THAT was a hopeless task we took upon ourselves when we criticised Western College Journalism. It was not our design to be unfair, and perhaps our condemnation was too sweeping. We had in mind at the time some glaring examples of inefficient writing and poor taste, and in fact we illustrated our remarks by references to these, so that every one might see we had special cases before us to which our general statements applied. But the Westminster Monthly, a paper far superior to many more pretentious issues from Colleges of larger size and wider fame, essays a defence. While thankful to the editors for their charity towards us, we must deprecate that spirit which leads to a seeming insinuation that the reason for our severe criticism was inflated conceit and sectional exclusiveness. Although we insist upon our former statement that the tone of journalism among Western Colleges is low, we admit that there are brilliant exceptions; we admit, too, that many of our Eastern Colleges publish what is decidedly inferior in quality. It is by criticism alone that what is of such a kind can be cast aside. And when we have criticised, our duty is done. It is not becoming that we should suggest what is eminently correct.

The faults we criticise we ourselves endeavor to avoid; whether success garlands our efforts, our contemporaries must judge, and their unprejudiced remarks we can always assure a fair consideration.

THE Index Niagarensis mentions some of the "Necessary Qualifications for a City R. R. Conductor," among which we find: "'Far-sightedness,' or the faculty of not seeing persons who wish to ride until the car has left them three blocks behind. 'Love of ventilation,' or the knack of keeping the door wide open on cold nights while joking with the driver. 'Politeness,' mingled with authority of tone, so as to be able to say, 'Now, then, step, lively, old lady; don't keep us here all night!' 'Humor,' or a fondness for starting the car just before you step off, thereby causing you to shoot forth into the mud. 'Mystification,' or a capacity for mistaking 30th for 13th street. 'An eye to the beautiful,' or a habit of staring ladies out of countenance or the car. 'Disinterestedness,' when the track is obstructed; this virtue will invariably lead the conductor to a neighboring saloon until all obstacles are removed."

WE have received the first number of The Amateur Advocate, a sheet which proceeds from the wilds of East Cambridge, and bears for its motto the significant words, "Truth, Virtue, and Temperance." It asserts itself as being "devoted to the study and progress of literature among the younger classes," nor does the quality of its reading matter belie this declaration. We quote from the "Salutatory": "We have done our best under the circumstances, but we hope to do better. In the hurry and bustle contingent to the starting of a paper, we have tried to make this number satisfactory; but if in any particular it fails to meet the expectations of any of our readers, we hope they will be lenient, and as each succeeding number appears, they will undoubtedly be well pleased with our efforts." Terms, fifty cents per annum.

THE Record is unusually interesting to us this week, expressing as it does the feeling at Yale in relation to the recent base-ball contest. We cannot help inferring that so great was the confidence in Nevins's pitching, that certain members of the Yale Nine became careless about practising. If this was so, the poor playing of the Nine is readily accounted for. The whole tone of the Record's remarks is highly complimentary and gratifying to Harvard.

THE Nine engage in practice games almost every afternoon, and before long we hope to record some of its brilliant triumphs over other college Nines. - College Spectator (Union College).

THE Dennison Collegian is quite serious. It contains, among other things, an essay on Epitaphs, and an address to a skeleton. In the former we are told that the graveyard has always been a favorite place of resort, and that 't is "strange, and even passing strange, that the coffined clay should reveal the good which the living, breathing man failed to disclose!" The "Address," which is in verse, is remarkable for nothing but metre.

THE best part of the University Reporter is the ample space occupied by advertisements, prominent among which is the card of Miss Nellie Eaton, milliner.

THE Marietta Olio publishes a column and a half from the Independent, bemoaning the superciliousness of Eastern college men, especially of the Harvard type.

EASTERN colleges are making much ado about boating. A boat race will take place July 17, at Springfield. - Irving Union.

Coiffure a le condamne is Amherst French for a fighting-cut.

"WHAT! not drink wine!" the host exclaimed,

As laughingly he quaffed

A goblet of the liquid light

In one nectarian draught.