THE burning of Stoughton last Monday, occurring as it did in the daytime, and being confined almost wholly to the top story of the building, proved less disastrous than might have been expected. But if the fire had broken out on the ground-floor during the night, great loss of property, and perhaps of life, would have been inevitable. The ladders, which figured so prominently in the Bursar's letter to the Advertiser last year, and which he stated could be put in use in less than five minutes, were found to be so carefully strapped down that it was more than ten minutes before they could be placed in position. The Cambridge Fire Department was as inefficient as can well be imagined. Late to arrive, they went to work without any controlling head, and their hose was so poor that it broke twice. Much furniture was destroyed by being thrown recklessly out of the windows, while a great deal was injured by water. The lesson that this fire should teach the Corporation is very evident. Although they are willing to run the risk of financial loss from fire, they are bound to consider the number of lives that they are responsible for; they are bound to do all in their power to prevent such a calamity as the burning up of twenty or thirty students, which is not only possible, but very probable, under the existing system.