Perhaps there is no institution or society in Harvard College capable of more good than the Union. The opportunities for public speaking which the society offers to the college are of the greatest value and should be taken advantage of by a much larger number of men than has been the case in the past. While the Union this year has shown signs of great activity, and while we do not doubt that it will continue to be a success, still we think that there are many ways in which it could be improved. In the first place we think that it should return to the old custom of having books upon the reserved shelves in the alcove of the reserved shelves in the alcove of the library devoted to the society,-books which bear on the subject offered for discussion and which will be of assistance in the preparation of the arguments. These books can be selected, as before, by a special committee, and should be placed there some time before the debates. To allow the full benefit of such a plan, the questions for discussion and the leading disputants should be selected some weeks ahead so that plenty of time is given for preparation. The debates should be made instructive, (to the leading disputants at least) as well as interesting. In addition to this the Union might invite men to lecture before it, allowing members to ask questions and discuss the subject of the discourse. This is done in several of the smaller societies of the college and there is no reason why the practice should not extend to the Union. The membership of the society should be extended and then its possibilities would increase. We cannot too strongly urge every man in college and especially the men in the lower classes to join the Union, and not only join the society, but join in its work, so that it can be made a feature of college life and so that its influence may be extended.