We are securing student aid from friends at the North for several students who have gone from here to the higher institutions. Most of our best students are quite young and can do as well here at present, except that it is better for them to be in an institution where they can be under proper control twenty-four hours in the day. The social and church life of these people is so bad that we advise all to leave for boarding-schools and colleges as soon as they can. * * * * * EMERSON INSTITUTE, MOBILE, ALA. The institute opened its doors on the 3d inst. The full corps of seven teachers, including music teacher, were present. In the two lower grades the attendance of pupils somewhat exceeded that of last year; in the higher grades it was less. The total was 52. At the end of four days it has increased to 75. This dilatory entrance will probably continue until the total will run up to 300, or thereabouts. Some of our students residing at remote points wrote that many new ones would come; but the drought has delayed, perhaps prevented them. The uncommon heat of the summer has cut off the expected means of some. Poverty is keeping a considerable number of our former Normal pupils at work for the present. The outlook presents many hopeful points. * * * * * HOWARD UNIVERSITY. REV. W. W. PATTON, D.D., WASHINGTON, D.C. Our new year has opened at Howard University with great promise of good. A remarkably large attendance at prayers, the first day, showed an increase of punctuality in the return of the old students, and an influx of new ones. Thus far 80 new students have joined the Normal Department and about 30 the Preparatory. The incoming Freshman Class of College numbers 8. Already 13 new ones have joined the Theological Department and others are expected. Many more would have come to it, but the standard of admission is now much higher than it used to be, and will be gradually raised as better and better material will be furnished. We discourage and often reject poorly qualified applicants. The Medical and Law courses are just commencing their term, and with bright prospects. The medical faculty is one of eminence, three of its members having been connected with the illness of President Garfield; Dr. Purvis being the first to prescribe for him after the shooting; Dr. Reyburn having been one of the six physicians in regular attendance; and Dr. Lamb having performed the operation at the autopsy. Last year this department had 81 students (a majority being white), and this year the number will sum up to nearly quite a hundred. It is open to ladies as well as gentlemen. All the law graduates of last year (5 in number) have come back to take the post-graduate course. The law students this year will number twenty or more.