An article in the last number of the N. Y. Clipper, in discussing the movement towards the reduction in membership of the college base-ball league, betrays such an entire misconception of the question and, indeed, of the whole spirit of college athletics, that we cannot let it pass without comment. "The proposal," says the Clipper, with an insight of which no one not thorougly imbued with the spirit of "professionalism" would be capable of displaying, "has a very suspicious taint of gate-money influences about it." Now, we beg leave to state that the argument of increased gate receipts has never entered the discussion at all, except in the most casual manner, and moreover, when the question comes up for discussion it will hardly be taken into serious consideration.

The objection made by some of the colleges to the retention of Amherst in the league is simply that games with her were hardly of enough importance to warrant the time spent in travelling. There is a considerable sentiment at Harvard, however, in favor of Amherst's remaining in the association. In regard to Dartmouth there is more to be said. That college is so far away from all the others which compose the association that at least two days must be spent in travel for every game that is played. Besides this, bad weather may prevent a game, in which case two long, disagreeable journeys must be made. There is no argument which can be used for the retention of Dartmouth which could not with equal propriety be offered for the admission of Rutgers or Union. Harvard, at least, cares nothing about beating Dartmouth, and is not at all troubled by an occasional defeat.

These are the grounds upon which the arguments for decreasing the membership of the association are based, and on a consideration of these reasons the matter will be settled.

The question of gate receipts has not been considered for a moment as a conclusive argument in the settlement of the question.

When the Clipper states in the next breath that it does not see why every college club in the country should not have its name enrolled on the association books, it displays its entire ignorance of the aim of college athletics.

Members of a college nine, like all other students, have something to do besides to play ball. The present league, in view of the new regulations of our own faculty - regulations which will probably be adopted into other colleges - is already too large, and to talk about adding to it is simply to talk nonsense.

The judicial tone which is adoptd by New York sporting papers in their comments on college athletics would be amusing if it did not proceed from an ignorance of the subject which renders it exasperating. We are glad to have these papers take an interest in our affairs, but we must beg of them not to try to show us how those affairs shall be carried on until they understand them a little better.