living at any distance to visit their homes.

What was true of the past term is true, to a large degree, of every year. The Winter term is conceded to be the hardest for all classes. Much of the prize work must be done then. There is little of social enjoyment or of athletic sports to relieve the routine of work. Many students return late after a short

vacation, and the work for the first week or two of the spring term amounts to little. The extra week in the long summer vacation is of little consequence, while it amounts to much at Easter. We do not wish to unduly criticise any action of the Faculty, but the LIT., as the organ of the students, would ask the consideration of these facts in regard to the Easter vacations of the future.

IN the February number of this year's LIT. a scheme was proposed for the consolidation of the various student associations into one general organization. The idea of such consolidation appears to be a good one and, in so far as the matter has been considered at all, has received almost general approval. The necessity of an organization which shall assume responsibilities and to which managers and directors shall be held accountable, has been made especially clear this year. Managers themselves feel the necessity of some body to which they may present their accounts to be audited and with which they may consult.

The discussion which was occasioned by the appearance of this article, stating in general a plan for such organization, has broadened the plan as it was originally conceived, and now it is proposed that, upon this governing board, there be elected representatives from the alumni of the college. Yearly we see Hamilton alumni associations springing up all over the country, giving evidence of a growing interest in the college and in its welfare. These associations should be brought in contact with the student life of the college. Every student knows the financial difficulty of conducting successfully a base-ball nine, a foot-ball eleven, a tennis club and an athletic team. Though great liberality is always shown, still, with our limited number of students, it is impossible to support every organization as it should be supported. As matters are now arranged it can hardly be expected that the alumni will furnish support. It would not do to ask them to contribute for the aid of any one organization. They do not feel an interest in any particular sport of the students, but they are interested in the general sporting life of the college. Hence the necessity of such an organization, if we are to have any aid from the alumni.

With a governing board composed of representatives of the alumni, the faculty and the students, we would have all the forces of the college in constant touch with each other. The alumni would be brought into direct contact with the college life, would see the needs of the students, and, we believe, since everything bespeaks Hamilton's future prosperity. would not be slow in satisfying these needs. Thus the financial burden now upon us would in time be lifted. Our need of a gymnasium being thus practically presented, perhaps it would not be long before even this need would be satisfied. Excepting to enthuse and make responsible the managements, the proposed change would not interfere with our present system. It is impracticable to put this plan into operation till next year. So radical is the change and so important its bearing upon our college life that every step should be taken with the utmost caution. The matter should be thoroughly discussed among the students, all possible objections and suggestions being made before any decided action is taken. Then, if the plan is deemed feasible, let a committee be appointed which will represent the student body of the college, say three Seniors, two Juniors, one Sophomore and one Freshman, together with a member of the