Arrangements are now progressing rapidly for the Harvard-Yale debate to be held in Sanders Theatre on the evening of Wednesday, January 18th. Secretaries of the classes for thirty years past have been written to, and answers from more than twenty of them have been already received, assuring their hearty support in interesting prominent graduates, and from present indications, not less than three hundred graduates, resident in or near Boston, will be present at the debate.

The most marked difference between the debates of last year and of this is that the debate at hand will be decided. The board of Judges will probably be made up of three out of the four following men, - Professors Taussig of Harvard, Hadley of Yale, Seligman of Columbia, and President Andrews of Brown, all men with wide reputations for fair-mindedness and sound judgment. The decision will change the character of the debates materially. Last year neither side felt sure of its ground, and both were unwilling to risk a decision. The debates, while conspicuously successful, were more like oratorical contests in which each man spoke largely for himself. Henceforth all this will be changed. The two universities, having tested each other's strength, are now ready for the real contests, and the debate of the 18th, will almost surely mark the first of a long series of contests in this line between the two universities, and, quite as surely, the example of Harvard and Yale will be followed by the other colleges in this part of the country. The debate this time means either victory or defeat with Yale.

Of the Harvard speakers, C. Vrooman Sp., who will speak first, has not before taken part in one of the joint debates but he has had constant training in speaking for some years. E. H. Warren '95, the second speaker, opened the debate in New Haven last spring, and A. P. Stone '93, the third speaker, closed the debate in Cambridge last winter.

It has been proposed to limit the competitors for the next debate, to be held in New Haven in March, to members of the Union, the object being simply to get the speaking material into the Union. The competitive trial will occur about a week after the mid-years, and all men who have any expectation of trying are urged to join at once. Two speeches on the floor of the house entitle a man to membership. There will be a meeting tonight, at which the question of closing the World's Fair will be discussed. At this meeting, tickets for the debate in Sanders Theatre will be given to union members. No member can procure tickets unless in regular standing and with all dues paid. Members, unable to be present tonight can secure their tickets by sending a written application to H. A. bull, secretary. Each member will be entitled to two seats, and those from among the best in the house. The management has decided upon a new method by which college men at large can have full opportunity of saving at least one ticket apiece. That method will be explained in full in the CRIMSON of next Tuesday.