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at all, or badly. Some pretend that it chants beautifully as death approaches, but this is a mere fable."

The Circensian games alluded to in the above description, were annually celebrated on the ninth of April, in honor of Cybele and Ceres, and derived their name from the circus, the place of their exhibition. Of these the Romans were so extravagantly fond, as to withhold themselves from all the concerns of state in order to witness them. Commentators differ respecting the passage quoted from Juvenal" Panem et Circenses." The Panem is supposed to refer to the distribution of corn from the public granaries by the commissioners. This accords with the remark of Tacitus, "Vulgus cui una ex Republica annonæ cura." Some read Pana, and suppose that the celebrations in honor of Pan are intended; others read pannum, and say that this was the reward of the victorious charioteers. But both these readings are rejected by the learned, while the one first given is confirmed by good examples. The expression quoted then, shows that the Romans prized their games equally with their daily bread. The word genii used in this and other descriptions, refers to those deities who are supposed to attend every person from his birth to his death. The translator is not responsible for the sentiments respecting the singing of swans. Whether or not this bird possesses musical powers is still a question. On this point Morinus has enlarged in a dissertation on swans, delivered before the Royal Society of Paris, (vide tom. 7, p. 319, edit. Amherst. 1731.)

PSYCHE A DELPHINIS VECTA.- —(Incis. in Corneola.)

"We have elsewhere remarked, that the immortality of the soul was represented under the image of Psyche with butterfly-wings. In this beautiful gem, the soul is exhibited as being conveyed to Elysium in a pinnace drawn by dolphins. Platonists and poets make mention of two Elysiums; the one celestial, in the eighth heaven-the other terrestrial, in the loftiest region of the earth beyond the ocean. Psyche is seen upon the medal in an upright posture. Freed from the embrace of Cupid, with placid countenance she guides the bark, directing the dolphins, the emblems of love, to the region of repose, where she shall no longer be burdened with the cares of the world."

The fable of Psyche, and the manner in which she became emblematic of the soul, is worthy our attention; and the student will pardon the writer for an allusion to what may be new to those who are not familiar with mythology. The name of this lovely nymph may obviously be derived from yuz, and perhaps all the fables respecting her are allegorical-referring to the soul. Cupid early became enamored of her beauty, and naturally found his highest enjoyment in her society. Venus, enraged that her son should be thus withdrawn from the world, sought satisfaction in the death of

Psyche; but Jupiter, at the request of Cupid, conferred upon her an immortal existence. Hence she is a fit emblem of the soul's immortality. She is often represented as being wafted to heaven on the wings of a butterfly, so delicate an insect being selected to emblematize the upward tendency of the soul.

EPILEG OMENA.

Have you procured a character? This question has become so common during the last two weeks, that it has almost formed a necessary part of conversation; and to put it is as much a matter of course as to ask about your health, or to remark upon the weather. Lest some should imagine that the students of Yale have all lost their characters, bear with us, kind Reader, while we slightly touch upon a subject which is worthy of note, as well for its connection with science as with our collegiate annals.

The gloom which usually succeeds the departure of the Senior class, has been, in a measure, dispelled by the appearance among us, of three individuals. Scarcely had one topic of discussion been disposed of, before these persons proposed another which has well nigh thrown not only College, but all New Haven, in an uproar, and has given birth to a singular phenomenon; that of students voluntarily offering themselves for examination.

In short, the phrenologist has been among us. While we in the neighborhood of College have been favored with the attentions of two gentlemen of the profession, the good people of the town have had the services of another at their disposal and have attended the lectures of all three. Examination followed examination, and the number of those desirous to learn the contents of their own heads, exceeded all belief. Every man carried his character in his pocket, and the mania seems to have pervaded every department. The merits of Gallology, alias bumpology, alias phrenology, have been discussed in the pulpit and in the division room, in societies, (male and female,) and last, not least, in that place for commonplace talk, the commons hall. As the collegiate examination is shortly to succeed all these, various have been the conjectures with regard to the course which the Faculty intend to pursue, since it is supposed that they certainly will not pass over with neglect a science which accomplishes so much in so short a time. It has been shrewdly hinted that it is their intention to procure a brass plate, exactly adapted to all the protuberances upon the head, and every student who, at the end of his Junior year, has not a certain number of intellectual bumps, must turn back in his course and study until he gets them.

It was truly a humorous spectacle to behold the anxiety depicted upon every one's countenance, on taking the examination chair, and the surprise manifested at the discovery of talents heretofore unknown. Some of our grave politicians and mathematicians have suddenly found themselves transformed into poets, while on the other hand, poets have exhibited astonishing talent for mathematics. Either these persons have talents which they have never cultivated, or these cases are to be considered among the exceptions to which this science is liable. Certain it is, however, that in many instances truths have been told, some of which have caused the patient, if we may so call him, to feel rather uneasy.

