EDITORS DAILY CRIMSON: True is the saying that a bad tree cannot but bear bad fruit, as is illustrated by the following case: Today occurs the final examination in History XV. Of the several books of reference used in that course, the most important one of all (and hence, the one most in demand last Friday and Saturday) could be found nowhere, Friday afternoon and Saturday forenoon. It was ascertained that the book had been taken out Friday evening, in the regular way, by a certain '88 man, and Saturday forenoon search was made throughout the reading-room and the book was not there at all. Finally, in the afternoon, it was found out that the aforesaid person had recaptured it the first thing after returning it, and that he was now in the stack (which is inaccessible to students at large). He was now discovered there with one or two of his friends, calmly using the much-sought book together with half a dozen other reserved books. He had transported the books thither, against the rules, to prevent any one else from getting them while he was away at luncheon - regardless of the fact that he had already had the one book in question for nearly a day and a half in his possession.

Last year a man was suspended for nine months or more for hiding a reserved book in the Art-room - a place accessible to all students.

In both these cases, the object and result were exactly the same - to monopolize a certain much-needed text-book.

I wish, therefore, to ask if cases of this more recent kind do not deserve a like punishment at the hands of the authorities. Not that I think such punishment will result in the moral reform of the offender. But is it right that the students in large courses should have to suffer from the unscrupulousness of a few worthless fellows, who are allowed to go about with impunity?

X.