him pipes and tobacco, from the farthest store on Long Wharf, a good mile distant. Being at that time compelled by college laws to obey the unreasonable demand, he proceeded according to orders, and returned with ninety-nine cents worth of pipes and one penny worth of tobacco. It is needless to add that he was not again sent on a similar errand.

THE FRESHMAN AND THE JUNIOR.

In accordance with this principle of subordination, the Freshman class were required to remain standing in their places in chapel, after the exercises, until the higher classes had retired. It is but a few years since this practice was prudently altered by the faculty, as the constant unwillingness of the lower classes to obey the humiliating rule occasioned almost daily disturbance. On one occasion a Freshman, a stout Kentuckian, was rudely pushed aside by a somewhat feeble Junior. In an instant his strong hands had hold of him, and the discomfited dignitary found himself extended on one of the benches. "I'll remember you, sir," said the Junior as he rose, trembling with harmless rage. "You had better," significantly answered the Freshman.

RINGING THE BELL.

Many an amusing tale is told of the College bell, and the various devices to produce disturbance with it. A student having once managed to fasten a cord to the tongue, had tied the other end to his foot, and as he lay in bed in an adjoining building, could without difficulty ring it at his pleasure. He, however, had not escaped suspicion, and an officer of the College bolted into his room with the expectation of finding him engaged in the mischief. The apparently innocent student lay quietly in his bed, when the tutor began to charge him with the crime. After some expostulation and denial, the bell all of a sudden rang as loud as ever, and the officer apologizing for his unfounded apprehensions, hastily withdrew to look elsewhere for the offender.

SMELLING OF ELECTRICITY.

In the early days of the institution, when Dr. Daggett was President, a neighboring doctor of medicine had fitted up an electrical machine; it was the first which had reached this city, for the science of electricity was but in its infancy at that time, and the head of the College knew little or nothing about it. The Rev. Dr., on making a visit to the owner of the apparatus, found a charged

jar standing on the table, which attracted his notice. "What! is this a smelling bottle ?" said he, applying the knob to his nose. The careless President received a powerful shock, and as he stood pale with terror, the amused philosopher inquired, as well as he could for laughter, “ did the President perceive any smell?”

THE ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENT.

About the same time occurred the following anecdote, recorded by Professor Silliman in his address delivered before the association of the Alumni of Yale College, in 1842. A distinguished man in the College had conceived the idea, that the subtle essence of medicines might be conveyed into the human system by means of electricity; and it was natural to suppose, that aromatics, by their volatile odor, would afford the most decisive evidence. A vial of cinnamon was prepared, through which, by means of an interrupted wire, it was proposed to pass an electrical discharge; and it was agreed that the author of so brilliant a suggestion was justly entitled to the honor of crowning his own discovery by actual personal experience. Accordingly, the apparatus being duly arranged on the table, and the battery adequately charged, the sanguine projector, kneeling upon the floor, applied the organ of the olfactory nerves to the point of the electrical con

ductor. It is hardly necessary to add, that the miniature lightning rod instantly prostrated both the hopes and the person of the respectable gentleman, who hastily gathering up both himself and the fallen honors of his head, precipitately retired; nor was the startling experiment renewed within the College walls.*

The following anecdote occurred before the Revolutionary War. In those days, as it was customary for the students to bow very reverently to the Tutors, so the latter frequently returned 'the obeisance, by taking off their hats when passing by a company of students. One of the Tutors, who was very unpopular, and who had a large bald spot upon the top of his head, was passing near to one of the College buildings, dressed in an entire new suit, and,-as the story goes-feeling more pompous than usual. He was observed by one of the young men from his window, who determined to play a trick upon him. He had just been shaving, and the water which he had used was then in his hands. "I'll wet his new suit, when he comes under the window," said he to his room mate, “if you will pledge your secresy." His room mate complied

Professor Silliman's Address.

with the request, and in an instant, the water was capsized upon the head of the astounded officer. Unfortunately for the young man, a paper upon which his name was inscribed stuck to the bald spot of the Tutor's head, by means of which he was discovered, and due punishment inflicted upon him for his misdemeanor.

MAKING OBEISANCE.

The servile requisition of making obeisance to the officers of College within a prescribed distance, was common not only to Yale, but to all its kindred institutions throughout the United States. Some young men were found whose high spirits would not brook the degrading law imposed upon them without some opposition, which however was always ineffectual. The following anecdote, related by the Hon. Ezekiel Bacon, in his "Recollections of Fifty Years since,” although the scene of its occurrence was in another College,* yet is thought proper to be inserted here, as a fair sample of the insubordination caused in every Institution by an enactment so absurd and degrading. In order to escape from the requirements of striking his colors and doffing his chapeau when within the pre-. scribed striking distance from the venerable