THOUGH Winter has "lingered" for an unusually long time in the "lap of Spring," and Jupiter Pluvius still makes out-door plans uncertain, we are forcibly reminded that Spring has really come. The shop windows are placarded with "Spring Openings," several vernal poems have been offered for publication, and groups of Freshmen can be seen playing marbles and pitch-penny. But to us surer and more important signs are the small crowd with cricket and base-ball bats, that move toward Jarvis daily after dinner, and the smaller crowd that direct their steps toward the boat-houses just before supper.

To the Freshmen, we believe, belongs the credit of showing the first signs of returning life. Early in the season they originated the plan of having a tournament of the Freshmen Nines of all New England colleges. At the Convention held at the Massasoit House, Springfield, April 5, this plan was fully developed and established. The six colleges, represented by their delegates, decided that there should be such a tournament, and that it should take place at Springfield, July 14; each Nine playing with every other Nine. The tournament, coming to a close on the day of the Regatta, will furnish another attraction for Springfield that week, while the large number that will attend insures all the clubs against pecuniary loss. Though the Freshman Nine is, as yet, far from organized, they played a game with the Boston Juniors on Fast day and showed much individual good play. The defeat on that occasion may perhaps be excused when we consider Captain Perry's accident, and the fact that the composition of the Nine on that occasion was more the result of chance than selection. But energy in base-ball is not manifested by Freshmen alone. Our University Nine practises every day, and would have opened the regular season last Saturday by a game with the Bostons had the weather permitted. Though several new men will have to be taken in to fill vacant places, the Nine will not differ materially from that of last year, and will be fully as strong. The hour from 12 to 1 P. M. finds many cricketers at work in their small corner of Jarvis, while an eager crowd of foot-ball players can be seen at almost any hour, hot and coatless, on the Common. Nor are their brethren of the oar a whit behind those who prefer taking their exercise on land to going down to the sea in shells. The University and all the class crews go out every day to try what months of Gymnasium work has done for their muscles. The members of the University are not yet decided upon, as it is too early in the season, but the crew will probably consist of Dana (stroke), Goodwin, Morse, Low, Bacon, Devens (bow). The Junior crew is at present Silsbee (stroke), Wheeler, Good-rich, Harding, Burry, P. Dana (bow); and the Sophomore crew Hunnewell (stroke), Prince, Wet-more, Clark, Appleton, Hartwell (bow). The Freshman crew is still more uncertain; but as there are some ten good candidates for its seats, there is no danger that Captain Hodges will not present a good crew at the race.

In fact, these signs of new life and vigor are seen in all; from the dig who emerges from his den to breathe the tonic air of the Port, to John Reed at his work in the Yard. This general wave of new life and vigor which has passed through the whole College is encouraging, as it seems the forerunner of events which will bring honor and reputation to us all.