But the idea had taken possession of the mind of Very Rev. Father Sorin, and was tenaciously clung to, in spite of discouraging report through the years that followed, until, at length, the success of subsequent experiments, and the invention of incandescent electric lighting, revealed the complete practicability of carrying out the grand design of the venerable founder. Now, twelve of the Edison incandescent lamps encircle the head of the statue, while at the base are three semi-circles of nine lamps in each, which form the crescent moon. These, together with the lights in the halls of the college, are fed with the electric current by a powerful dynamo, situated in the rear of the building. Thus the visitor to Notre Dame, as he comes up the avenue at night, or the wayfarer for miles around, can realize and revere that glorious tribute to the Queen of Heaven, the Protectress of Notre Dame, as he sees her figure surrounded with its halo of light, typifying the watchful care she constantly exercises, by night as well as by day, over the inmates of this home of religion and science, which has been specially dedicated to her honor. _Notre Dame_ (Ia.) _Scholastic_. Four Thousand Years. Four thousand years earth waited, Four thousand years men prayed, Four thousand years the nations sighed, That their King delayed. The prophets told His coming, The saintly for Him sighed, And the Star of the Babe of Bethlehem Shone o'er them when they died. Their faces toward the future, They longed to hail the light, That in after centuries Would rise on Christmas nights. But still the Saviour tarried In His Father's home, And the nations wept and wondered why The promised had not come. At last earth's prayer was granted, And God was a child of earth, And a thousand angels chanted The lowly midnight birth. Ah! Bethlehem was grander That hour, than Paradise; And the light of earth, that night, eclipsed The splendors of the skies. ABRAM J. RYAN. Abolishing Barmaids.