ited every fireside, while ambitious villagers would seek the popular favor by enormous feasts to which the whole population would be invited.

But while social gaiety was disporting itself, the Indian was also preparing for the most sacred and solemn rite of his religion-the sacrifice of the white dog. White was the Iroquois symbol of purity and sacred to the Great Spirit; hence, a dog of spotless white was chosen. On the first day of the festival he was strangled, care being exercised, for his blood could not be shed nor his bones broken. A string of white wampum, the pledge of sincerity, around his neck and his body decorated with ribbons, he was suspended aloft to await the day of sacrifice, while his spirit, as the Iroquois believed, still hovered about the stiffened form. This ceremony, bearing so much resemblance to the heathen customs of older nations, has, especially, attracted curiosity, but the Indian's natural reticence long veiled it in obscurity. Formerly supposed to be a sort of sin offering, the true explanation shows it to be a wholly different idea, beautiful, and peculiarly emblematic of their religion. The white dog is simply a messenger, bearing to the Great Spirit the pledge of his people's gratitude and continued fidelity. When the peculiar esteem, in which the red hunter holds his dog, and the latter's faithfulness and devotion, are borne in mind, the appropriateness of such a sacrifice becomes strikingly evi

dent.

With this rite culminated that series of ceremonies with which the Iroquois year was dotted and by which the Indian was wont to bear to the heart of the Great Spirit his gratitude for his humble lot. Peculiarly the child of nature, following nature's guidance in his religion, timing his festivals and adapting his worship to her dictates, he saw, in all her changes, the hand of an all-ruling overseer. The ceremonies, which the planting, the ripening and the gathering of the harvests called forth, are, in themselves, unique and interesting; but the sentiments that actuated them, the enthusiasm displayed, and, especially, the spectacle of a savage people rising so far above the trammelings of superstition, as to acknowledge one supreme being as their crea

tor and preserver, calls forth higher emotions and fills the mind with conjectures concerning the possibilities of such a

race.

The religious beliefs of the Iroquois and those of the ancients show many points of similarity. The Great and Evil Spirits correspond most nearly to the Ormusud and Ahriman of the Persians. The journey of the soul after death, as represented by the Indian, has many parallels to that delineated in Homer and Virgil. The " Eskumane," the abode of the blessed, where the deserving might taste the joys of immortality in a land of perpetual sunshine, recalls the Elysium of the Greeks. The dismal region to which the shades of the ignoble are doomed, shut out from the joys of paradise in the impassable abyss, tormented by the loathsome watch-dog, brings to mind Virgil's description of the dreary realm of Orcus with Cerebrus barking horribly. But, while we may trace many similar points in the superstructure, the underlying principle of Iroquois faith was as different from those of the Greeks and Latins as was the condition of the races. The one had the conception, perhaps incongruous in detail, yet clearly defined, of one supreme being; the others, failing to reach this height, peopled Olympus with an "elaborate polytheism." Turning to the forms of worship the same comparison may be made. The one will be found as rude as the other is elegant, but as chaste and natural as the other is sensuous and degraded. To realize the beauty of Indian worship, contrast their berry festival, a feast of gratitude for the first fruits of the earth, with the Floralia of the Romans established for a like purpose, and judge which approaches nearer the Christian idea of true thanksgiving. No lewd, degrading orgies, like those of classic Rome; no sacrifice of human victims to propitiate terrible deities, like those of their more civilized Aztec kindred, marked the simple expression of Iroquois piety. The rude children of the forest had conceived a system purer and more merciful, and which, perhaps, approaches nearer divine truth than any man untaught by revelation has ever achieved.

Their religion bore fruit in their lives. Savages they were, with many of the vices of savages, but they were hospitable,

generous, brave, patriotic and honorable, possessed of virtues rare, even in Christian lands. How much is due to their faith we cannot say. But, as faith nerved the warrior to die, unflinchingly, at the stake, rejoicing in the hope of a happy immortality, so must the influence of ceremonies, bringing constantly before his eyes the goodness of the Great Spirit and man's exalted position as His special care, have tended to give dignity to his life, to soften the brute and exalt the man within him, and have helped to form those virtues, which, even a prejudiced race has acknowledged. The power of the Six Nations has long since been broken and an alien race now occupies the "Long House." But we, their supplanters, knowing them from the testimony of those who knew them before weakened by civilization's contact, may well express shame for the white man's part, admiration for the red man's virtue, charity for his vices and wonder at the beauty and purity of his worship.

Editors' Table.

SALUTATORY.

