O et præsidium et | dulce decus | meum. Hor. Lib. I. Var. 1. As we sat at our Horace one warm sultry day, "How great are the changes which time has wrought! For who in this age could ever have thought That a bard would have paid a high compliment thus, By calling his patron a 'dull seedy cuss.' The mind reverts instinctively, on perusing this outburst of antique wit, to the fact that punning is no modern college failing: but that it has come down to us legitimately, with the customs of other days. The state election so near at hand will be one of peculiar interest to many of our senior friends, from the fact that they are to cast their first ballot, and assume the new dignity of sovereigns at that time. South College, we understand, has raised the banner of "no sumptuary laws." South Middle is conservative, and intends to cast its entire vote for George Washington. North Middle has caught an owl and by some species of legerdemain has made an eagle of him, and goes for "liberty and union one," &c. North College is vibrating like a distressed pendulum between "hard” and “wooly head" influences, and may be set down as doubtful. An anti-Know Nothing friend of ours, has just called upon us, to get our opinion on the following questions,—1st. Can we conscientiously vote for a Minor? 2nd. Can an opponent of the Roman Catholic influence in this state, consistently travel on cross roads? We reserve our opinion on the result of the elections until the votes are counted, when, we doubt not, it will be found that "the great principles of our ancestors have been nobly vindicated!" The seniors are getting ready for presentation day. From many a room we catch occasional sounds of a somewhat discordant harmony, as the inmate on flute, fiddle or saxe horn prepares to distinguish himself, as a member of the presentation band." By the way, there has always seemed to us to be a peculiar fitness in this matter of music on presentation day. How eminently proper is it, that each successive class after a successful conflict with "biennials," and the manifold dangers of a four years' war; should disband with colors flying, and with all those inspiriting influences, which, even bad music, yields to men! And now, dear Readers, we must transfer our Table to the Devil who waits upon us and for the last time in our official capacity, utter our eternal pax vobiscum! The contributor of the article in a former Number of the Magazine, entitled "Olden Memories," and which we afterward alluded to, as a plagiarism, has called our attention to the fact, that the initials which accompanied it, were not his, and that he never claimed the article as his own. The Editors of a Magazine however, must always hold the contributor of an article responsible for its authorship-over whatever signature it appears. Such is manifestly the only safe rule of action, and it is the one by which we have been ever guided.-EDs. TO OUR READERS. Our connection with the Magazine ceases with this Number, and, in closing our editorial career, we can but return our hearty thanks to those whose sympathy and active efforts have so much assisted us. Our successors we would encourage by assuring them, that there is much pleasure as well as much toil connected with the management of the Lit., and we bespeak for them the same coöperation and support that we have enjoyed. To all-readers, contributors, and classmates-we would say Farewell. W. H. L. BARNES, E. MULFORD, S. T. WOODWARD, H. A. YARDLEY. TO OUR READERS. In accordance with the wont of our honorable predecessors, we premise a few words in regard to the Yale Literary, the conduct of which devolves upon us with the present number. Upon the issue of those for July and August the volume will be complete. The "Lit" will have then received its complement of prætexta vols. and will enter upon its majority. Hitherto it seems to have enjoyed eminent success, and if ever firmly established among us, it should be now, sustained as it is by an agreeable prestige of twenty years. We would not be considered, however, as vaunting its long and noble career for the purpose of covering defects of which criticism may hereafter convict us. These, we trust, will be few, and the Magazine respected as under previous regimes, otherwise than for mere age. As to its history, we make no mention,—'twere gratuitous on our part to do so to the very diligent readers of the "Lit." The character which we shall endeavor to impart to the Magazine, and the style of papers desired, require an additional remark. Our aim will be a just-if possible, an elegant variety to have the light and the more substantial matter, through their various gradations, equally distributed in each number. This, perhaps, is the true type of a College periodicalin fact of any other intending the gratification of many. In so wide a range as this we think it in our power to avoid objectionable extremes-the florid or eruptive, and the (so termed) metaphysique styles, both of which are somewhat epidemical in our literature. We therefore earnestly request our fellow students, without the exception of particular classes or departments, to coöperate with us by a ready supply of articles irreproachable in these respects. They must be aware that it depends on them in a great measure, whether the Lit. assume any character. In conclusion, we return our sincere acknowledgments to our Classmates for the trust which they have thought fit to confide to our charge, hoping that our efforts may not prove altogether futile, nor ourselves unworthy. YOUR EDITORS. He who in opposition to long established habits of thought dares to attempt a new field, who possesses sufficient acuteness to discern old errors, and originality to strike out a new course, deserves, even in his failure, the admiration of reflecting minds; but the successful rebel from fame, the daring heretic in letters, who not only throws off the dogmas of his age, but revolutionizes the literature of coming time, wins a celebrity most enduring. Of course the mead of praise should be dependant on the native talent of the recipient, his varied attainments, the extent of the revolution effected by him, and the precedents for reform which might have excited the spirit of resistance. A political revolution, fruitful of good results; a new idea in the arts; a new principle in practical mechanics, will immortalize the projector; and not the less important in its effects and more deserving of praise, is an improvement in the writing of books; for books form the mind, which governs. The style of thought and composition in the sixteenth century was eminently precise and formal in conception and detail. Each thought was adjudged its place in the order of the work, and the structure of periods made a matter of almost mathematical rule. A sameness in all the books of the time was the result of such pedantry. Dry and musty |