EDITORS DAILY CRIMSON: Last year as "Bloody Monday" drew near, several communications condemnatory of the ceremonies of that night appeared in the columns of the CRIMSON. The feeling of remonstrance against the institution of "Bloody Monday" has been growing stronger and stronger for several years, and the actions of some members of the University and the scenes witnessed on that occasion last year have convinced not a few that "Bloody Monday" is no longer an institution that should exist at Harvard.

There are some things to be said in favor of the institution, but many more to be said against it. Those who wish it to continue urge that it gives vent to a feeling that otherwise would find an outlet in hazing; that it serves to break the ice, to some extent, between the freshmen and the upper classmen; and furthermore, that it is a time honored institution, and that that should be argument enough for its continuance.

That the feeling of hostility between the sophomores and freshmen finds vent on "Bloody Monday" night is in a way, true. But whether it would find vent in hazing if "Bloody Monday" were not observed is by no means as clear. The sentiment at Harvard today is very strong against hazing, or anything that partakes of the nature of it, and it is this feeling, and not the fear of punishment, that prevents sophomores to-day from reviving this custom of the past. But in any case the influence resulting from hazing could not be worse than that from "Bloody Monday." The scenes that follow the punches gives the freshman the worst possible impression of the life he is about to enter, and his first impressions are sure to be his strongest ones. Moreover, the fear of censure and criticism, mentioned by you editorially a day or two since, obliges many freshmen to entertain sophomores not only against their inclinations, but often contrary to principles they have been brought up to observe.

That "Bloody Monday" is an institution handed down year after year, and that therefore it should be continued, is no argument in its favor at all. The custom is essentially bad; every influence of it is bad; and the fact that it is bad, whether it be time-honored or not, is reason enough that it be abolished.