THE little mistake made by the gentleman who wandered into the Yard last week, and inquired the names of "all these hotels," gives a very good idea of the knowledge that many people have of college life.

Often erroneous, their opinions are, at best, vague and extravagant.

The student, on the other hand, is almost as ignorant of what is happening in the world around him, as outsiders are of life at college.

It is surprising that we are so separate from society, so little affected by the bustle and perplexities of those about us.

While other young men are eager to acquire a sufficient knowledge of trade to allow them to assume a business air and talk volubly of the rise and fall of stocks, the average collegiate is gloriously indifferent to it. Such topics awaken no interest in his breast. It makes no difference to him what gold is quoted at, and he never troubles himself to ascertain. He is told of the panic, of the very dull times, etc., but to no purpose; a panic is something of which he has no clear conception, and of dull times his idea is not much better, for they never appear to disturb one here.

However pleasant it may be for us thus to be indifferent to such things, we should still do well to remember that this will not last long, and that if, on leaving college to really begin life, we are inexperienced and unskilled in the transactions of every-day life, we must pay the penalty, and learn from a hard master what we should have known before.

Unluckily, one finds no incentive, from his own circumstances, to pay any regard to what the rest of mankind is doing, or to make himself acquainted with the general news of the day.

The whole matter loses its interest when one feels that it does not particularly affect him; that everything, even down to the term-bill, has been carefully provided for, so that any solicitude on his part would be superfluous.

Still we should keep in mind our true position, lest by being free from care while in college we should forget that success in after-life depends upon self-reliance, and that whatever is accomplished will be accomplished independently of others.