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By the way, the decision, to be made this term, which Society to join, is somewhat important, & quite perplexing. If not, as some pretend, it decides one's character for life, it certainly does, in a measure, one's companions and friends. I suppose there is not, in reality, much if anything, to chose between them. The Peucinian is the oldest, and, perhaps, the most influential; the Athenaean the most active, and, perhaps, the most prosperous. The number of the College Societies differ not much; the members of the Athenaean have, it is said, taken the most prizes lately.

   The common amusement here is to do mischief, breaking windows is universal. You see all damage to College property is averaged and comes charged in every ones term bill, amounting usually to one or two $ per term apeice, for 150 or 200 students. One man is employed almost all the time in setting glass; the students call him a Prof. & say his professorship ought to be endowed. A, it costs, himself nothing, no one hesitates to throw an apple, an umbrella or a stove through a window, if it so please him. Sometimes the Freshmen windows are most all broken in a night. Kicking down doors is a favorite amusement with some. Every one would prefer to pay an average damage of $5. per term, rather than to inform. Canis Facultatis, or faculty dog, the name applied to informers, is the most opprobius epithet known. Some of the better part of the Students express their disapprobation of such state freely, but no one dares break through it. The first of this term, the dome & steeply of the College Chapel was sawed & thrown off one dark night. The faculty have made extraordinary efforts to discover the perpetrators! Every Student has been called up & cross questioned about it to no purpose., & it will probably be perhaps 100, in the average bill. I dont know how many knew who did it. Luckily I did not.

I wish you would send papers to me weekly, I cant get any to send, have none here. I mean to take one next term. Write to me all of you. frequently