The first number of the Harvard Monthly for this year appeared yesterday. It is hardly necessary to say before proceding to the review of its contents, that the monthly has now firmly established its footing in the literary world of the university. It must be very gratifying to the gentlemen who have carried on the paper since the departure from college of those who formed it, that the latter's expectations have been fully realized. No one would to-day assert that the Monthly is superfluous, and everyone feels the elevating influence it has had on the rest of serious college journalism. This year gives promise of work that will be in no way below the high standard o excellence which this magazine ha hitherto upheld.

An article on "The Choice of Electives by Mr. A. Lawrence Lowell, opens the number. In it the writer has stated some very valuable propositions which deserve much more serious consideration than the random talk on this subject which has been flooding the magazines all over the country. Mr. Lowell's advice about the work in preparation for the professions well deserves attention of those to whom it applies.

"Goldenrod" is a graceful bit of verse that is redolent of nature. It is spontaneous and has nothing "bookish" about it.

The Survival of the Fittest" is rather an ill chosen title for a story told with a great deal of life and spirit. The sketch of a man with ambition but "without backbone" has a good deal that is interesting, though it may well be questioned whether "invertebrate" ambition may be properly called ambition at all.

If Catullus were alive to-day he would read "Venus Victrix" with pure delight and perhaps with no little surprise at finding that his spirit lives on in this cold, material nineteenth century. A more admirable piece of verse has not appeared in college papers for a long time.

Mr. Leahy's article on "Realism and Reality" is an admirably balanced essay, and expresses in beautifully chosen language the thoughts of one who has evidently devoted much serious thought to his subject. The utter impossibility of the absolute realism to which modern writers tend ever becoming a true work of literature is forcibly and convincingly stated. The style of the essay is throughout smooth, the language is glowing and full of life-a worthy medium for such good thoughts.

Lack of space prevents our noticing further a careful study of "Austin Dobson and His Verse" and some well-written editorials.