"I am not much surprised, gentlemen, at this apparently mysterious visitation, when I reflect that I was about to relate an incident little to the credit of some of the rejected.' It occurred in a stage coach, and I will read from my note book a brief account of it, which I noted at the time. The principal actors in the scene were a young lady recently from a boarding school, and a pedagogue, who, as we shall see, was a man of 'considerable function.' It happened very unfortunately for the good name of our college periodical, that each of these personages had acquired somewhat of their knowledge within the limits of this lovely city, and each therefore felt at liberty to speak, as of household things, of whatever was found therein. The conversation was somewhat after this manner.

Young Lady. I am surprised that a periodical conducted by the students of Yale College, should exhibit so little talent as is found in the pages of the Magazine.

Pedagogue. You need not be surprised. When I was in college, an attempt was made to sustain such a periodical, but I did not find time to write for it, and it went down. Such individuals as myself, at the present time, who are able to give character to such a paper, will not condescend to have their writings criticised by every brainless wit in college.

Young Lady. Why then do they suffer it to drag out a miserable existence, when it is evident to every one that the reputation of college is endangered by the foolish trash issued by its students?

Editor, incog. Madam, have you any acquaintances in college? Young Lady, (avec hauteur.) I have, sir, many in the Senior class; none in the lower classes.

Editor, incog. Do not their articles in the Magazine give evidence of some talent?

Young Lady. They have often assured me that they would never condescend to write for the thing.

Editor, incog. And, madam, who are these high-minded young men?

Young Lady. Why, there is from Massachusetts, besides

and

from New York,

from Connecticut. Editor, incog. Well, madam, since they have pursued a course so ungenerous, and injurious not only to the character of the Magazine, but of the college, I feel myself at liberty to say, that by a reference to the covers of the late numbers of the Magazine, you will discover the cause of their hostility. Now, is it not a matter of justice to all concerned, that those students in whose sight the Magazine does not find favor should frankly acknowledge the cause of their dislike? If they do not, let them be shown the Notice to Correspondents.'

66

Justice, most righteous justice," exclaimed Beppo.
"Amen," responded all.

After this narrative Caius assumed the rocking-chair of state, and whacking the afore-mentioned cane upon the table, directed the "coffin" to be brought forth.

"How shall the contents of the 'coffin' be disposed of?" quoth Caius.

"Let them be read," responded Beppo, eager for distinction.

"First then, gentlemen, we have a poem, entitled The Indian.' It commences in a strain of sublimity well adapted to so noble a subject:"

"High on the mountain top he stood;
Surveying far below the crowd
Of English, who with dauntless step
Moved onward as a cloud."

Here the president's voice faltered ;-Zotoff sighed involuntarily as his thoughts recurred to the march of the French against Moscow;-Nung Boah, seizing the president's cane so as to have at least the insignia of office, paced the room, vainly striving to hide his emotions beneath his editorial dignity-while the remaining two manifested absolutely no feeling,-a stoicism excusable only because they were themselves enveloped in the cloud, not of English, but of their Havana exhalations. Caius was at length somewhat revived by a sip of water, and after wiping his eyes, proceeded with some degree of calmness till the following stanza.

"The burning tear strolled down his cheek,

Attended by a sigh;

For his heart so high did beat,

Expecting soon to die."

Be astonished all ye that have human sympathies, when ye learn that Alcibiades, with the utmost nonchalance, here proposed to examine "Stewart on the Mind," in connection with some writer on Anatomy, in order to discover the effect of expectations on the pulsations of the heart. A general burst of indignation at so monstrous a proposal prevented any farther remarks from that gentleman during the evening. How inspiriting was the description of the preparation for battle, which followed. We heard the rolling drum, the trumpet's call, the "cannon's thundering roar;" but our hearts were doomed to be saddened by a recital of the catastrophe.

"He views his warriors giving way

Before the victorious foe;

My wife! my children! where are they?

Can they be dead? oh no!"

We could endure it no longer; the lid of the "coffin" closed mechanically over "The Indian," who fell to rise no more.

A sonnet was next announced. We hailed its appearance with joy; but the contrast between it and its predecessor was so harrow

ing to our feelings that "I move," said Nung-" Second that motion," reiterated three voices,

"I move, Caius,-excuse me, Mr. Pres"

"Yes sir, thank you for my cane," interrupted the president, evidently nettled. "Oh! a thousand pardons, I had forgotten that" "Your motion, sir," thundered Caius.

