The University Of Michigan

There are in the literary department of Michigan University eighleen leading courses of instruction, mo3t of which are sub-divided. In the medical course three years of nine months each are required for a degree. The law courso, which at present ia limitod to two years of six months,probably will soon be lengthened to two years of nine months. Pharmacy now has two years but is soon to be changed to three. Homoepathy and dentistry each requires three years, but the latter course is a six months one. The school of political science, which has recently joined hands with t.hn nlrler schools, will also demand at least three years of study. Because of the great freedom allowed in cholee of studies in the department of literature, science and the arts, no time is flxed. The ambitioua scholar may conclude it in three years, while the one to whom time is no object can flnd something profltable to engagehis attention for five or six years. As a carrying out of the idea that a State University is at the head of the school system of the State, and therefore should have some connection with its preparatory schools, this University haa been the first to become, in one sense, a patrón of them. So it allows graduatea from üfteen of the public high schools of Michigan, whose courses have been approved of by committees sent from the faculty, to enter on diploma. Other State schools can be included at any time upon showing a proper standing. By this wise plan a better esprit de corps is given the schools and they catch something of the University spirit of steady progression, while, on the other hand, the University finds this class of its undergraduates better prepared than those it is compelled to examine for entrance. In 1874 a new departure was effected by making the work of the last yar entirely electivo. It proved to be so successful that now one-half of all the necessary number of courses may be chosen. After the flrst year even the order in which they shall be taken is greatly at a acholar option. Among the noted men who have held positions here we would mention in the subject of botany, AsaGray; languages, D. D. Whedon ; Greek, J. B. Boise ; geology, E. "W. Hilgard; history, President A. D. White ; English literatura, Moses C. Tyler ; astrononr-, Francia Brunnow and J. C. Watson! ' Of those now present and widely known by their works there can be no list without the following ñames : Mathematics, Ed ward Olney ; philosophy, B. F. Cocker and Geo. S. Morris ; Latin, II. S. Frieze ; geology, Alex. Winchell ; law, ï. M. Cooley ; pedagogy, W. H. Tayne ; history, C. K. Adama. A description of a university without a ref erence to the location and status of the university town would fall short of giving a correct idea even of the educational institution itsel f . The beautif ul región about Arn Arbor cannot be described better than in the words of Prof. Tyler, when he says : "Here the earth manifests spirit enough to tumble about into the picturesque disorder of a series of very considerable bilis that are billowy with forest trees, or glossy with verdure quite to their tops, and that condescend to give a smiling thoughextremelycrooked highway to the two most industiious things in these ! parts- the railway and the Huron river." There are about 8,500 inhabitants in Ann Arbor, who naturally are a quiet, well-informed people, and who love the , university situated in their midst. The tone of the town, like that of the professors and studente, is a positivo christian one, and atheism or agnosticism meet with but little sympathy. Town and gown flghta very seldom occur, and three eonsumptive policemen carry terror to both parties. The youthful aspirant for college honors, if he or she be bright in study and pleasant in bearing, has heretwelve I chances of being invited into a secret society. As a general thing, there is a inanly spirit of rivalry among them, and between them as a body and the independents there is no hatred or contemptbut pleasant intercourse. The fraternity svstern is a ereat feature of college life and afford-s many pleasures and advantages to its initiates. Mental pabulnm outside of college work is furnished by two literary societies. Each ha3 a line hall, library, piano, art collection, etc, and they do good worli in affording practice to embryo orators and parliuineutarians. The doors oï botn are open 10 uie iauica, wlio do not íail to enter and particípate In the exercises. ïhere ïnay alsa be '■ mentioned in this connection the college paper, the Curonicle, whieh has I eight editora, four fromthe secret societies and four independent. The editora are seniora and juniors; four being elected semi-annually by the subscribers in the literary department, It is one of the two, or possibly three, college iournals having a subscription list of nearly a thousand. The Palladium is the annual published by tlie secret, societies, each of which has an editor. The Oracle, an annual by the sophomoresJand the Bulletin, a monthly by the Students' Christiau Association, complete the list of student enterprises in a literary way. The only honors of the college are elective. They consist in what niany a college man talks against intheoryand strives for in practice- the spoils of office. To be an editor of the Chronicle, a high officer in the Students' Lect.nro Association. in the Athletic ciation, orin the senior clas3 -these are the objects of ambition. The cl03ely contested elections, the active canvassng of friends, soon identifles every man of spirit with one of thetwo great par ties into which college politics divides itself. A course in the art of treaüng ■with men and understanding thom is thus given, which is found useful in af ter times, when success in the active affairs of life depends upon knowledge of how to approacli men. Seldom is there fraud, even in the closest elections, and still more seldom are incompetent men given position. As somo of the events of the year may be enumerated the banqueta of vaiïous organiüations, the animal tv hop, field day, commencement ana vacations. Hazing has practically disappeared upon the reinoval of class distinctions. The under classmen, however, attempt to foster a class spirit by getting the Oxford "mortar board," by having class suppers, and various other derices. Among college features the Studeuts Lecture Association should appear. This association, entirely controllwl by students, supplies to the towns-people nnd collegians in University Hall, an auditorium seating over 3,000, the best of all the lectures and concerts that appear before the footlight. These courses are so successf ui that the management every year keeps sixty magazines and newspapers on the library tablas and, besides paying for these, at the cl se of the season the offlcers net sevei al hundred dollars. Sir Jharles Dilke, in hia book of travel in this country, aförms that 'probajly the most democratie school 'n the .hole world is the State University of Michigan, sitúate at AnnArbor, near Detroit." White colleges and universities generally are very democratie, here the l;ght regard tor wealth ana family makes this spirit especially noticeable. Thia democracy, the small fees required, the liberal spirit of students, the enterprise of the faculties, the freedoin of action and choice in and out of college halls, the pleasant surroundingsand advantages- all combine to make the university a source of pride to the citizens, the professors.the alumni and the under-graduates. The wealth of the debtless state and the liberality of the legislature assure it a strong and abiding support. - Tunius E. Beal. Sharks' fins, dried, are sold in every Chinese shop in New York. They are imported from China. There are three kinds, of which the best are the flns of the white shark. These are worth $3.50 a pound. The poorest kind, whieh is known as black shark fins, is sold for half as much and even less. Sharks' fin is a popular dainty among Chinamen. It is salted and dried for export, and looks like a section of whalebone, when raw, but boiled in water, a gelatinous subatance is extracted which is esteemed very savory. A species of stew made of sharks' fin, dried oysters, rice and peppers is a champion Chinese dish. Dried oysters are ordinary bivalves, extracted from the shell, dipped in salt, and strung on strings to dry in the sun. They come from China, and look for all the world like figs. John Chinaman infinitely prefers them to the freshest of fresh oysters he can buy here. Mussel, conks and clams are preserved by him in the same way. Mr. Emerson, in the days when bis mind was most darkly clouded over, never forgot two things- his exquisite courtesy and his love for his friends. At one time when uiemory had failed him a visito! happened to inention Dr. Furness, of Philadelphia. "Yea, to be sure," said the old man.with an awakeniug of retnembrance anddelight, "Furness is my dear friend, a most lovely gentleman." A.nd all his animation came back in talking of his friend. H. B. Bryan bas assumed the editorship of the Bellevue Gazette, vice A. L. Hamilton, who is to remove to Wisconsin.