THAT exasperating puzzle, the Tabular View, has lately become the means of a very profitable business venture. Leaving out of account the sums that Freshmen volunteer to pay for the gilded sheets, the amount received from advertisers must be considerable. Let no one, however, be so far tempted by this as to forget that he is bound in honesty to render a fair equivalent for their money to the business men of Boston and Cambridge. Those who prepared the Advertiser's Tabular View at the beginning of each half-year were able, no doubt, to influence the advertisers without deception. They said that the students had to consult these tables two or three times a day for at least a week after the beginning of each term, and therefore they were tacked up in every room and remained there the year through; and suggested that by the use of small type, enamel, red and bronze inks, a Tabular View could be printed, not awkwardly large, yet with room for several advertisements, and in all respects superior to the flimsy sheets offered at the Dean's office. Upon so much of this business we have nothing to say. But about two months ago there appeared an "Advertiser's Companion" to the Tabular View that was issued last October. It is not possible that men would have invested their money in such a manner unless the facts had been misrepresented. We suspect that not one in ten of the students ever gave a thought to these "Companions," and the men who got them out must have known this would be the case. They therefore lied, either directly or by implication; in their desire for money they forgot their honor and became swindlers.

We have written this for two reasons: first, because legitimate advertising in the College will become worthless if business establishments are continually canvassed by irresponsible parties; second, what is of more importance, the honor of the College is certainly at stake if public opinion shall excuse swindling. We all have a sympathy for such peccadilloes as breaking windows or "ragging" signs, though even they are objectionable on the score of puerility; at any rate, there is in them neither meanness nor avarice nor downright dishonesty, only an effervescence of deviltry. But when these customs, skill in which is esteemed among us, as among the Spartans, are made the means of cool speculation, the honor of the whole College is involved, and should be vindicated by the protest of every student.

IT is said to be a favorite idea with some of our educators that, in place of making recitations universally voluntary, the privilege should be limited to those who show a special interest in study; these being determined by their rank either in all studies or in some department. This scheme, while free from such objections as Dr. McCosh's, would also offer a powerful inducement to men in the early part of their course to work hard. To us, however, it appears to have several faults.

In the first place, it is a compromise between desire to try a change and fear of possible bad effects; and, as is usually the case with a compromise, it fails to give any sure test. Suppose that this plan works ill, it does not therefore follow that the other plan, of allowing those in the later years of college to study as seems most advantageous to themselves, would also fail. For the latter would bring an entirely new element into the experiment; that is, it would rouse in nearly all the students a sense of responsibility, without which no system can be satisfactory or endurable; while the former, though benefiting one class, - those, however, who have already the sense of responsibility, - would, by contrast, make restraint all the more burdensome, and strengthen that antagonism between teachers and their pupils which is the bane of college, academy, and school.

In the second place, we object to the compromise because it sets before the student, as his motive of action, a temporary advantage. Rewards of merit will do well enough in primary schools, where the children cannot be expected to understand and appreciate the ultimate object of study; but it is no compliment, to say the least, to try to influence those who are men before the law by praise and bonbons.

WE have noticed lately, in some of our exchanges, the project of having a convention of college editors meet at some central point during the summer vacation. One exchange in particular sets forth in glowing colors the benefits, mental and physical, to be derived therefrom, nearly as follows: the pleasure of seeing and knowing personally the editors of so many papers; the relief of the journey to the wearied editorial brain; the lasting friendships we might thus form; the knowledge we might gain of each other; the "dignity" it would give college journalism; and last, the power resulting from unity of purpose and action, - for, as it conclusively asserts, "there is strength in unity." It also suggests St. Louis as the central point where the intellectual host shall assemble.

Who originated this mighty project we cannot imagine. It is worthy of a Gilmore; but between college journals there is so much more discord than harmony, that he would never have dared to make the attempt. However, the reasons given are too conclusive and overwhelming for us to raise our feeble voice against the scheme, even were we so inclined. What can be more pleasant than to shake hands with the Williams Vidette and Amherst Student, to make the acquaintance of the fair editresses from Vassar and all the mixed colleges, to see the Hobart Sentinel and Cornell Era hobnobbing together, or the Miami Student and Southern Collegian burying the hatchet and swearing eternal peace! or, what must certainly happen, to see the funny "Spectrum Lines" and jocose "Particles" each roaring and splitting his sides with laughter at the witticisms of the other! To think of the friendships with our brothers and the correspondences with our sisters of the quill, which can there be formed, quite turns our head, and we must go.

But these are only a part of the benefits we shall all reap from the convention. College journalism will receive a new impetus, the funny men can get up a "corner" on jokes, the light and heavy prose men can "bull" or "bear" their respective productions, while the poets can derive more fire from the others' fervor. But why stop here, and thus deprive the rest of the world of this feast of reason? Now that the project is set on foot, let it be expanded till it takes in the editors of all college papers everywhere. Even this will not be enough, we fear. No editor of any kind will be satisfied till he receives an invitation; so let it embrace all those of any race, color, or sex who can drive a quill. Then will the glory of the projectors be consummated. The distance to St. Louis is no objection. All would willingly travel twelve or fifteen hundred miles for such a treat, though the city is only about two hundred from the college proposing it. But is it central enough? There are colleges as large as some of our Western institutions in Turkey and the Sandwich Islands, and where there is a college there must be a paper. We suggest Calcutta, or, if the weather is too warm, St. Petersburg, and only await our editorial free pass to go there next summer.