Among those fathers were the venerable remnants of classes that are starred to the last two or three, or it may be to the last one.—­Scenes and Characters in College, p. 6.

STATEMENT OF FACTS.  At Yale College, a name given to a public meeting called for the purpose of setting forth the respective merits of the two great societies in that institution, viz.  “Linonia” and “The Brothers in Unity.”  There are six orators, three from Linonia and three from the Brothers,—­a Senior, a Junior, and the President of each society.  The Freshmen are invited by handsomely printed cards to attend the meeting, and they also have the best seats reserved for them, and are treated with the most intense politeness.  As now conducted, the Statement of Facts is any thing rather than what is implied by the name.  It is simply an opportunity for the display of speaking talent, in which wit and sarcasm are considered of far greater importance than truth.  The Freshmen are rarely swayed to either side.  In nine cases out of ten they have already chosen their society, and attend the statement merely from a love of novelty and fun.  The custom grew up about the year 1830, after the practice of dividing the students alphabetically between the two societies had fallen into disuse.  Like all similar customs, the Statement of Facts has reached its present college importance by gradual growth.  At first the societies met in a small room of the College, and the statements did really consist of the facts in the case.  Now the exercises take place in a public hall, and form a kind of intellectual tournament, where each society, in the presence of a large audience, strives to get the advantage of the other.

From a newspaper account of the observance of this literary festival during the present year, the annexed extract is taken.

“For some years, students, as they have entered College, have been permitted to choose the society with which they would connect themselves, instead of being alphabetically allotted to one of the two.  This method has made the two societies earnest rivals, and the accession of each class to College creates an earnest struggle to see which shall secure the greater number of members.  The electioneering campaign, as it is termed, begins when the students come to be examined for admission to College, that is, about the time of the Commencement, and continues through a week or two of the first term of the next year.  Each society, of course, puts forth the most determined efforts to conquer.  It selects the most prominent and popular men of the Senior Class as President, and arrangements are so made that a Freshman no sooner enters town than he finds himself unexpectedly surrounded by hosts of friends, willing to do anything for him, and especially instruct him in his duty with reference to the selection of societies.  For the benefit of those who do not yield to this private electioneering, this Statement of Facts is