WE have heard rumors that, Plutone volente, the authorities intend erecting a new and gorgeous gymnasium, converting the present fungus-like structure into a swimming-bath. This reminds one of The Last Days of Pompeii, and excites in the mind a dazzling vision of sybaritic splendor. But we fear that a tincture of Freshmen in Fresh Pond H2 + (?) would cause the bath to be too much after the style of the Leukerbad, on the Gemmi, to be popular with many of the students.

There is, however, one improvement connected with the gymnasium which we strongly advocate. Instruction in boxing and fencing should be given to the students at a nominal price. There is no more valuable exercise than boxing, regarded as a method of gymnastic training; and it is really a useful accomplishment. Fencing trains the eye and will, develops the figure, throws back the shoulders, and gives a more erect and graceful carriage. In all European colleges, fencing is considered a most important element of perfect education. In the Swiss college towns, all riding-masters and maitres-d'armes are required to give lessons at half-price to the students. Harvard has taken the lead in adopting what is good in the management of European colleges; why not imitate them in encouraging the physical development of students? As fencing is easily taught to classes of five, and sparring to classes of three, one instructor in each art would be able to give a course of lessons to all who wished to learn; and students would be much more likely to take exercise among themselves in these exciting ways, than to practice regularly the monotonous drudgery of the clubs or weights.