My philosophical studies have given me a habit of generalizing. I got 31, but, owing to my preference for round numbers, I answer, "40."

Spider smiles, and waits good-naturedly for me to ask for his mark. But here is where I am superior to him. I am not going to ask for his mark. The silence becomes painful. At length Spider smiles again.

"Ah!" sighs he, "how I wish that I, too, might get a low mark; it's so popular, you know. I tried it this time, - I really did; but I got 98."

I have come to the conclusion that the marking system should be instantly abolished, and - What did you say? - grapes? That is very old, and, besides, I never did aspire to a lofty mark. Spider, who is chuckling at his triumph over me, is an unfeeling brute. His victory is not a fair one. He does not consider that while he has been grinding at that dull Greek, I have been enjoying some English classic that is none the less profitable because it will not add five per cent to my Greek mark. Indeed, if I should grind continually on my electives, I might score better marks; but at what a cost! What progress should I make in the much-vaunted "general culture"? I do not mean the culture that is obtained by lounging at Parker's, - a kind that is becoming obsolete, thank '78; but the culture that is given by a broad course of reading, - the reviews, of course; George Sand, of a warm afternoon; Schiller, of a cool one; Macaulay, when I am fresh; Irving, when I am weary; all capped by the inevitable Nation, in deference to which I form my opinions. These, together with my visits to the art galleries and an occasional evening in a drawing-room, - barter these for 80 per cent in Greek and the approbation of Spider? I cannot afford to do so. No! Let Spider spend all his evenings with Socrates and Plato, if he will. I am content to give a few of mine to some modern dramatist at the Museum, or to a little philosophy which might puzzle Socrates himself.

Popularity, did you say? Humbug! Spider is not unpopular because he gets high marks, but because he talks about them. Low marks do not hurt a fellow much, but high marks will do him good, if he is modest about them. But it is unkind to accuse me of truckling for popularity. I was talking about the system. Any system that breeds such fellows as Spider is an unmitigated evil.

Why do the Faculty uphold it? Because they fear the censure of Boston newspapers. I am going to write a letter to the Transcript immediately. If there is any one thing that Harvard College stands in awe of, that thing is a letter in the Boston Transcript. Verily, the press is mightier than - I had almost said, the President.

ION.