A petition is being circulated to the effect that Mr. E. J. Ferris, who has ionstructed many students in boxing, be employed by the college at a regular salary which he will receive as part compensation for his services, his regular charges to students being thereby diminished one half. This extraordinary petition, while it is probably in the interest of many students, yet does not have that university character that should prompt the higher powers to grant it. There are many special athletic exercises, such as boxing, fencing, dancing, good in themselves, which, nevertheless, are not sufficiently general to justify maitenance of teachers at the expense of the college. College athletics are, at best, merely a means for better intellectual work, and as such should receive the support of the university. The support is amply given, in the employment of Doctor Sargent and Mr. Lathrop. The additional employment of a special instructor in boxing is thus unnecessary for purposes of general exercise, and would simply establish a precedent for the employment of a host of instructors in similar specialties. Aside from the principle involved we would discourage the petition, as we deem the man, in whose interest in part the petition is circulated, unfitted for such official connection with Harvard University.