The new LIT. board, in entering upon its duties, inherits from those that have gone before, an enviable reputation among college journals. With this inheritance, however, comes a responsibility; we must not take a step backward; our course must be onward and upward. Should we allow the LIT.'s fair name to be tarnished, surely those by-gone editors, whose labors gave her birth, would return to point the finger of shame at us and our failures. Thus urged on by memories of past achievements, and inspired by the possibilities of the future, the members of the new board take hold of their work with the determination to do their very best, whatever that may be. Nor do they feel the misgivings of untried strength, for half their number have already had twelve months' experience, and it is hoped that this advantage may be felt during the coming year. They do not expect to make any new or startling departures from the old regime, but they do hope that the LIT., while under their charge, may not disappoint its readers. The reception given the series of articles published during the past year under the heading "What Shall the Graduate Do?" seems to warrant their continuance; and so similar articles may, from time to time, be looked for within our pages. It is sometimes urged against the LIT. that orations, essays, etc., are rather heavy, as steady diet; but in this respect we are at the mercy of the College. The LIT. is representative; and if essays and orations form the sole product of our college thought, then to essays and orations the LIT. is limited. Far be it from us, however, to discourage other lines of work; and particularly do we urge upon all those who would woo the Muse, to submit their verses to us. We can not promise to publish them, but if they are at all worthy, we will be only too happy to do so. Moreover, in this writing, and in all work done for the LIT. loyalty for Alma Mater is shown in the most practical way possible. We would wish that it were possible to offer prizes for such work; but the experience of other boards forbids it; and we can only appeal to college spirit, to the love of Hamilton's sons for Hamilton. Surely this ought to be sufficient.

That the hearty support of faculty, alumni and students is necessary for the LIT.'s success, goes without saying. Cannot thatsupport be more general than it has been in the past?

There are some who seem to think that the lot of an editor of the LIT. is cast among roses, that the mere fact of his being an editor is sufficient reward for his labors; but if they were to change places with those same editors, they would find that the roses had many more thorns than petals. But we would not strike a complaining note in this our greeting; and our reward is found in the consciousness of a good work done, and in the recognition of that work by so many of our college readers. We have no doubt that we shall be called

"grumblers;" but we can only hope that our grumbling may be as productive of good as that of past boards.

With our greeting must be mingled a farewell. Three months will have passed ere another LIT. appears-three months during which these college halls will be silent, and our college friends scattered. A happy vacation to each and all! Auf wieder sehen.

THE Glee and Banjo clubs have won great praise and established a reputation by the concerts given this year. Organized less than six months ago, their success, under the direction of Professors Barnes and Lucas, has been marked. Their concerts rival in excellence and variety the productions of much older clubs. By the departure of '89 only one man is lost, and next year's clubs will have had the benefit of a year's experience. There are bright prospects before them. They should next year take an extensive trip, bringing themselves more prominently into public notice. If the public has any appreciation of college music, such concerts as those given by the Hamilton College Glee and Banjo Clubs can not fail to draw large houses. Nothing in the power of the students could aid the college more than a successful trip by these clubs.

THE Junior class recently had the pleasure and profit of listening to the Hon. J. D. Henderson, of the Herkimer County Bar, who delivered before the class, in connection with their study of "Pomeroy," a lecture on Codification. To a a class, not yet beyond "school-book law,” a lecture, by a practicing lawyer, on a practical subject, is of great value. This brings us to the consideration of the lamentable fact that such collateral or supplementary lectures occur very seldom here in Hamilton. Some years ago the college had the benefit of listening to Ellis H. Roberts explain, in a series of lectures, why he was a protectionist. Since that time, private enterprise or fortuitous circumstance has, occasionally, secured for us a lecture; but, as a matter of course, it will be some time before we can expect as a regular occurrence, these advantages which so many colleges have hastened to offer.

When that time comes, we will read in the catalogue that those of our undergraduates who contemplate teaching, will find it possible, once or more during their Senior year, to listen to some successful teacher give a practical talk on teaching. The embryonic minions of the law will look forward to several lectures by an active and successful practitioner, on knotty points of law that the writers of text books never thought of. The students will expect several lectures during each year on practical politics from practical politicians. Political economists will occasionally climb the hill to give us intelligent reasons for our views on the tariff. (Well, when the management of the college is left to the undergraduates, great things will happen.)

THE unusual and not-to-be-encouraged mode of proceedings at the HamiltonRochester base ball game on June 5th, was certainly far from commendable. The manner of "roasting" a visiting nine, as was that of Rochester's,