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THE subject of examinations has always provoked discussion. What is their real value? Are they essentially good; or are they evil? Do they attain the desired end? Do they form a necessary adjunct to college discipline? These are some of the questions that have arisen; and without entering upon their discussion, we think it safe to say, that among educators the prevailing opinion is that the examination is an evil, but a necessary evil. Although they confess the weakness of the present system, there seems to be a general disinclination to attempt any such radical change as the entire abolition of examinations; and it may be that such change would prove disastrous.

Yet in many institutions the matter is left to the professor in charge; in some instances, examinations have been entirely abolished with good results; while in others a system has sprung up which has met with general favor, that of excusing from examinations all those above a certain grade. Wherever tried, this system has proved satisfactory; and it now seems as though it would not be long before it were pretty generally adopted.

To the LIT. this system seems in every way commendable. We believe that the regular class-room exercise is a far better test of a man's ability and of a man's work than the bi or tri-ennial examination; that the man who does good, honest, thorough work through the term is entitled to some recognition from the Faculty; that with such a man the examination is superfluous, and a waste of time. If he get a delinquent, it is accidental; and being accidental, it ought not to be counted against him.

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The spirit engendered by frequent examinations is bad. Cramming" never made a student. The knowledge gained one day and forgotten the next is no knowledge at all; while the habits of superficial study thereby inculcated are directly antagonistic to true student life.

Altogether the new system meets with our approval. There is much to be said for it, and little against it. It is a step in the right direction. We understand that our Faculty have discussed the subject somewhat, but have gradually allowed it to drop. We regret this, for we feel that it is a matter which merits careful consideration; and we are sure that such a reform would commend itself to the whole student body.

WE would call attention to the record of the attendance by the Faculty upon morning chapels last term, as published in the local pages of this issue. This record shows that the most regular professor cut 15 per cent. and the least regular professor 92 per cent. of the whole number of morning chapels; that the average percentage of cuts by the Faculty was 39 9-10.

Every reason which urges the regular attendance on this exercise on the part of the students urges with even greater force for regularity on the part of the professors. We do not blame the Faculty for going so far beyond the ten per cent. limit which they considered fair for the students. Undoubtedly when they cut they had good reasons for so doing. But the students have reasons equally as good. For instance, when a professor has no 9 o'clock recitation he finds it inconvenient to attend chapel and remain on the hill till the hour of his recitation, and consequently he cuts; but when a student has no recitation till to or II o'clock he is compelled to attend chapel even to the detriment of his class work.

Let the members of the Faculty look at the record of their own attendance, and, keeping constantly before their minds the golden rule, draw their own conclusions as to what is just to the students in regard to attendance upon morning chapels.

The LIT. has ever expressed its approval of the New Excuse System as a system. But it could hardly be expected that a new system would work perfectly at first. The system is a good one. But we believe that some change should be made as to morning chapels. We would favor a change which would allow the student to cut on those days on which he has no 9 o'clock recitation, [this is done at Syracuse University,] and such an increase in the per centage of cuts allowed as the faculty, in the light of their own record for last term, consider just. We believe the faculty to be fair-minded men, and that they give in their deliberations a due respect to the rights of others. We feel that we are not appealing in vain to their liberality of view or their sense of justice and fairness.

REUNIONS.

CHICAGO REUNION OF HAMILTON ALUMNI.

