THE Gymnastic Tournament to take place at the Gymnasium next week is an innovation of the Athletic Association we heartily approve. While it has been the custom in various other colleges to have regular winter athletic contests, Harvard has not, at least for the past few years, done anything to keep up the spirits and zeal of the men who work conscientiously during the long months of the close season, as it might appropriately be called. To spectators, also, this tournament will be interesting, and probably very amusing. Any break in the winter's dulness is certain to be acceptable. The Athletic Association has shown praiseworthy activity in this matter, and we wish it would consider, at the present time, the results of its fall and summer meetings. In all of them there have been very few contestants, and among these a lack of thorough training. Some suggestions we made last fall as to how this might be remedied, by requirring the ground to be covered in a fixed time, and by handicapping the winners of two or more races. If the idea in these suggestions was carried into effect, there would be better training, better time, and more contestants than during the past. It is idle to expect good time or interesting races as long as the present system is continued. The same men, at every meeting, carry off the prizes with little exertion, while in every race a line of dispirited stragglers, few and far between, bring up the rear. Some change ought to be made immediately, so that every one may have fair warning of what will be expected of him.