No exchange which reaches our sanctum is so permeted with musty old fogyism and so little alive to the progressive tendencies of the age as the Yale Record. Yale has ever been noted for the zeal with which it clings to time honored institutions, even after they have passed their usefulness, and for the bitterness with which it resists any innovations; it is not, therefore, surprising that the college press should be tinged with the same spirit of subserviency to ancient things.

In another column we publish an editorial taken from the Record commenting on the action of the faculty in deciding that the oration shall be delivered in Latin. It sounds as if it had been taken from some faculty report of half a century ago. Yet we think that the Record is more conservative than even its surroundings warrant. Its sister, the Courant, is far ahead of it in its judgment on subjects which are now agitating the college world. In speaking of the success of the partially elective system at Yale, the Courent thus says: "Our ideal culminates in an education which shall adapt it, self to the pressing necessities of life, and be in harmony with the spirit of the times. Yale never occupied as favorable a position in the eyes of the public as at the present time. While vigorously defending whatever has been most conducive to success in her past policy, she has discarded many of the old ideas of education as antiquated and unprofitable, and blended the advantages of the two systems with marvelous effect. Let us hope, then, that every change which is inaugurated may call to mind that stirring watchword-Progress."

Compare with this the following extract from the Record: "There is a spirit evincing itself in the first two years of our life here, which, however much it may be deplored in its more disorderly manifestations, is yet one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful agent, in forming and strengthening athletic interests at Yale. In class feelings, class distinctions, class rivalries, lies, we believe, the true source of our success. If we introduce the elective system, class lines, nay, we may say, the classes themselves must soon disappear. If we destroy class lines we destroy class feeling, if we destroy class feeling we destroy class athletics, and these are the chief support of the university athletic interests."

As if the purpose of a college is to train athletes! If this is Yale "spirit" may the powers of heaven deliver us from contact with it! If to gain the championship in foot-ball, in base-ball, or in anything, we must sacrifice the benefits of an elective system like ours, let us never contend for that much coveted prize. This is, we think, the weakest argument that has ever been advanced against the elective system. But we are glad to see that the Record has not the support of the other papers of the college.