The fourth annual reunion of Hamilton Alumni was held Thursday evening, Dec. 12, at the Union League Club. Ten states and thirty classes were represented at the banquet table, and the attendance was larger than usual. The singing of college songs brought back old times, revived pleasant memories, and rekindled something of the college-hill enthusiasm. Franklin H. Head presided, and called out the speakers with a mingling of wit and authority which he may have practiced as an officer of the Union League Club. Professor North made the first response, and expressed his pleasure in meeting so many graduates, all of whom (except Judge Farwell) had received their diplomas since his appointment to the chair of Greek, forty-six years ago. He spoke of the college as making a hopeful investment in the career of every worthy graduate. One could see at a glance that the college had made good investments in Chicago and the west. So many of its graduates are honorably prominent throughout the great west, so many are on the sure road to honorable prominence, that the college, with all its straightness, may call itself a millionaire in that imperishable wealth which neither moth nor rust can corrupt. Other responses were made by Rev. Dr. Herrick Johnson, on Alumini Ethics," by Rev. Dr. David R. Breed on "Post-Graduate Greek," by Hon. W. W. Farwell, Rev. Dr. M. W. Stryker, Harlan P. Lloyd, Hon. D. L. Kiehle, Alexander C. Soper, Prof. W. Jenkins, Charles Aldrich, Rev. C. C. Heminway, and A. M. Woodhull.

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On motion of Rev. Dr. Johnson, the thanks of the Western Alumni were sent to Mr. Horace B. Silliman, of Cohoes, for his kindly generosity in erecting an attractive and convenient hall for the undergraduate members of the Y. M. C. A. There was an expression of the earnest desire that the Western Alumni should be represented in the Board of Trustees, and a renewal of the resolution passed two years ago, which nominated for this position Mr. Thomas D. Catlin, '57, of Ottawa, a worthy son of Prof. Marcus Catlin, whose death in 1849 was followed by the election of Dr. Oren Root. The need of a new catalogue of Hamilton Alumni started another discussion which led the way to a practical result. Mr.

A. C. Soper volunteered to be one of fifteen to pay for publishing the mail book of Hamilton Alumni, and in less than ten minutes the fund necessary for this purpose was placed in the hands of Treasurer Chittenden. This fact illustrates the Chicago habit of doing a generous deed heartily and immediately, without waiting for some one to propose that a committee be appointed to mature a plan for doing something.

The officers elected for the fifth annual reunion are: President, Rev. Dr. M. Woolsey Stryker; vice presidents, Hon. William W. Farwell, Daniel Goodwin, Professor William Jenkins; executive committee, Frank H. Head, Dr. Ira W Allen, Dr. A. H. Champlin, Mellville E. Dayton; secretary, James D. Woley; treasurer, G. I. Chittenden.

The executive committee were requested to confer with the Mid-Continental Association with reference to a friendly coöperation.

Among the alumni present from Chicago and other places, were Judge W. W. Farwell, '37; Professor Edward North, '41, Hamilton College; Rev. Dr. J. P. Conkey, '47, Dubuque, Iowa; Hon. Henry G. Miller, '48; Rev. Joseph W. Hubbard, '50, Mechanicsville, Iowa; Rev. E. R. Davis, '51; John C. Ford, '51, Madison, Wis.; W. S. Pope, '51, Detroit, Mich.; Daniel Goodwin, '52; M. H. Beach, '53; Hon. John E. Burke, '55; Franklin H. Head, '56; Rev. Charles Linderman, Clarinda, Iowa; Dr. Herrick Johnson, '57; Charles W. Sykes, '57: George O. Manchester, '58, Topeka, Kas.; Harlan P. Lloyd, '59, Cincinnati, O.; Arba Brookins, '60; Hon. David L. Kiehle, '61, State Superintendent of Schools, St. Paul, Minn.; Aaron M. Woodhull, '61, Forestell, Mo.; Hon J. J. Tunnicliff, '62, Galesburg, Ill.; M. E. Dayton, '64; Frank W. Plant, '64, Joliet, Ill.; Edward Taggart, '64, Grand Rapids, Mich.; George A. Porter, '66; Rev. Dr. David R. Breed, '67; Nicoll Halsey, '57; Alexander C. Soper, '67: Professor William Jenkins, '67, Mendota, Ill.; Charles Aldrich, '68. St. Louis, Mo.; A. P. Kent, '70, Elkhart, Ind.; J. Platt Underwood, '70, Rhinelander, Mich.; O. R. Glover, '69; Albert Bushnell, '71, Kansas City, Mo.; Rev. A. A. Kiehle, 71, Milwaukee, Wis.; Rev. Dr. M. W. Stryker, '72; Rev. Charles F. Goss, '73; Rev. C. C. Heminway, '74, Auburn, N. Y.; Perry H. Smith, 74: Frank S. Weighley, '75; Henry D. Ames, '79; James D. Woley, '82; W. C. Barber, '84, Joliet, Ill.; G. I. Chittenden, '84.

