To all who have grown up under the influence of Harvard, and who, interested in boating and kindred pursuits, must closely associate the magenta pennon with Harvard's success or failure, the proposal of Union College that we change our colors must have seemed not entirely devoid of that useful quality which goes by the name of cheek. And, after more sober consideration, we find reason to think that the request should be refused, if not ignored. In the first place, we think it doubtful that Union ever claimed the color before Harvard; and, even if that be the case, we see no reason why the color should be resigned by us. Union claims to have adopted the magenta in 1860, although no testimony to this effect is brought forward; and it is asserted that Harvard did not bear the magenta before 1871. This last statement is false. The magenta was recognized as Harvard's color early in the last decade. We have not yet been able to find out the exact date ; but in the race with Oxford, magenta was worn by Harvard as her established color. The first race rowed by Harvard with another college was on Lake Winnipiseogee, August 3, 1852, when a crew from Harvard defeated two crews from Yale. At one time Harvard voted to adopt the color blue, but this seems never to have been carried into effect. Red or crimson was at first used, until four Harvard crews, bearing crimson, red, cherry, and magenta, raced at Cambridge, and the victorious crew went to Worcester to row Yale. As this crew wore magenta, the magenta was generally adopted.

But even if Union formally selected the magenta before Harvard, we see no reason why Harvard should change her colors. There may be numerous colleges and schools who have baseball nines or crews that wear magenta trimmings, and have worn them for twenty years; but if, at some future date, they should decide to contend with Harvard, it would be absurd for them to claim a prior right to the magenta. The color of a college is determined when first worn in a race with other colleges. The magenta is now identified with Harvard; it has been worn for over ten years in races with fifteen different colleges.

Again, Union claimed the color in 1860. Before what tribunal? Where was it widely displayed? The color was claimed only by being worn by some of the students of Union. Now, who will deny the probability that a handkerchief or ribbon of the hue which is now called magenta was worn at some time by a student during the first two hundred and twenty years of Harvard's existence! Indeed, tradition reports that old John Harvard himself sported a deep crimson kerchief. Where, then, was Union?

No; if Union nails her color to the mast, we tremble before the awful probability that things will be mixed. There is little danger of a Harvard student's being taken for a Union man, except by those who were "raised" in the immediate vicinity of - we believe it is Schenectady? - but the Union students may expect to be often taken for Cantabs, next summer, and must cultivate their modesty for the occasion.