y-five new names for the pledge against the use of
alcoholics and narcotics were obtained. This means much. The use of
intoxicating drinks at Christmas festivals is very popular, and many a
young man is "the worse for liquor" at the holiday season.

The evidences of increasing interest in the school on the part of the
best citizens of Austin were apparent on many occasions.

Friends in the North, old and new, gladdened the hearts of teachers
and pupils by contributions in clothing, books and money for the aid
of needy students. One, a contribution of books, calls for special
mention. It came from Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker, of Hartford,
Conn., and contained over one hundred volumes of standard works. Among
them was a complete set of the books written by her sister, Mrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe. These books are greatly enjoyed by our young
people. It is earnestly hoped that other contributions of a similar
nature will continue to be made.

The examinations at various times, and especially the closing ones,
May twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh, were highly creditable. Only a
small number failed of promotion.

The programme for Commencement week was carried out successfully.

It began on Friday evening, May twenty-seventh, with a speaking
contest and a prize debate, by the Philomathean Literary Society. The
discussion was as to the educative value of the study of the classics
compared with that of the sciences. The debate was well conducted, and
both sides supported their views with interest and energy. The
chairman of the judges was the president of one of the national banks
of Austin. The prizes, two sets of valuable books, were awarded to the
advocates of the study of the sciences.

Sunday, May twenty-ninth, was marked with interest in many ways. In
the morning the baccalaureate sermon, from the text, "For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ,"
was delivered in the college chapel. The audience was good and
appreciative. In the evening came the closing meeting of the Young
People's Society. This is always an occasion of interest with us. The
circumstances call forth a review of the work of the year, or of the
course, with those about to leave, and many are the requests for
prayer, in view of the trials to come in the long vacation or the work
in broader fields. The tone of earnest desire to be faithful to Christ
and to be helpful in work for Him, was very strong.

Monday afterno