THE first debate of this year between Yale and Harvard was certainly a success from every point of view. The management was very fortunate in its choice of officers. President Eliot as presiding officer, added much to the interest of the evening, and the judges were men of prominence and well versed in the knowledge of public affairs. We are certainly grateful to the Hon. Wm. E. Barrett, President Andrews of Brown and Profes-Seligman of Columbia, for consenting to act as judges, and we may feel confident that they were perfectly fair and impartial in discharging their part. The large audience and the presence of many distinguished graduates and members of the Faculty upon the stage testified to the interest which the debate has aroused among the public.

Last night's debate has certainly helped to emphasize more fully the advantages and beneficial results of this comparatively new form of contest between two colleges. When the scheme of intercollegiate debates was first proposed and discussed there was some feeling that such a form of contest might not be successful; that it would not interest college undergraduates or incite them to take part in a contest, the character of which was so excellent. The first debate of last year, however, was a pleasing proof to the contrary, and the second debate, even more successful than the first, was only a stronger proof. Those who had had any doubts of the success of the new venture were convinced of its practicability, and it was clearly shown that contests other than athletic could be maintained between colleges and prove successful in every direction. It has certainly been a good movement and has interested the public, - and in a large measure the same public - as have the athletic contests. We have shown that athletics are not the only link that binds together the undergraduates of various colleges. Harvard and Yale have been the first to show it in this form, and their example has been quickly followed. Other colleges, especially in the West, have instituted such debates; and in time this form of intercollegiate contest, of more benefit and greater intellectual development in the end. will become more common.