115-119 WEST 68th STREET. Vol. II. February 1, 1895. No. 2. THE ALUMNI JOURNAL will be published Monthly. Entered at New York Post Office as second-class matter SUBSCRIPTION: Per Annum, One Dollar Single Copies, 15 Cents. All copy for publication, or changes of advertisements should reach us on or before the 20th of the month previous to the issue in which they are to appear. All matters relating to publication should be written on one side of the paper only, and sent to the editor, HENRY KRAEMER, 115-119 West 68th Street. All communications relating to finances and subscriptions should be addressed to A. HENNING, Treas., 115-119 West 68th Street. All communications relating to advertising should be addressed to A. K. LUSK, 1 Park Row. EDITOR, HENRY KRAEMER, PH. G. ASSISTANT EDITORS, FRED. HOHENTHAL, PH. G. K. C. MAHEGIN, PH. G. ASSOCIATE EDITORS, CHARLES RICE, PH. D. CHARLES F. CHANDLER, PH. D., M. D., L.L.D., etc. ARTHUR H. ELLIOTT, PH. D., F. C. S. HENRY H. RUSBY, M. D. VIRGIL COBLENTZ, A. M., PH. G., PH. D. THE ABILITY OF CONSTRUCTION. At this stage of the world’s history men of ability and even of genius in a certain sense are not rare. The result is that in all of our institutions of learning the requirements become more stringent and by the time graduation arrives we see the survival of only the very best men. We find the same classes of men throughout life that we find in college--we find men of energy and slothfulness, men devoted to pleasures and by nature politicians, men of ability of construction and men of power in criticism. While at College the training to-day is chiefly analytical and the result is that men are prone to examine everything closely and some even learn to take delight in tearing things to pieces. There are some men who are utterly ruined so far as their inward happiness and that of those about them is concerned by their critical tendencies. They do this to the detriment of their own energies and abilities of construction and hence never or but seldom build anything, but employ their days in tearing down what others have built. The critic is necessary and essential in every department of labor where human thought is allowed entrance. Criticisms that are honest always help the builder and are a gain to posterity.