The Monthly.

The November Monthly opens with an able article entitled, "Preparing for Journalism," by Phillip Littell, a graduate of Harvard, and for many years a successful journalist in the West. This advice, coming as it does from one who has had ample experience to learn and judge of what he writes, should be of unusual interest to those undergraduates who are contemplating journalism as a profession. Littell does not hesitate to say that journalism is not "hospitable," and that it is not the realm of the pioneer or the originator, but he does insist that by certain forms of practice, the undergraduate may fit himself the better to cope with the difficulties which will beset him in his first necessary duties.

A "Song," by Philip Henry Savage, might better have been called a "Lament." It is, however, not particularly noteworthy. The meaning of what he has to say may have been crystal clear to the author, but to the uninitiated reader it is vague and involved.

Joseph Potter Cotton's "Social Subversion" throws a new and extremely clever light upon the "Summer Girl." The story is told in a series of characteristically bright letters written to a certain mutual friend. Possibly the best bit in any of the letters is the remark of Robert Farrar, who, speaking of his "fiancee," says that "she is able to transcend conversations without crashing through them." Cotton writes in his usual clear, suggestive style, and he draws the three characters with a charming distinctness and originality.

"The Village Philosopher" by Archer Robinson is a story, or perhaps rather a long sketch, in Robinson's careful and delicate style The characters are well-drawn particularly that of Burt Carson. There is, however, a lack of legitimate climax, and a sort of feeling that the whole thing comes to nothing.

The two stanzas "In a Copy of the Vita Nova" by Russell Hillard Loines is a delightful contrast to Mr. Savage's lamentable "Song." Mr. Loines was apparently conscious of what he wished to say, and his beauty of word and rhythm is very charming.

"A Rebellious Ancestor" by Henry Alexander Phillips is the best thing that Phillips has done. In point of workmanship it is also the best thing in the issue. In his plot the author has the opportunity to do something that is worth while and he takes entire advantage of this.

"The Waxing of Sadness" by Elmer E. Southard is an extremely strong bit of writing. The style is vivid and original, and the words are chosen with a careful attention for their worth both in euphony and suggestiveness.

There is a somewhat lengthy editorial upon the advisability of discontinuing the presence of proctors in the examination room. The writer argues in the negative, principally on account of what he calls the lack of public opinion at Harvard. He wisely leaves the subject, however, to enlarge upon the growing idea of the abolition of examinations entirely. In substitution for which he says there should be theses or weekly tests. This is obviously the reform that will come in the future, and which already has been seriously discussed by those in authority.

The number of the Monthly, which on the whole is a decidedly good one, closes with two interesting book-reviews upon "Latin Poetry" and "Sister Songs."