At first sight one is led to believe that the small number of men who answered Captain Vail' s call for crew candidates Signifies a falling off in boating interests in the university, or perhaps a state of discouragement arising from our defeat by Yale last July. If, after all the efforts which have been devoted toward raising our standard in rowing during the past years, any such spirit as this should find a hold in the minds of college men, it certainly would be unworthy of them as Harvard under-graduates and disgraceful to them as men of courage. Defeat should only urge us on to stronger efforts; dark outlooks should be met by a ready response to any call which has in in it the purpose of overcoming existing obstacles.

We do not believe, however, that Harvard has fallen into a state of indifference in regard to our rowing interests. When more carefully looked at it seems reasonable to account for this meagre number of candidates either from carelessness on the part of & those who intend to try for the vacancies in the boat, or from an insufficient appreciation of the significance of this summons. With our minds now fully occupied with football matters, it is very natural to lay aside, for the time being, the thought of something that will not take place until next July. That seems a long way off and the importance of reporting as candidates loses some of its force and serious reflexion on what Harvard must do to retrieve its losses in boating victories is put off. There is very likely another lot of men who. entering perhaps for the first time this year, either do not realize the need of starling in so early, or who are unwilling to put themselves forward; it strikes them as somewhat of a presumption to try for anything so high and honorable as a seat in the 'varsity boat. To such as these we cannot express too clearly the pleasure which it gives a 'varsity captain to have a large crowd of men from which to nick his material. Any strong healthy man of average weight, whether experienced or not, will be cordially received by the captain of the crew and given a fair and equal trial with others. The more inexperienced the person is the greater his need of starting in with the crew at once, yet there is no one in college who is so good an oar that he can afford to loaf until Christmas or thereabouts before he begins the work of training. We would earnestly urge once more old men as well as new to give their names immediately to Captain Vail, whether they are playing football or not. It is unity of action which brings success and everyone in the university ought to co-operate heartily with Captain Vail in his efforts for Harvard's success.