3 College Beading-Room.

It has long been felt that in one respect our literary facilities at Yale are sadly imperfect. Though we have two good circulating libraries open to all, with the College Library open to the upper Classes, we cannot but think that the system is incomplete, as long as there is no place connected with the College, where can be kept for perusal the various home and foreign periodicals, and newspapers from all sections of the country, and of all shades of political opinion. Not such an institution as we now have at the Gymnasium, but a Reading-Room which will be an honor to the College, and in which we shall all take a common pride. It is a want of which the students have long been conscious, and how to meet it has been anxiously pondered.

At length, at the beginning of the last Collegiate year, a joint committee was appointed by Brothers and Linonia, to consider the expediency and practicability of establishing a United Reading-Room. After due investigation, the committee unanimously reported in favor of a plan, which comprehended not only the establishment of a Reading-Room, but also the complete reorganization of our Library System. It was proposed to consolidate the two Society Libraries into one, which was to be called the United Society Library, and to use the other Library-room, whichever one that might be, as a Reading and general reference room. The former was to be strictly a circulating library, and on its shelves were to be found the Histories, Essays, Biographies, Plays, Novels, and Poetry. The Reading-Room, on the other hand, was to contain, in addition to the leading newspapers and magazines, the best English and Continental Reviews and papers, as well as the Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Gazetteers, bound Periodicals, and other works of general reference. It was also provided in the report, that the Reading-Room should be supported by contributions from both Societies and from the College.

Such were the main features of the plan, as reported by the committee. We understand, withal, that it received the approval of the Faculty, who expressed themselves ready to render what aid they could in the way of its accomplishment.

In order that the graduate members of the Societies might be consulted on a matter of such importance, at a request of the committee themselves the report was laid on the table, to be taken up at the annual meeting of the Alumni.

At the Brothers' Alumni meeting, some opposition was at first expressed, owing to a misunderstanding, which prevailed concerning the nature of the plan. Finally, however, it was unanimously voted to leave the whole matter to the action of the undergraduate members of the Society, such action to be taken by and with the advice and consent of the Faculty. It was also voted that no change ought to be made which would destroy the right of property of the Brothers over their books; in other words, should the proposed consolidation prove a failure, the Brothers ought to be able to resume the control of their Library. As the books are all marked, it will at once be seen, that this objection is easily obviated. The action of Linonia was, we believe, substantially the same.

Thus the question stands, awaiting now the action of the two Societies. And it may be well to remember, that even an adverse opinion from the Alumni would not, necessarily, have ended the matter, as the reference was merely designed as a mark of courtesy, and to secure a greater time for deliberation; the whole power of acting, in the premises, being of course vested in us.

It is not my intention to speak at length of the advantages connected with the proposed consolidation. They were fully and ably set forth in an article published in the March No. of the LIT. Without doubt, some forcible objections can be raised against this plan, (as against what one can there not some be raised?) but the real question for us to decide is, whether these are not counterbalanced by the disadvantages which result from a continuance of the present system,

The objection, so frequently urged, that the adoption of this plan will, by destroying the distinctive society character of the Libraries, thus weaken the ardor of society feeling, seems hardly worth noticing. The same objection might have been raised, and with just about as much force, against opening the privileges of both libraries to the members of each Society. For before that change was made, the relative condition of the Libraries formed a most important argument in the campaign, and every purchase of new books was hailed with delight by earnest society men. Now it matters nothing to the Freshman, which society he shall join, so far as his Library privileges are concerned, and yet we plunge into the annual campaign with as much zeal and enthusiasm as ever. But even admit the validity of the objection; admit that these several plans, which look to the advancement and perfection of our Library system, and to the convenience of the College, regarded as one harmonious whole, had the tendency to diminish somewhat that order of Society feeling, which is

chiefly manifested in the form of unbounded enthusiasm during campaign meetings, and of empty benches during the remainder of the year; would the loss, or the weakening of this, (on the assumption that such would be the case,) be as serious a calamity to the Societies themselves, as to warrant us in sacrificing the best interests of the College and the students, for the mere sake of maintaining it? It seems to me that those who urge this objection, entertain a wrong conception of the position which the Societies occupy, regarding the Libraries. We should not consider them as altogether antagonistic, but rather as co-workers in one object; the common good of all College; of Brothers and Linonians alike.

But, after all, we must bear in mind this consolidation plan, in addition to its other advantages, ensures to us that great desideratum, a College Reading-Room, and moreover this would seem to be the only way in which we can secure it. After many inquiries, the before-mentioned committee were unable to find any suitable room, unless one of the rooms now used for literary purposes was vacated, by the consolidation of the Libraries. And even if another room could be procured, all will at once recognize the superior advantages in having the Reading-Room on the College grounds, and near the Libraries. It may be said that neither of the Society halls was designed for, or is well fitted to be a Reading-Room. But, recognizing the fact that we cannot find a better, is it not preferable to take one of these, than to give up the project of a Reading Room altogther?

