Early last week we printed a communication relative to clapping and applause at the lectures in freshman chemistry. The writer himself a freshman, strongly condemned the practice, and asked his classmates, as gentlemen, to abandon it. We have been told, however, that the applause is confined to clapping, on Professor Cook's entrance and at the close of the lecture. If this is the case, we should be very sorry to have the custom given up. It has many years past been the habit of the freshman chemistory sections to applaud Professor Cook. The act has been one of friendly feeling on the part of the class toward an instructor whom we all respect, and we feel sure that the gentleman would miss the greeting with which he has been met at the beginning of his lecture for so many years.

And, while we are upon this subject, is it not rather strange that this custom is not more general among us? In all the German and French universities this usage has received the sanction of long observance. In many of our own instructions of learning it has become a matter of daily occurrence, notably at the medical schools of New York. Such manifestations of respect can hardly be otherwise than gratifying to the instructor who is honored by them.