"I move, then, in short, I move that the contents of that box remain under consideration.' 6

And here the record saith "passed unanimously, by a silent assent, well becoming the solemnity of the act."

"I have in my hand," said the president, "several communications which I have received in various ways. The first is a treatise on 'Anatomica-philanthropica-perpetua-hydrophobia, in two volumes octavo.' Of this the record only saith, "After the table of contents, &c. had been read, this elaborate production was referred to a special committee, to be issued in an extra number at the expense of the author." The further proceedings of the meeting may be learned from the perusal of the preceding pages. It was now late, and an adjournment was more than hinted at, when Nung Boah arose, and spoke to the following effect." Mr. President and Gentlemen, now that all other matter' is disposed of, I beg leave to mention a matter of much importance: it is nothing less than the election of an assistant to the editor-in-chief”—a frown from the chair discomfited him for a moment, but he proceeded—“ not that I mean any disparagement to that worthy officer; no, gentlemen, he is fully adequate to his task. But let us not impose the drudgery of the office on him; let us rather choose for this one who shall be subservient to him, and render what assistance he shall direct."

Now whether Nung Boah imagined that his relation to the "celestial empire" entitled him to be "commander in chief of the editorial forces," and whether he therefore made his proposal through envy, is a matter of doubt to the fraternity, and must remain a historical ambiguity to perplex future generations. It is evident that he changed the tone of his remarks when he observed the president's frown, and as a soft answer turneth away wrath,” that worthy officer smiled again, and the motion to elect a secretary prevailed. On the first ballot the votes were declared to be as follows.

Caius declared that no choice had been made, though Nung expressed it as his firm conviction that in one sense there was a majority, while in another sense there might not be a majority. Hereupon Zotoff and Alcibiades declined being candidates, but Nung

Boah, thinking that no man could in honor decline being a candidate, nor when a candidate, could he in honor give his vote for any other man, wisely consented to run again. On the second balloting, therefore, the votes were as follows.

Whereupon Nung Boah was declared to be duly elected. Whether he treated or not, dear reader, is of little consequence to thee.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"R. S." "Q." and "Terence," are declined.

"Gracchus" is too much of a reformer. His views might accord with those of some village demagogue, but they are unsuited to the taste, and unworthy the attention of our readers.

"The Victim" is under consideration. The author is requested to call at our room next Tuesday evening, at eight o'clock.

"A Fragment" is not needed "to fill up any vacancy in the pages of the Magazine."

"The Author's Dream" is respectfully declined. N has not done himself justice. If he would condense his piece, and express his ideas with more perspicuity, we should be happy to hear from him again.

"A." might improve his translation of Horace by comparing it with that of Francis.

The request of the author of "Sea Music" is complied with. The author of "Lamentations" may never become an Ovid, but if he perseveres he will most undoubtedly secure his object, for what maiden is so obdurate as not to be moved by strains like the following.

THE influence of literature upon individual and national character is no longer questioned or disregarded. The time has been, when the arbitrary will of one man constituted the only law, when the people acted no other part in the great machinery of government, than to be the passive recipients of the impulses of others, that the education of the chief, was all that was absolutely necessary for the proper direction of public affairs. But when this unnatural state of society was changed, when the people began to recover their natural and invaluable rights, then the prosperity, the very existence of the government depended upon the intelligence of the people.

That we may duly appreciate the difference between the intellectual condition of the citizens of ancient republics and our own, we must carefully divest ourselves of all those prejudices, which our systems of education so naturally create and cherish. In the very commencement of our literary course, we are taught to repeat the names and rehearse the productions of a Cicero and a Demosthenes; to dwell with pleasure upon the beauties of Virgil, and the bold imagery of Homer. The mind unconsciously acquires a reverence for these authors; and this reverence invests even the age and the country in which they lived, with a sanctity that ill disposes us to receive the truth concerning the intellectual character of their fellow citizens. The glowing descriptions of the "golden age of Literature," and of the "abodes of the muses," so frequently to be found in our literary addresses, tend to encourage this impression among those who from their education are not disposed, or from their circumstances are not able to investigate the subject; and they soon believe that the distinguished men so frequently alluded to, were but the indexes of their age, representing favorably it is true, but yet correctly, the condition of the people.

If this error was one only of opinion, one which exerted its influence merely on the individual, it might be disregarded, but when it is