We have decided to try the experiment of issuing a literary supplement. We have felt for some time that in one department of college journalism Harvard is at a disadvantage. The CRIMSON, we flatter ourselves, represents Harvard creditably in the matter of news and current comment. The Advocate represents Harvard creditably in the line of current comment and light stories, and the Lampoon certainly places us far in advance of other colleges in the matter of humorous writing and illustration. But anyone familiar with college exchanges knows that in the line of serious literary composition, in the sort of work found in the Yale Lit., and Princeton Nassau Lit., Harvard is represented in no way whatever.

Now this is not because Harvard has not the writers and talent needed; on the contrary we are sure that there is no college in America where so good literary work would be done as here, if any incentive were offered. In point of fact, a great deal of excellent literary work is done here all the time in the required and elective work of the English department. And to give the best of this work to the college public, is the object of our literary supplement. Our plan is to select, with the assistance of the instructors of the English department, the most readable of the essays, " themes," and " forensics," which in the past have lain idle in the desks of the instructors, and to print them in the form of a monthly supplement. At all events we shall try the experiment once, and see how it works. The instructors, we are glad to say, show the warmest interest in the scheme, and have kindly given us help and advice. They feel, as we do, that such a supplement will react on the literary work of the students. They realize that not only will it be an assistance in the formation of a good style for men to see their own work in print, but that the possibility of their writings being selected for publication will act as a strong stimulus to better work in themes and forensics.

Such a supplement, if it turns out to be a success, will of course take some time to get into good running order; and we hope our readers will not expect too much from the experimental number. The plan, while adding to the value of the CRIMSON as a paper, would involve a considerable expenditure of money; and we trust that if it is adopted, the students will respond by swelling our list of subscribers.