EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON : -

Will you be kind enough to answer the following questions, and by so doing oblige quite a number of former members of the University Nine who are still interested in the Nine's success?

Has any professional coached the Nine during their winter training in the Gymnasium? If any, were his services paid? Did or did not professionals play on the Harvard Nine in the game with the Worcesters, Fast Day, and against the Bostons, April 10? If they did, were they paid? Out of a University of thirteen hundred students, could no players be found to take the places made vacant by the illness of two of the regular Nine? Are there to be any regular substitutes from the men in College, or is the Nine dependent upon outsiders?

GRADUATE.The above letter was handed to the manager of the Nine, Mr. Townsend, and the following is his reply. - EDS.

EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON : -

In reply to the communication signed "Graduate," received from you, I beg to state that the Harvard Nine has had no professional coach during the winter, but has been aided by the advice of Mr. Ernst, '76, who has come up from Providence once a week during the winter, to watch our progress, and to give our pitchers the benefit of his experience. It is true that in two instances professionals have played on the Nine. The day before the Worcester game, four men sent word that sickness or family affairs would prevent their playing next day. All that could be done was to get together all the ball-players then in Cambridge, - it was vacation, - and to start with this scrub nine. To strengthen our side, the Worcesters willingly agreed to let us have George Wright, and even then we had to put in right field a Harvard student living in Worcester, who was entirely out of practice. In the Boston game, which also was played during vacation, Macullar, a professional, took the place of Mr. Winsor, as the latter was so unwell as to be absolutely unable to play, although he appeared on the field and made the attempt. In neither instance did these professional substitutes receive any compensation for their services. Had these games been played in term-time we could have filled the vacant places with substitutes; as it was, we were obliged to make use of any one we could get, in order to save ourselves from playing with eight men.

We sincerely thank the graduates for the interest they show in our work, and regret that we were so situated as to be obliged to make use of means to which, in the days of Harvard's Base-Ball Champions, it would not have been necessary to resort.

I beg to remain, very truly yours,

HOWARD TOWNSEND,CAMBRIDGE, April 21.

Manager H. U. B. B. C.