EDITORS HARVARD HERALD: In her race with Columbia, Harvard '85 was badly handicapped in having a boat that ploughed her bow into the water and that was sprung in the middle; but in the writer's opinion this disadvantage was insignificant to that of having to be coached the eight days preceding the race by a stranger. During these eight days the stroke was hastened considerably by the very worst fault a crew can fall into, namely, rushing forward on the full reach. Mr. Lattauer, not withstanding the above-mentioned fact, deserves on behalf of the crew and the class their full acknowledgements for his faithfulness as coach while the crew was practising on the Harlem.

'85 has no fault to find with him. On the contrary, the crew ought to blame itself and be blamed by the whole class for not having chosen a coach at least a month before the race. It is absolutely impossible for a coach to pick out the individual faults of eight men in eight days. While he attempts to do so, each man contracts new faults, the time becomes poor, the crew soon begins to feel from the motion of the boat that its rowing is ragged and by no means up to the mark, nervousness sets in, and the consequence of all this is that on the very eve of the race the crew is totally "demoralized." These facts are mentioned not for the purpose of accounting or apologizing for '85's defeat, but that '86, in whose success the whole university is interested, may profit by her mistakes. Should Mr. Bancroft accompany the 'Varsity to New London, let '86 select a coach at least a month before the race, that both crew and coach may have plenty of time to become thoroughly accustomed to one another. The above remarks are entirely of a private nature and express an opinion of one who was unfortunate enough to do his full share at the oar handle in contributing to the defeat of '85.