Go I unto a Chemic Lecture, Where sulphuretted hydrogen, Whene'er my loved one feels peculiar, A bottle of Ammonia, Reviving, strong, Ammonia, &c. If at a party I am dancing, My partner perfumed strong with "Rose," Her charms essence-ially entrancing My senses all, except my nose, I stagger to a corner far, And, fainting, snuff Ammonia, &c. And so through life I'll carry in my pocket It there shall rest beside my Julia's locket, Revived, I'll sing—Ammonia! Ammonia! We welcome to our pages the authors of "Yale” and of the "Pleasures and Duties of College Life." In their pieces we see the right spirit manifested, and we raise little Oliver's cry of “Môre,” for such good and appropriate things as the lines written in the laboratory, the "Poser for Linguists,” and “ Ammonia.” We regret that its length and our want of room excludes the essay on "Painting and Poetry." It has much merit and may appear in a future number. We learn with regret that some of our readers have been somewhat dissatisfied with the contents of preceding numbers; on the ground particularly that the pieces inserted have been used on other occasions, and heard by portions of the students. Now we think that the Lit. should be prized quite as much for containing pieces which have been listened to with interest, of which the authors are known, and which will serve in after years as remembrancers of them, as for anything else. To us, the magazine is not so much an object of merely present interest, something to tickle the fancy for the passing moment, and then be thrown aside, as something to be recurred to in the future, when we are living over again these days and scenes. And as the editors cannot be expected to supply new matter enough themselves to fill the Magazine, they must select from the materials furnished them, what in their judgment is the best. If, then, pieces written for public occasions, orations, &c. &c., seem to be the most carefully prepared, and on the whole the best compositions, and the best indices of the ability of the students, we can have no choice but to publish them. Don't complain then, till you send us for our pages things really more deserving than those we publish, and we reject them. Another complaint has been one equally groundless; viz: that the editors "cut up" pieces which are sent to them anonymously and not those given them personally by the authors. We do no such thing; we cut up pieces which deserve it, however they reach us. We have nothing to do, as editors, with anything but the actual comparative merit of the pieces, and their adaptedness to the purposes of the magazine. This we wish distinctly understood. This, and not favoritism or any like thing must be and is, the principle on which we discharge our editorial duties. EXCHANGES and non-exchanges. "The Pacific" greets us from San Francisco. It is a weekly paper—motto; “First pure, then peaceable—without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Rev. J. W. Douglass, Proprietor." May its influence be widely felt for good in that far distant region! The "Law Reporter" being rather out of our line, we can only say we take it for granted it is all right: at any rate it's right on hand. We were indebted some time since to the N. Y. Daily Times, and the Yale Banner for reliable information as to the number and names of students at Yale. A publication entitled “Catalogue of the Officers and students of Yale College," has quite lately appeared. On comparing this with the former we find it in the main correct. We believe this is published at intervals, by the college, and by the way would suggest that we editors deserve as "perquisites" copies of Phi Beta Kappa Orations and Poems, and all other college publications; and in this connection respectfully and modestly suggest to the faculty, whether it wouldn't be for their advantage in increasing the sale of catalogues, if they should secure a puff from us by just sending us a pretty plump quota gratis! And now, OLD KNICK! We come to your case: you're said to be usually “around," but some how you don't visit our table as you used to. Why is this? The old governor on our cover and yourself we should think very well fitted to exchange visits once a month, especially since you've got one of our old corps to stay your aged steps. Suppose we try it and see! Our editorial compliments on behalf of our favored colleague are respectfully extended to certain young ladies-"fine girls”—of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. The receipt of a catalogue is acknowledged, and thanks returned for its descriptive illuminations. The request of the young ladies shall be granted. The allusion to" Cicero" is not comprehended,—please explain. Our "communications" shall be addressed as directed, but is it not a little exacting to require "the name, age, and general characteristics" of the writer? We have been unexpectedly delayed in getting out this Number; it should have appeared a day sooner,-but " circumstances alters cases," as the old lady said, and so mote it be." We ask your pardon, Readers, and by way of conciliation, wish you all a joyful vacation, a MERRY CHRISTMAS, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Award of the Vale Literary Premium. THE present Board of Editors having appointed Rev. CHESTER S. LYMAN, of the Class of 1837, one of the Editors of the first volume of this Magazine, and HENRY B. HARRISON, Esq., of the Class of 1846, one of the Editors of the eleventh volume, a Committee to act in connection with one of their own number, in awarding the Prize offered in June last;-subsequently received the following REPORT. TO THE EDITORS OF THE YALE LITERARY MAGAZINE : The committee appointed to award the Premium placed at the disposal of the editors of the Yale Literary Magazine, would simply say, that having examined the ten compositions submitted to them, they have no hesitation in regarding as most worthy of the prize, the piece signed ZWINGLE, and entitled "THE GREATER DISTINCTIONS IN STATESMANSHIP." At the same time they deem it but just to say, that, in their opinion, a large portion of the remaining articles possess unusual merit. It may also not be improper to remark, that in making their decision, the committee were governed only by a regard to Literary excellence, without reference to the subject; although, knowing the wish of the conductors of the Magazine to encourage the selection of topics of a less grave or ambitious cast, the committee would have been pleased to decide in favor of a composition on a subject more appropriate to the general scope of the magazine, had a due regard to the other qualities of good writing left them at liberty to do so. New Haven, December 20, 1851. CHESTER S. LYMAN, HENRY B. HARRISON, The envelope inscribed "ZWINGLE," was then broken at a meeting of the Editors, and ANDREW D. WHITE, OF SYRACUSE, N. Y. a member of the Junior Class, was found to be the successful competitor, and to him the Premium is accordingly awarded. |
