The time and care given to the important study of English at most of the so-called universities and colleges of the north is well shown in a letter to the current Nation, in which the writer gives a statement of the condition of the English department in southern colleges, To us the time and money spent upon English in these less favored institutions of learning will undoubtedly seem small, but in proportion to the money and means at their disposal, it is undoubtedly by no means as small as would appear at first sight. Often, however, the study of English, from a lack of funds, has to be associated with the study of some other language or branch of learning. Yet In spite of these disadvantages, for the last few years the study of English has rapidly increased and now takes a front rank in the curriculum of the southern academies and colleges. A gentleman who for ten years was an instructor in English at a southern college gives his opinion as follows:

"In my own experience, I have seen countless young men, that could not be either driven or led into giving faithful study to Latin or Greek, Turn with eager desire and with persevering zeal to the study of English. I have seen the study of English spread like a contagion through all the grades of undergraduate life, till even the idlest and the feeblest were moved to labor for an object that even the dullest could appreciate as desirable."

Although this statement may savor a little of the enthusiast, it is evident that the study of English has secured a much firmer foot hold among the southern people than was formerly the case.