TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON :-

WE all know that in the existing order of things at Harvard there are many glaring inconsistencies. We all likewise hope that in some future golden age these present defects will be remedied. The first step toward correcting a fault is to call attention to it, and I wish therefore to speak of the facilities afforded us for learning the French and German languages respectively. In regard to the comparative worth of the two languages, no one will deny that to students (as some of us are really supposed by the outside barbarians to be) a knowledge of German has the more practical value. Most of the men who enter the Freshman class know something, more or less, of French, and nothing of German. During the Freshman year French is dropped, and three hours of German are prescribed. Accordingly the average Sophomore knows nearly as much of one language as of the other.

Now here is where the inconsistency comes into view. The respective elective courses perse are, perhaps, equally attractive; but outside of these the difference is marked. The French student has an evening reading, at present given in French, once a week; three hours a week are devoted to reading French at sight; and once a week an interesting lecture is delivered in French before those who care to attend. The student of German has, on the contrary -nothing.

The moral is obvious. Let there be some opportunity given to those who wish to meet an instructor for the purposes of reading at sight; let some instructor deliver a course of lectures in German, in language suited to our modest acquirements; in short, let the same opportunities be given to the man who wishes to study German as to the one who wishes to study French; and it will soon be seen that enough men will make use of the privilege to warrant its being granted.

H.