It was early resolved that the heads of our whole editorial corps should be submitted to a scientific inspection, as well for the benefit of the public as for the individuals themselves. Our printer's devil here put in a prior right, and declared that since he had the most to do with the Magazine, he ought to be first examined. He was examined, and found to be well versed in the art of typical interpretation; whereupon the master printer took off his specs, and, with a knowing look, declared that any person might know that, for he, the devil, carried many 'proofs.' At the next editorial meeting, Zotoff had no sooner drawn from the box the letter "E," than he hurried across the room, and after sundry evolutions seated himfelf plump in the lap of his predecessor, much to the discomfiture of the latter, who had not yet found time to vacate the chair; but who, in revenge for the pain thus occasioned, had scarcely got from under the ponderous mass, before he called in a stentorian voice for "The president's character!"

"The president's character!" echoed the rest.

Accordingly Zotoff drew forth his chart, and, with a modest air, commenced reading,

"Causality very large; great power of thought, and depth and originality of

reason."

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Hold," said Caius, "you're beginning at the bottom of the chart. What's here ?"

"Self-esteem very large; stubbornness, obstinacy, extreme tenacity of will and purpose."

"Send Beppo for cigars," said Alcibiades.

"Gentlemen," said Zotoff, (drawing another paper from his pocket) “were I disposed"

"Hear, hear!" cried Nung Boah.

"Were I disposed," continued Zotoff, "to retort for that foolish interference, I should call upon Caius to exhibit his character, and give us a specimen of his new-fledged poetic powers, in which request I doubt not that you would sustain me."

"Poem from Caius!" interrupted three of the company. "Gentlemen," said Caius,

"It is unbecoming your stations

Thus to favor insinuations."

"Gentlemen," resumed the president, after the laughter which succeeded the above sally had ceased, "I am confident now, that, with this specimen, you would prefer to look for examples of the science any where else than here. I hold in my hand the character of a person with whom you are all acquainted. See if you can recognize him."

PIIRENOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF *** *** AS GIVEN BY MR. L. N. FOWLER, PRACTI

CAL PHRENOLOGIST.

This individual possesses a temperament which gives activity and strength of thought; he can labor intensely, and continue mental and physical exercise longer than many without giving up; he has stamina of character;-is distinguished for his independence and also for his moral and intellectual character;— he is energetic and spirited when necessary, but is not usually too severe;-he has more moral than physical courage; he thinks and acts on his own responsibility;-never sacrifices his opinion to be popular or to please others;-is not afraid to differ from others; his firmness is very large, ruling his other organs, so that what he wills to do, if it is possible, he does it ;-he is more independent than affable; he is more proud than vain;-his organ of hope is very large; he has strong faith and expectation;-his feelings are exalted; his views and plans are on a liberal scale. His moral organs are very large; they would have the

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most influence in forming his character;-he possesses great veneration and a high regard for the Deity and for things holy and sacred; he is disposed to worship and adore;-he has much public feeling;-his desires are for the general good; he is disposed to engage in great public enterprises, and would sacrifice his all to advance them. His mind is always open to conviction;—he is always learning, always studying human nature, and more especially the attributes of God;-he very readily catches the ways and manners of those whom he respects and loves, but never feels dependent upon others for character;-he is not a mere imitator of other characters for want of originality;-as a speaker would show off, what he intended to illustrate, by his actions;-he is very candid and free spoken; he has but little love of property for its own sake; he could not idolize it, but regards it only for the good he can do with it;-he loves debate; he has rather strong combativeness but not much destructiveness;-his social feelings are rather strong, but are not the ruling traits of his character;-his love is general, yet as a friend he is constant and devoted; he is much attached to one place; he possesses a strong imagination and when engaged is quite enthusias tic; he loves the sublime and has considerable poetic feeling;-his talents are very practical;-he has common sense; he gets correct information, being governed by facts and by experience;-his powers of analysis are very great; he is very fond of romantic and natural scenery, and also of history and antiquity;-as a writer he is forcible and expresses himself in good style;-he embellishes and can magnify; he is fond of the natural sciences and of polite literature;—he is not a good judge of colors;-he has not a good memory of time;-his words are impressive; he means something in every thing he says;-his mirthfulness is large; he can be sarcastic and witty, and reason according to the "reductio ad absurdum;"—he makes strong appeals to conscience;-is good in the exact sciences, more particularly in geometry and surveying;-he possesses a character well calculated to take the lead;-he is more prudent in what he does than in what he says; he looks ahead;-he is admirably fitted to design, plan, lay out work and create business for others;-he is very kind to children and to helpless objects;his mind is very clear and discriminating;-he is emphatically a man of system and order; he is distinguished as a writer and as a speaker.

The leading traits of this person's character are: 1. His independence. 2. His strong desire to take the lead and to do good. 3. His untiring pursuit of an object. 4. His great frankness, joined with prudence and kindness.

"Move it be published for the benefit of the science and of the owner," said Nung Boah.

"And if one in ten can tell the person it belongs to, this shall be a sure proof that there's truth in phrenology," said Alcibiades.

