It is pleasant to hear of improvement in the governing policy and in the undergraduate aspirations of other colleges. It is natural too that the larger institutions in affording a wider opportunity for the existence of varied social elements, should be the first to swerve from some of the intensely conservative and now antiquated restrictions of the past. Moreover, for this reason, it would be surprising indeed if Yale, Princeton and Columbia were not ready to help in leading toward the larger life of the university of the future. Columbia, while not opening her doors freely to women, has been among the first to grant either sex alike, official recognition of deserving merit; Princeton, in endeavoring to abolish the foolish hazing typical of the younger years of American colleges, has now tackled vigorously the subject of student conference, which has been so successful with us in opening the way for larger and lasting reforms in university government; Yale has now begun open struggle with the so-called "Prayer" question.

It seems to us that Yale has the hardest victory to win, as well as the one most worth the winning. Yale was founded in a spirit of religious sectarianism, if not intollerance, and it must be difficult for her to meet even half way the growing need of American collegiate life, chief among which, of course, is freedom of religious thought. But the demand must be met, or the college must acknowledge herself defeated. This, we are sure, will not be permitted by her undergraduate spirit of pluck and pride.

But there is one pitfall that we hope our old friend and rival will avoid, though in regard to the undergraduate feeling we have no fear, - there exists, we are compelled to believe, among American colleges, a fear of being suspected of desiring to imitate other colleges. Especially is this true with regard to the attitude assumed towards Harvard. This must always be the feeling towards all innovators, - and Harvard has certainly introduced many innovations of late years into her collegiate life. Therefore, while deprecating such a feeling toward us, we should like to point at one as a possible danger to our friends who hold the reins of authority at our sister college. We hope that they will examine most thoroughly the changes which have been made with us and will profit, we speak with all modesty, by the victories which we have won.

Of course, circumstances alter all cases, but we cannot but feel deeply that only by much long-suffering and patient work our present religious system has been evolved, and we should be sorry if other colleges should be afraid to follow our methods for fear of being thought to imitate, - as sundry persons have suggested might be the case.