The games of the Amateur Athletic Union, this afternoon and evening, cannot fail to prove one of the most interesting athletic events of the year. Not only will the contests prove highly exciting in themselves, but their outcome will have an indirect bearing upon the spring games of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Yale and Princeton are both represented today by men who will doubtless take a prominent part in the Mott Haven games, and the comparison of their work with that of Harvard's athletes today may serve to show a trifle the outcome of the college games this spring. The comparison certainly ought to be advantageous for Harvard. Since the games of the Boston Athletic Association last February, the Harvard men have trained very faithfully, and we feel, to some purpose. At the present time they are in a physical condition far superior than at the time of the B. A. A. games. Several new men also of some worth, will compete and Harvard's representation ought, therefore, to show up well.

It cannot be expected, however, that Harvard should take the stand in today's games that she took in the B. A. A. games; for the conditions of the contest are wholly different. The B. A. A. games, although successful in every way, were hardly more than local when compared with the sports today. The Amateur Athletic Union, on the contrary, embraces the best athletes all over the country, and their presence will go far toward making the games more successful than the B. A. A. contests. Moreover all the events are scratch, and each man will go strictly according to merit. The hall itself has been greatly enlarged, and the track has been proportionately lengthened so that only seven and one-half laps are now required for the mile. It has been raised at the corners so as to prevent all danger of slipping, and the runners will be arranged in such a way that the positions will give no advantage; the outside man will have as much chance as the one next to the pole.

The favorable issue of the games of the B. A. A. will be remembered; and the attendance of Harvard men should certainly be in proportion to the greater success which will attend today's sports.