2SI 



CnOORINC A, SUBJECT. 



Mr. Editor : What a strange thing is this human mind ! How il 

 annihilates time and space in its movements, brings the Past into the 

 Present, and springs from continent to continent, and from world to 

 world with inconceivable rapidity ! Here, for instance, have J, in the 

 solitude of my study, sat down to comply with the request of my wor- 

 thy friend, who would have me honored with an appearance in the Jour- 

 nal ; and lo ! in an instant, when i would seek a subject on which to 

 exercise my pen, instead of finding such a subject, and holding it fast 

 before me, this wild mind of mine is off in every direction — now in the 

 halls and groves of my Alma Mater ; now listening to the roar of great 

 Niagara ; now peering with telescopic vision at the mountains in the 

 moon; now skimming across the ocean-wave and standing on the walls 

 of ruined Jerusalem ; now here, now there; in a, moment, '■'■quick as 

 Lhought.^'' running through a countless variety of scenes and subjects — 

 History, Poetry, Rhetoric, Eloquence, Mathematics. Geography, Astro- 

 nomy, creeping things and quadrupeds — and yet I have no subject for 

 an article. Now is not this vexatious ? So much to write about, and 

 yet nothing on which to M'rite ! ''Why, I am sure, there are subjects 

 enough." Subjects ! oh, yes ; they are plenty — 



"Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks 

 In Vallambrosa, where the Etrurian shades, 

 High overarched, embower — " 



that is just the trouble. ''My dear," says the parson to his good wife, 

 "I wish that you would give me a text for a sermon ; for really, I hardly 

 know what to preach about." "Why, my love, how can you be at a 

 loss for a text when you have the Bible before you ?" What a precious 

 helpmate ! 



The truth is, this choice of a subject is no small matter. I know it 

 used lo be very troublesome in my school-time, when comjjosition-da-if 

 came around. And so it was in College. I once had an oration to write 

 for a public occasion — it was to be a great epoch in our student-life. — 

 The fair, and gay, and loving, the learned, and acute, and critical, were 

 to be present. Our venerable President, and dignified Professors, were 

 to listen to us ; and we were all expected to do our best. For would 

 not the reputation, almost the continuation of the College, be that day 

 in our hands ? — were not we to be its representatives in the public eye — 

 samples of its workmanship, and ergo, arbiters of its destinies .? That 

 day, the last of College Life ! Well, such a time as I had to find a sub- 

 ject! How many hours and days were spent in the search! What a 

 consultation of records ! What an examination of the schedules of Col- 

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