The recent fire in Stoughton Hall shows the necessity of being fully prepared beforehand for any accident of that kind. The fire was not due to the carelessness of anybody, but originated from a hot coal falling out of the grate upon the carpeted floor. This is the third time within the past ten years that Stoughton has been set on fire from the same cause. Had the fire remained much longer undiscovered, the damage done would have been infinitely greater and probably the occupants of all the rooms in that building would have been burned out. No one can be too careful with regard to making coal fires in the high grates such as are found in the older buildings of the college yard, for the hot coals are very apt to fall out upon the floor. The service rendered by the fire department was excellent and kept the flames from spreading to other parts of the building. As every one knows, the fire escapes put in all the college buildings during the past summer are absolutely useless. They should be replaced by long, heavy ropes fastened firmly in the wall, and then in case of a disastrous fire a student would have some chance of escape.