The Silver Bay Conference will be held at Silver Bay, Lake George, this year, as usual, beginning on the Friday following Commencement Day, and lasting for ten days. The deepened interest which Silver Bay Conference comes from increased knowledge of Association work, the inspiration of strong speakers, and the broadening influence of contact with the other colleges, combine to make these Conferences full of interest and helpfulness. The Conference numbers about six hundred representatives of both eastern and western colleges for

women.

It is hoped that Smith College may be represented by a large delegation of members of the faculty, alumnæ, undergraduates and any others connected with the college directly or indirectly, including any of those who expect to enter college in the fall. The officers of the Association will be glad to answer any questions concerning the Conference, and information regarding dates, speakers, etc., will be posted as soon as it is received from the American Committee. Those who expect to go are requested to hand their names to the officers of the Association as soon as possible, in order that the application from the Smith delegation may be sent in at the beginning of the spring term.

It was three o'clock. All day I had been conscious of a feeling of depres sion that increased as the hours dragged by. In addition to the gloom of a cold, steady rain, a fitful wind, that whipped my garThe Usual Fear ments about me, wailed dismally in my ears as I left the house. I shivered nervously, but my quest was not one to be abandoned lightly, and clutching the burden destined to bring me glory or ruin, I set my teeth and hurried on my way, over sodden paths, past limp shrubs whose rain-soaked foliage hung disconsolately.

Wet and chilled, I stood at last before the building to which I had been summoned. Being already in a state of apprehension bordering on dread, the forbidding aspect of the place struck into my heart a fear that deepened as I ascended the steps. As I was about to enter, a confused sound, a discordant, indescribable humming came from inside. Anything was better than the utter stillness with which I had been met on approaching, and plucking up courage, I laid my hand upon the knob.

The heavy door closed swiftly behind me. Perceiving in the dim light a stairway near at hand, and at a little distance a dark passage littered and seemingly blocked by heaps of lumber, I chose the former means of procedure as being the lesser evil. A curve in the stairway plunged me into sudden darkness. I hesitated, looked behind me, stopped. Then pressing closer in my arms the burden, which increased in weight as my heart sank, I resolutely climbed the remaining steps. At the top I was confronted by a closed door. Suddenly I started. My heart gave a quick throb. "Oh, don't go in there," came in a husky whisper.

don't-"

I shuddered.

"Why?" I asked, trying to pierce the darkness.

"I went in. Oh,

"What is there?"

"It is dreadful, but you will see." The voice died away as its owner went rapidly down the stairs.

For long moments I waited, but there was no sound. If I delayed longer nothing remained for me but a life-long repentance, yet if I entered

My teeth pressed deeply into my lips, that quivered in spite of me. chin shook, but my determination was made.

I turned the door-handle, gave one look back, and entered.

My

The room within was gloomy, even spectral. At first I saw nothing, being intent on removing the wrappings from the precious weight in my arms, the weight which had brought me to this pass. My hands trembled so that even this simple task was rendered most difficult, but finally, my poor, fumbling efforts having been successful, I raised my head and glanced about.

My trembling ceased. Instead, an icy hand seemed to have laid its chill grasp upon my heart. My knees shook and bent beneath me, and a strange, choking sensation hindered my breathing.

Those three figures-ah, the terror!

I thought to kneel before them and entreat their mercy, but I did not. "Arbiters of my fate." I tried to begin; my voice was inaudible. Whether I prayed silently, unconsciously, I do not know.

When, after the most unbearable twenty minutes that I hope it will ever be the lot of mortal to endure and live, I emerged from the fearsome precincts, I stumbled down the stairs, threw wide the outer door, and rushed headlong down the steps and along muddy paths, never stopping until my door was reached, and I had flung it to behind me, sinking into the first chair that came in view.

That night I received a welcome note, and my suspense was at an end. The torture had not been in vain. All this fear is customary, I suppose, when one tries for and is admitted to the Banjo Club.

EMILIE CREIGHTON 1904.

The series of concerts given under the auspices of the Department of Music is an extremely pleasant feature of this college year. The Christmas Organ Recital was conducted by Professor Sleeper. A

The Winter Concerts recital by Professor E. B. Story was held on January 12; and on Wednesday evening March 3, there was a song recital by Professor Mills who was ably assisted by Miss Holmes. These concerts have been most enjoyable, and the college feels greatly indebted to the members of the Department of Music.

"A lover of music writes: On Thursday evening the Northampton friends of Silas R. Mills had one of the too infrequent opportunities to hear his noble baritone voice in a song recital given in connection with the department of music in Smith College. His program was of unusual freshness and beauty, including. besides a Handel aria and two French songs, the Eliland' cycle by Von Fielitz. Mr. Mills' delightful singing was ably seconded by the sympathetic accompaniments of Mr. Story, and the program was completed by two groups of violin solos beatifully played by Miss Rebecca Wilder Holmes." -Springfield Republican.

On Sunday, February 14, the Rev. Dr. Moxon of Springfield, spoke at Vespers.

Sophie Emeline Wilds

Guards, Eva Baker

Alice May Kistler

Hazel Hartwell Catherwood

Rebecca Vedder McDougall, (Capt.)
Helen Bartlett Maxcy

Louise Jeannette Bulkley
Minna Frank

Bessie Moorhead

Coaches, Marian Rumsey, Marie Donohoe, Julie Edna Capen 1905

A dance given by 9 Belmont Avenue, 24, 14, and 10 Green Street, was held in the Students' Building, on Wednesday, February 17.

On Sunday, February 21, General Howard spoke at Vespers.

The Hubbard House gave a dance in the Students' Building on Wednesday evening, February 24.

Blanche Gertrude Bunting of the Class of 1906 (Music School), died at Northampton, March 7, 1904.

CALENDAR

Mar. 16, Glee Club Concert.

22, Recital in Music Hall by Prof. Story and Miss Dyar.

Enoch Arden, with the Richard Strauss music.

23, Haven House Play.

26, Gymnastic Drill.

26, Open Meeting of the Italian Club.

30, Beginning of the Easter Vacation.

Apr. 14, Opening of the Spring Term.

We have received much from Italy-inspiration from her ruins and her history-strength from her many forms, whether of law, of the church, of art or of literature. From this ocean of indebtedness, it is well worth while to pick out one little drop and study it in its solitary beauty. This is the sonnet. There is an Italian word, sonetto, a "little sound," which has given to our English sonnet its name. The "little sound" takes us back seven centuries to the Sicilian Court of Frederick II. Here in the stirring times of the later Crusades and of Papal and Imperial conflicts, there met together peoples from strange lands— Greek, Jew, Arab, German, Provençal and Italian. Here sang the Provençal Troubadour and the German Minnesinger. Frederick himself was a famous troubadour. Poetry was cultivated as a courtly pastime, as an added grace to the courtier. From the midst of this atmosphere issued the first "little sound," and this, so far as has been ascertained, from Frederick's chancellor, Peter de Vinca. Faint as this sound no doubt was, it has echoed ever since. Dante and Petrarch, impressed by its beauty, took up the strain and made it strong.