KANSAS CITY REUNION OF HAMILTON COLLEGE.

The Mid-Continental Association of Hamilton Alumni held its third annual business meeting and banquet Friday evening, Dec. 27, at the Midland Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. Old gray-headed men and men of younger years met to review the memories of the by-gone days at Clinton, N. Y., where they used to wear the college colors of rose pink, and yell, "Ham-il-ton-zip-rah-boom." After the conclusion of the banquet these officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, James F. Tufts, Atchison, Kas.; secretary, Professor Lee S. Pratt, of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.; treasurer, Albert Bushnell, Kansas City; vice presidents, Rev. W. N. Page, D. D., Leavenworth; Aaron M. Woodhull, Forestell, Mo.; Hon. Theodore Hawley, Kansas City; Rev. E. C. Ray, D. D., Tokeka; Frank S. Larabee, Stafford, Kas.

A warm fraternal letter, among others, was read from Professor Edward North, of the college.

There was some discussion as to the measure proposed by three of the Hamilton College Alumni Associations. They are the New York, Chicago, and the Mid-Continental Associations. No decision was reached, however.

The next meeting will be held in Kansas City during the latter half of December, 1890. These were the gentlemen present at the last meeting, with the residence and class of each: Hon. Theodore Hawley, '50, H. H. Getman, '79, Clarence S. Palmer, '79, Albert Bushnell, '71, Henry French, '72, Harry T. Abernathy, '87, Randolph B. Seymour, '84, W. R. Lampson, '88, Kansas City; Hon. Channing J. Brown, '69, Rev. E. Ray, '79, Topeka; James F. Tufts, '72, Atchison; Professor E. J. H. Baird, '66, Maryville, Mo.; Aaron M. Woodhull, '61, Forestell, Mo.; Professor George A. Knapp, '84, Parkville, Mo.; Frank S. Larabee, '84, Stafford, Kas.; Professor Lee S. Pratt, '81, Galesburg, Ill.; Professor Clarence V. Carruth, '89, Highland, Kas.

NEW YORK REUNION OF HAMILTON ALUMNI.

The annual reunion of the New York Association was held at Hotel Brunswick, Friday evening, December 20. Telegrams of regret were read from Senator Hawley and Attorney-General Miller, who were unable to be present. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Elihu Root; vice-presidents, G. W. Hubbell, C. B. Curtis, Warren Higley; corresponding secretary, Dr. A. N. Brockway; recording secretary, Professor Chester Donaldson; treasurer, J. S. Greves; executive committee, President D. H. Cochran, Professor Chester Huntington, H. B. Tompkins, G. W. Davenport, C. S. Truax, J. V. B. Lewis, J. S. Perkins, Dr. W. B. Winchell, Professor N. A. Shaw, T. H. Lee, C. B. Cole, R. A. Patterson, E. A. Rockwell.

Assemblyman D. Ogden Bradley presided and introduced President Darling as the first speaker. Dr. Darling spoke of Hamilton's brilliant prospects, which, he said, were brighter than ever before. Hamilton had more alumni in high positions than any other college of its size and age in the country. He rejoiced that Hamilton had clung to the old and tried classical course, which gave the students a far better training than the new fashioned elective courses.

There was no deficiency in the treasury, for the first time in thirty years; the library had 35,000 volumes, which were being catalogued; $5,000 had been given to endow a scholarship of mathematics; Horace B. Silliman had erected a building on the campus at a cost of $30,000, and had said that he knew a plan whereby $100,000 could be added to the endowment fund before next June.

