YALE LETTER.

The contractors for the Phelps Memorial Gateway expect to have the roof on and all the exterior work finished in about a week, if the weather holds good. Delays in the shipment of stone and iron have retarded the work very seriously, but it is expected to have the structure practically complete by next April. The building is to contain twelve recitation rooms of large size, a library, some minor recitation rooms and two offices. It will contain a large electrie elevator, the first to be placed on the campus.

The University Baseball Association has presented a creditable report of last season's finances, showing receipts over $2000 in excess of the expenditures.

The debates between eating clubs have continued, and now four have been held in the junior class. Interest in this system is certainly growing and in a short time it will be firmly established. The only point against the system is that it may interfere with the work of the Union, but if a more general interest in debating is brought about by it, the objection is of weight only to the few. It is the custom to have a senior preside and have three judges from outside eating clubs. The junior class has taken up debating for profit, and to a certain extent pleasure, while the sophomores have shown their interest in the establishment of two literary clubs, the Kipling Club and the Stevenson Club. Weekly meetings are held and the reading and discussion of the especial writters is the primary purpose. The Civil serveice Reform Association has been admitted into the National League of College Civil Service Reform Clubs, and was represented at the national convention in Washington this week.

Professor Cook is to offer a new and rather novel course for graduates next term, in "Encyclopedia and Methodology of English," to train those intending to teach in the qualities and uses of English reference books.

Professor Schwab has introduced a new system to Yale in excusing from the examinations in Economic Policy all who have a sufficiently high stand. The use of the method may be extended.

About sixty men will go on the Southery trip of the Glee and Banjo Clubs and a football game will be played with Princeton on Dec. 20.

YALE NEWS.