Mr. Emerson's writings have played no small part in forming the thought of this country during the last generation, at least, and his clear and elevated views have always appealed strongly to collegians and college-bred men. It is then of peculiar interest to college men to witness the controversy that it now going on about the criticism which has just been pronounced on Mr. Emerson by a man almost equally famous, Mr. Matthew Arnold. It would seem as if a great number of Emerson's countrymen were unaware of the esteem and appreciation in which they held him, until they imagined an attempt was being made to lower him from his lofty place. Since then, nothing that could be said has been too extravagant to be uttered in his eulosy. But we believe that all this commotion and fear has been excited by a false impression of Mr. Arnold's criticism. Instead of taking away anything from Emerson's real rank, it has really but defined it the more clearly, and placed him in the light in which posterity must view him. If, instead of carping at Mr. Arnold's frank and fair criticism, our people would only put away their own ideas and take Emerson as he actually is, it would much simplify the working out of a result which must be found true in time.