FEELING sociably inclined, the other evening, I descended from my room in search of some one to smoke with, talk with, or walk with, it mattered not which, provided I could only gratify my longing to be with my fellow-men. One room after another I tried, where congenial souls are wont to congregate, but dark windows or unanswered knocks told the same story for all; and, at length, I found myself in the Yard, as companionless as ever. "Why, O my chum," I groaned as I gazed at the gloomy window-panes of my room, "didst thou avail thyself of thy senioric privileges and betake thyself off for a week's respite from college duties?" and I leaned moodily against a tree. Of a sudden a cold puff of wind drew across the Yard, and, tinkle, tinkle, a sharp metallic sound struck my ear. I turned, and saw that I was standing near the college-pump, whose tin cup the breeze was rattling against the post. "Well said, wise counsellor," I murmured, "if man fail, then malt."

Seated in a corner of a familiar room, I soon became unconscious of the presence of noisy Freshmen and noisier Sophomores, as I gave myself up to the delights of a tete-a-tete with a tall glass of foamy beer; and, thinking myself back to many social evenings spent in the same hospitable apartment, and not unmindful of my present solitary condition, I fell into one of those trains of reflection that not unnaturally come to a white-haired Senior.

A pair of chums, I meditated, is not unlike a married couple. The relation combines most of the advantages with none of the disadvantages, and, like a wife in the journey of life, a chum in the little jaunt of college is a good thing to have. I think I should always advise a Freshman friend to take to himself a chum; and yet such counsel, without first consulting that pattern of elder brothers whose advice is fast forming his fraternal relative Jack into the paragon of all Freshmen, I almost hesitate to give. Indeed, I am rather inclined to think that, for the embryo man of fashion, it is, on the whole, expedient to pursue his arduous path alone. For myself, however, I would as soon think of vowing eternal celibacy as of going through college without a chum; and to nearly every one who does not partake of the nature of a hermit-crab, a good chum is a blessing.

To see a light gleaming in your room as you return across the Yard, to have some one to call to you or growl at you as you open the door, some one ready to laugh with you at your author's wit, or to swear with you at the blindness of a textbook, - all this certainly tends to make life sweet. The other day, when that worthy African continued for the space of five minutes to call down blessings from Heaven upon my head in return for my five-cent subscription to the missionary cause, could I, had there been no one present to share my laugh, have considered it in the least amusing that my liberality had been followed by an effect so different from the one intended?

Perhaps I am sentimental, but I like, too, after an evening spent in company with the fair sex, to compare notes before the glowing coals, and, while composing myself for sleep, to tell, or hear told, an incident or two as to what "he said" and "she did." And often the pleasantest memories of college life are these hours spent with gas turned down, - hours filled with words that can only pass between friends that have played and worked together, for only to such do we like to unbosom ourselves of plans for play and work in the future.

Some unsociable beings advocate rooming alone on the ground that it is easier to find company when you want it, than to escape it when it is thrust upon you. This may do very well for those who wish companions in their convivial moments only, but, for my part, I prefer to see my friends tested by the thousand petty annoyances that inevitably occur, and to find them still standing firm under the fire of my temper when I am in an ill-humor. Besides, the argument about seeking your friends when you want them works both ways. If your chum cannot be induced to let you be oblivious of his presence, - and one who will not should, I admit, be avoided, - it is still possible to avoid his company. Even here, half-deafened, if I choose to listen, by the noise that fills the room, - for the Sophomores at the next table are getting exceedingly uproarious, - I am alone, "enclosed in a tumultuous privacy of" - smoke.

Of the many advantages of the relation of chum and chum over that of man and wife, not the least is, that if chums do not agree they can separate. No need of a journey to Indiana, and no troublesome incumbrances either. All needful is, at the end of the year, to shake hands with number one, and then, either to take up with number two, or to resume the freedom of bachelor-ship. For, in chumming, it is possible to follow out Lord Dundreary's idea, "If you find you don't like me, you know, you can go back to your mamma."

Suppose, again, I continued, while a sense of perfect comfort pervaded my whole being, that I were at this moment a husband instead of a chum. I should then be under the necessity of turning immediately homeward, or a little family disturbance might arise. But as it is, - and I caught myself nodding to my glass, - it makes no difference if I don't go home at all, so far -

"Hollo, old boy," broke in a familiar voice, "I've got back. Lost my latch-key and could n't get into the room. Thought I should probably find you here."

It was no other than my chum. Greeting him with a warmth to which he failed, I fear, to assign its real cause, I forthwith abandoned my reverie for a social chat, which was continued till, at the stroke of midnight, our host bade us God speed.