The Columbia Spectator calls our attention to the fact that the custom of giving a set of flags to the winning crew of the Harvard-Columbia freshman series each year has been neglected since Ninety's freshman year. That this custom ever existed at all was unknown to most of the men who have rowed on freshman crews since then, but it evidently, on investigation, is a custom, and it is clearly the duty of Harvard Ninety-one to present Columbia Ninety-one with a set of flags, and of Columbia Ninety-two to present our Juniors with a set, and, finally, for the Harvard Sophomores to give Columbia Ninety-three the customary acknowledgement. To our surprise the Spectator states that their Seniors have waited patiently for these flags since their freshman year. If the matter had been understood at Cambridge this, we are sure, would never have happened.

It now appears that the affair is to be settled by a compromise. Harvard is to give our Juniors the flags which they have won, and Columbia is to provide her own flags for her Ninety-one crew. We agree with our contemporary that this "is a very slip-shod manner of exchanging compliments." It would be much more satisfactory, and certainly more courteous, if the defeated class in each college gave its victors the flags which are due.