At last the Athletic Committee has consented to allow the base-ball nine to play against professional teams by way of practice. Thus the desire not only of the students but of many of the graduates of the college has been granted. We all know what half a dozen practice games with professional teams would mean for us and we all appreciate and are grateful for the action of the Committee. If now we lose year after year as we have been losing, we can attach no blame to anybody but ourselves. Practically all restrictions have been removed and there is no reason why we should not turn out a better nine than ever before in the spring of 1889. We say this because we are confident of the good effect this practice with professionals will have upon our men. It will inspire them with coolness, courage and ambition, besides teaching them how to play baseball and play it well. We never did believe in the danger of contamination which our worthy Board of Overseers so recently deplored. Personally the men who play upon these professional teams are, as a rule, respectable, honest men who simply take this means of earning their livelihood. They do not dare to play in an underhanded fashion even if they are inclined so to do, for fear of losing their positions. Our nine cannot suffer by contact with these men and there is no doubt but that they will greatly improve their playing by a few games with professionals. On the whole the college has cause to congratulate itself on possessing an Athletic Committee which can take a more liberal view of things than our respected, but narrow-minded, Board of Overseers.