THE modern policy of the College becomes more evident year by year. The day of "soft things" is passed; the very lecture-rooms wear an appearance of having the decks swept and ready for action. "Occasional examinations" are scattered broadcast in every elective, and heavy is the list of deads. The traditional softness of the junior year is rapidly assuming the form of a myth; an unfortunate member of that devoted class was heard sadly to remark that he had had five examinations, two themes, and one forensic in four weeks, and had just been grievously harassed in the Dean's office for being half an hour late with his second theme. Occasional examinations are, doubtless, a great preventive of cramming; but if forty examinations besides the "goes" are to be given, the Junior Class of '75 will become extinct.

Then, too, themes and forensics are very good things, but, as they are marked at present, their imposition is simply a bore, with few good results. Three hundred marks are given for six themes on a scale of seven thousand five hundred; so that a falling off of twenty-five per cent in the excellence of all one's themes would reduce one's general average only one per cent. It is scarcely to be expected that a student should devote fifteen hours to writing and rewriting a theme, when twelve hours' less application would make a difference of but one sixth of one per cent in his year's mark.