Moreover, by adopting the consolidation plan, we save, as regards the expense of our Reading-Room, the no small item of rent. As to the expense of the Libraries under the new plan, there would be a large saving, from the employment of one Librarian instead of two, and thus, more money could be appropriated, annually, to the purchase of books.

Though the consolidation plan seems to me to have many advantages in itself, it is not on this account, especially, that I would advocate its adoption. It is because by this means we secure, what it now seems possible to secure by no other, a College Reading-Room, and supply a want which has been long and urgently felt by us all. The matter will, probably, soon come before us in our respective Societies, for action. And if further inquiry should show the impossibility of establishing a Reading-Room on any other basis, it seems to me that a regard for our own best interests should secure for this a favorable consideration.

F. N. J.

The Cruise of "The Spark."

Concluded.

A Sun

WERE it not that we have a peculiar dislike towards leaving a work commenced, in a half finished state, we should feel strongly tempted to "cruise" no farther with our readers, and unceremoniously, perhaps, cut short our story. But, aside from an aversion to so abrupt a termination of the "Cruise of the Spark," the request of certain Readers of the LIT., that we narrate the remaining adventures of that venturesome crew, has aroused our vanity sufficiently to cause us to believe that we have really succeeded in interesting a few individuals, and that we are on the highroad towards winning an immortal literary renown. With your indulgence, then, we resume our tale. After a voyage of a little more than a week, we left the " 'Spark," having just anchored, at daylight, on Sunday morning, Aug. 16th, in the harbor of that resort of fashion, Newport, Rhode Island. day, here, at this season, is perhaps worth more to a stranger than all other days of the week. The crowds that annually flock to this famous watering place, from far and near, from every city, almost, in the Union, with visitants from other lands, upon a Sunday excel in numbers and gayety. It was, therefore, with no little modesty, that we made our appearance among such an assemblage of notables. Our "Store clothes" are at once brought into requisition, together with all the appurtenances of our toilet, and after an hour or two of incessant preparation before our pocket mirrors, we fancied we had attained a presentable appearance. Summoning to our aid any amount of "brass," an article seldom lacking in a College student, we sauntered forth te see the sights, and peep into the city churches. The old Trinity Church, built in the latter part of the sixteenth century, and dating back in its history before the days of the Revolution, attended, at one time, by Washington and Lafayette and other worthies, received our first attention. Its ancient and quaint appearance, with its high-backed pews, its pulpit in the center of the congregation, its organ of nearly two centuries ago, presented to the Church in 1733, by an old English lord, contrasted strangely with the modern inventions for a refined worship found in the Sanctuaries of to-day. Other churches, too, we visited, till the day drew near its close, and an ap

proaching thunder shower caused us to seek the shelter of our craft. The two remaining days we passed here, deserve but a moment's notice. A city so far famed as Newport, it would be useless for us to describe. Among its places of interest is, the "Old Stone Mill," whose history is unknown, and which has been the subject of so much speculation, from the time of the settlement of the city, even to the present. About this we too lingered, and gazed upon it with the same curiosity which strikes every beholder. There is at Newport so much to attract and dazzle, that we were slow in taking our departure. The "style," received the College appellation of being decidedly "loud." Madame Tournaire, the female equestrian, with her magnificent horse, foreign ministers, military heroes, any number of "shoddyites," who had suddenly amassed wealth by sucking from the "public pap," all, apparently, vied with one another in "cutting the biggest dash." Amid all this assemblage of wealth and display, we were nothing daunted, but visited the Ocean House, the Acquidneck, and Bellevue, and the Beach, unsurpassed for beauty by that of any watering place in America, till we were tired of display, and ready to return again to the jolly freedom and homeliness of our sailor life. No one has seen all the attractions at Newport, until he has visited that magnificent structure erected for the defense of the Town and Bay-Fort Adams. For a half day we rambled within its enclosures and along its parapets, till its walls became familiar, and we were ready again to set sail. Wednesday morning, the 19th, a “humming" breeze drove us, in two hours, a distance of twenty miles, to Greenwich-a town which had, for none of us, save one, any particular interest, and from which, after visiting the Seminary buildings, we sailed, in the afternoon, for Bristol. With a stiff breeze and a "chop sea," we shipped any amount of water, and were glad enough, when, about four in the afternoon, we were quietly anchored in Bristol harbor. Here again we had some concert experience. Though the size of our audience was not what we could have wished, yet the incidents and "fun" of that evening amply repaid our pains, and will serve to remind us, frequently, of those jolly hours. Our Mate will not soon forget a little flirtation carried on during the concert between himself and a certain Miss, which he fancied was so successful as to authorize his asking to wait upon the young lady home, but which resulted in his getting most coolly "mittened." She "didn't see it." Deacon Barclay, as he was -called, we wont say with how much appropriateness, with all his "secesh" proclivities, that jolliest of jolly Dutchmen whom it has ever been our privilege to meet, and Joe-a most singular trio, with a five