The amendment was accepted and the motion was passed. At this moment a brilliant aurora adjourned the meeting.

At a subsequent meeting the president read the following letter.

AWFUL DISCLOSURES.

Messrs. Editors,-Being a friend and reader of the Magazine, and having often wished you as its guardians, the utmost satisfaction and success in conducting it, I regret that it is my painful duty to communicate, in kindness, the intelligence of a recent conspiracy against the well being and life of this offspring of our mental endeavors and object of our warmest intellectual attachment and sympathy. Prepare your minds then, gentlemen-(and in order to do it, you will do well to read the ode of Horace beginning, "Equam memento rebus in arduis," which for the present purpose I would translate, don't be disturbed when assailed by ambitious girls,' not forgetting the similar vexations of the poet, "res et ætas et sororum." 'Fila trium atra," the ambition, the envy, and the interferences of the women')-prepare your minds to encounter the intelligence that a plot has been formed against the Magazine by a fraternity of respectable and talented females in this refined city of literature and ladies. From the evidence in the case, it appears that the design originated "without form and void" in the cranium of a single lady, that in that workshop of the imagination, the block was chipped and chiseled into form, and then exhibited by the fair artist to the enraptured admiration of a select counsel of well disposed associates-gentlemen excepted.

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At the time appointed, our ladies assembled at the house of Miss street, and after a warm discussion on the expediency of retiring to the attic, in order to avoid exposure and interruption, it was agreed to enter upon the business of the meeting where they were, owing to certain inconveniences connected with the upper department of the house. Whereupon, after having closed every avenue of discovery, they were seated, and the elegant Miss C., according to previous arrangement, was called to the chair. Now, gentlemen, don't be ill-natured, and begin to abuse these ladies by fancying that they were a group of hideous, or wrinkled, or toothless, or gray, or even disappointed maidens, though they were thus assembled to commence a war of extermination against your valuable periodical; for I know and I assure you that they were young and intellectual, genteel and accomplished, and each a "bone of contention" between numerous ambitious rivals, and that their smiles like drops of rain upon the ocean, fell and mingled with the very being of Fresh, Soph, and sub-Senior, and that even the remnant of that august class that is just about to "enter upon the stage," lingers here for more reasons than duty furnishes. We have given the modest Miss C. time to dissipate her blushes, and you may now see her rising and moving with perfect grace and intellectual dignity to the chair on the opposite side of the room. Never did an expression of purer intelligence emanate from mortal features, than that which rested, like crystal light on the glittering summit of Blanc, upon the countenance of her who now presided in that august council. After she had taken her seat, a momentary pause ensued, in which ambition ought to have known its opportunity, and evacuated the skull of every Magazine writer in College, till at length Miss B- arose and said that she had called the meeting to take into consideration the literary wants of the public, and in connexion the character and merits of the Yale Literary Magazine, and moreover to devise such schemes as the case might demand. "That public attention should be engrossed, and public commendation won by a Magazine under the direction of students, while we, whose words and smiles have such manifest power to captivate and control these laureled writers, are unknown and our names likely to perish in obscurity, is a circumstance," said Miss B-, "that equally impeaches our abilities and our ambition."

"That Magazine commended by the public!" ejaculated Miss G-. "I am sure I know not how you can say so; for neither myself nor any of the family could ever have patience to read it through, though I have them brought to me regularly by Mr. H., with his modest signature marked. I see how it is, these literary papers, conducted by the men, are all joined together, and are expected to puff each other without regard to their real merits."

There was another pause for a moment, when Miss Q., the elder of a duett of sisters, whose junior was just in the transit over to the unfortunate side of two and twenty, remarked that she had often heard her oldest brother say that thing was not worth the paper wasted in publishing it. After this eloquent appeal, Miss C. arose from the chair, and premising that it would be proper to introduce a formal resolution, begged leave to read the following:

Whereas, the Yale Literary Magazine has been uniformly confined to topics entirely uninteresting to us, both as respects matter and style; therefore

Resolved, That it merits no longer the patronage of the ladies, and especially of this Society.

Resolved farther, That convinced of the unwelcome truth, and in a measure sensible of the claims of the public upon our humble talents and learning, we will commence forthwith the publication of a rival Magazine, and trust to the good sense and literary taste of the public, to sustain us in our attempts to displace that unworthy journal, and occupy its place with one conducted solely by the young ladies of this Society.

My duty, Messrs. Editors, will be accomplished when I inform you that the above resolutions were unanimously passed, and Miss C. appointed prime editress. Still if you inquire what steps you can take to avoid the threatening storm, I would reply that your own good sense will suggest some devise; if not, I would hint the propriety of respectfully and earnestly inviting the literary ladies of that Society to contribute amply to the columns of the Magazine. The record which enables me to give you this information, was dropped by a lady at the late fire in the west part of the city, and is in my hands for your inspection.

Yours truly,

M.

While the letter was being read, Alcibiades became exceedingly fidgety, changed his seat once or twice and gave some unequivocal signs of a talkative humor.

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