with the view of submitting it to the inspection of the examiner; and with respect to future occupations in life it is most important to acquire the faculty of accurate and uninterrupted expression."

Though the above advice is excellent as a general principle, when you are doubtful about a sentence, it is best to write it out first on a piece of waste paper. Erasures in the manuscript may thus be avoided.

If practicable, get the answer to each question on one page. A blank space of an inch or more should be left between the answers. The number of the question should be placed in the margin opposite the first line of the answer.

In answering mathematical questions, "Make neat diagrams of a medium size, and print on them the letters which denote points and angles."

As each sheet is written, place it carefully aside, lest it go astray. When the examination draws to a close, arrange all the sheets in order and fasten them together at the top left hand corner, and page them at the top right hand corner.

Do not hand in your papers till the last moment. Secure some time to go over what you have written and make any necessary corrections. In the hurry of composition, a person is very apt to make mistakes.

Appeals like the following are sometimes made in examination papers: "Pray, sir, show some pity on this my last chance;" "I hope your honor's kind and noble spirit will cast a generous eye on my writing, which is very bad;" "I have a bad pen and a severe headache."*

All such remarks are useless, and rather prejudice the examiner against the writers, who appear

* Quoted in "Hints on the Study of English," by Messrs. Rowe and Webb.

to seek to obtain by favour what they do not deserve by merit.

Fair dealing.-It is strictly forbidden to bring any papers into the examination hall, or to copy from a neighbour. A student guilty of such mean dishonest practices is utterly unworthy of the name. If found out, he is branded with disgrace. Mr. Norton, referring to such a case, says, "Depend upon it, that even, if the attempt had been successful instead of being detected; in the long run it would have very little profited the perpetrator. He who at the beginning of his career could be guilty of such dishonesty, would be very little likely to withstand the temptations sure to beset him in his after career. . . Let

one and all of you learn to think of such conduct with contempt, and shrink from it with horror. Let each declare I will never seek to slink into office by the back-door. I will boldly knock at the front; and pass over the threshold of preferment an honest aud an honorable man; or not at all."

Conduct if Unsuccessful.-Most candidates in this country are hopeful of success. They consider themselves well qualified, and if the examiners are fair, they think they are certain of passing. When the Gazette containing the lists of successful candidates is received, it is eagerly scanned; but many always find, to their sore disappointment, that their names are not mentioned, and by and by they realize the sad fact that they have been "plucked."

What is to be done when a candidate fails? That depends upon circumstances. There are some young men whose failure is so signal, that it is the wisest course for them to turn to some other pursuit. A man who cannot succeed as a student, may do well as a merchant.

In many cases, however, failure should prompt only to more zealous efforts in future. Professor

Huxley makes the following remarks after an unsuccessful effort of his own :-"I said to myself, 'Never mind; what's the next thing to be done?' And I found the policy of never minding' and going on to the next thing to be done to be the most important of all policies in the conduct of practical life. It does not matter how many tumbles you have in this life, so long as you do not get dirty when you tumble; it is only the people who have to stop to be washed and made clean, who must necessarily lose the race. And I can assure you that there is the greatest practical benefit in making a few failures early in life. You learn that which is of inestimable importance that there are a great many people in the world who are just as clever as you are.

You

learn to put your trust, by and by, in an economy and frugality of the exercise of your powers, both moral and intellectual; and you very soon find out, if you have not found it out before, that patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness."

Instead of blaming the examiners, let the unsuccessful student search into the causes of his failure. What were they? The subjects in which he was deficient should receive double attention in future, and every effort should be made to study them in the most effective manner.

Passed Candidates.-Young men who have been successful at University Examinations, while they are so far to be congratulated, must not rest on their laurels. Many, unless they have other examinations in prospect, discontinue study. This is a great mistake. When a Master of Arts receives his degree at Oxford, he is told by the Vice-Chancellor that he has simply obtained the right of " commencing in the Faculty of Arts." The excuse made by

some that they have no time for study, really means that they have no inclination.

Passed candidates are apt to overrate their success, to suppose that more has been gained than is actually the case. They are ready to imagine that all persons attach as much importance to University distinctions as they do themselves; a degree is looked upon as a certain passport to office. The hope is entertained that they will obtain such and such an appointment, with such and such a salary; that after a few years they will rise to such and such a rank; till, by degrees, they reach the highest post to which they can aspire.

It is true that the anticipations of some are at least partly realized. For all, it is a good start to undergo University Examinations with credit; it is so far a token of future success. But it is not every thing. There are qualities most essential to the due discharge of duty which cannot be tested by University Examinations. A young man who takes a high place may be so conceited that it is unpleasant to have any thing to do with him; there is no guarantee for his truthfulness, for his integrity. The comparatively uneducated fathers of some University graduates may be better public servants than their sons. It is not said, by any means, that this is the general rule; but there are numerous exceptions. Even to ensure success so far as this world is concerned, passed candidates should earnestly strive to seek those moral qualifications which are so important.

Some may be surprised to find a chapter on Amusements in a Student's Manual. A little reflection will show that they have a very important bearing upon success in life. Probably more students

fail from ill-regulated amusements than from any other cause.

It not unfrequently happens that subjects run into one other. A person may read for intellectual discipline, as a pastime, or for moral improvement. The following remarks, though treating mainly of recreation, sometimes refer to other aspects of the question.

There are two extremes about Amusements, although not equally common.

A few students, eager to succeed, do not take sufficient recreation. Early and late, they are at their books. This unwise course is certain to injure their constitution. Sometimes they break down even before they take their degree. A distinguished student was once a competitor for a high prize at the disposal of the Calcutta University. He so overworked himself, that on the day of examination he had to be carried to the hall in a palanquin; but, from weakness, he could not go upstairs, and was obliged to abandon the attempt. Even when students are able to hold out till the end of the University course, over-exertion is apt to plant the seeds of disease, and to render their future life one of weakness and suffering. There is a Latin proverb, "The bow must not be always bent." Some recreation is absolutely necessary both for bodily and mental vigour.

The other extreme, however, is much more general-too little time is devoted to study and too much to amusement. There are some young men who spend their time in idleness, working only a little before examinations. Such students are contracting very injurious habits. Not unfrequently they are tempted to resort to vicious pleasures, still more