He was quite

Mr. Silliman, the next speaker, was received with cheers. facetious in his remarks, showing how Hamilton was abreast of the times in the elective system-that is. the student could select any study he chose to pursue, and the faculty elected the rest of the studies in the curriculum for him. Hamilton was also a co-educational institution, he said, but only in its post-graduate department. After graduation a student was allowed to continue his studies with any one of the fair sex he chose. Mr. Silliman believed that Hamilton had a great future.

Professor Root spoke of what the alumni could do for the college in the way of securing more students. Hamilton needed men as much as money. Brief remarks followed by Rev. John B. Hague, of Newark, A. Minor Griswold Assistant Treasurer Ellis H. Roberts, Thomas H. Lee, and others.

The following list of alumni who were present includes an unusual number from classes of recent graduation: President Henry Darling; Rev. John B. Hague, '32, Hackensack, N. J.; Dr. C. H. F. Peters, '38; Dr. Edwards Hall, '40; Horace B. Silliman, '46, Cohoes; Hon. D. Ogden Bradley, '48; G. W. Davenport, '48; Prof. Darwin G. Eaton, '48; Charles B. Curtis, '49; Dr. David H. Cochran, '50; Dr. A. N. Brockway, '57; Hon. George M. Diven, '57. Elmira; Prof. A. P. Kelsey, '56; Rev. Dr. C. E. Knox, '56; Rev. Prof. Oren Root, '56; Dr. N. L. Bates, '58; A. M. Griswold, '59; Dr. Isaac H. Hall, '59; Hon. Ellis H. Roberts. '60. James S. Greves, '61; Hon. Warren Higley, '62; Haines D. Cunningham, '66; Edwin Baldwin, '67; Judge Charles H. Truax, '67; Rev. Dr. Lewis R. Foote, '69; Rev. Charles E. Allison, '70, Yonkers; Prof. Henry A. Frink, '70, Amherst College; Hal Bell, '73; Prof. B. Dwight Holbrook, '75, Clinton, Conn.; Josiah A. Hyland, '75; Chauncey S. Truax, '73; Julian M. Elliott, '76; Dr. John S. Hawley, '77; John T. Perkins, '77: Prof. Henry C. Holbrook, '78, Sing Sing; Prof. E. W. Lyttle, '78, Elizabeth, N. J.; Prof. James W. Morey, '79; Robert S. Rudd, '79; Percy L. Klock, '80; Dr. W. B. Winchell, '80; Prof. N. A. Shaw, '82; Thomas H. Lee, '83; Prof. Chester Donaldson, 84; Prof. N. J. Marsh, '85; E. V. D. Slausen, '86; Robert A. Patteson, '87, Tarrytown; Prof. Frank H. Robson, '87, Elizabeth, N. J.

AROUND COLLEGE.

-Nine winter orations were handed in.

-Lockner, '93, has left college and gone to Union.

-Joseph Rudd, Jr., '90, spent Sunday, Jan. 6th, in Clinton. -Prof. Edward Fitch spent his vacation at his home in Walton. -Prof. A. G. Hopkins preached in Geneva Sunday, January 12. —Willard, '91, visited Burton, '90, in Albany during the holidays. -A. B. Wright, Union, '91, visited Lewis, '90, during the vacation. -Dr. Terret occupied the pulpit in Westminster church, Utica, Jan. 5. -Adams, '91, has returned to Hamilton after spending one term at Union. -F. F. Ellinwood, '88, and S. C. Brandt, '89, were on College Hill Jan. 4. -The late Schuyler B. Steese, class of '55, has left by will $10,000 to Hamilton.

-Stevens, '90, spent a portion of the vacation with Sharp, '90, in Seneca

Falls.

-Louis Brainard, '91, has accepted a position as clerk in a hotel at Pierre, Dakota.

-Dr. Terret has declined a call from the North Presbyterian Church in Geneva.

-Williams, '92, spent the holidays with Robert N. Brockway, '91, in New York city.

-It is rumored that a Temperance Association is soon to be started among the students.

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