We call attention to the announcement of a course of lectures on English literature by Mr. Copeland, the first of which is to be given tonight. Mr. Copeland has shown that he appreciates what seems to us one of the worst features of college life and of nineteenth century life in general, namely, the neglect of reading. Not only is the art of reading aloud obsolescent, but the habit of reading even to onesself seems in danger of being left behind in the rush and complexity of our modern life. In college we have so many things to attend to that we cannot spare time to read for the sake of reading; when we leave college, we are more than likely to fall into the line of American gold-hunters, and in our search, to forget that the culture of which we have tasted will soon be blotted out unless we foster it. Yet we students are not half so busy as we imagine ourselves. Much that we do is busy idleness, and much of our time might be spent as pleasantly and much more profitably over interesting and valuable books.

In his purpose to stimulate an interest in reading Mr. Copeland aims not merely at present enjoyment but suggests a counter force to the undoubted evil of our purely commercial life. The college gives us plenty of drill in writing well ourselves, but little enough of the sources from which the standards of good writing come, the best English authors. In Mr. Copeland's work this much neglected matter is taken up in an interesting way and the students will miss a good opportunity for increasing their general culture and for learning of a new source of pleasure for their future, if they miss these Monday evening lectures.