Again we wish to speak of the importance of the competitive debate tonight as the initial step in the contest with Yale. When Harvard and Yale first met in debate the contrast between the trios of debaters was almost painful, but steadily the contrast has been growing less. Harvard has not lost ground, she has, in fact, noticeably improved; but Yale has improved still more and it is only a question of time, if the present rate of improvement on both sides is allowed to continue, when Yale will prove herself superior to Harvard in debate.

Hard work is needed, and a great deal of it. Nothing will invite disaster more quickly than the assumption that, because we have won, we shall win. Every bit of experience that Harvard has gained in her past debates ought to be consulted; every method which has been found good ought to be so thoroughly studied that not a whit of its efficacy shall be lost at the time of the decisive debate; and every improvement, shown to be possible by weakness in past debates, ought eagerly to be carried out. The wisdom gathered from past debates can be a great factor in winning the next debate, and, indeed, we doubt if victory can come without it. Harvard is, naturally, much superior to Yale in such a matter as debating; students here have twice as many original ideas as come to Yale men. But if Yale has not original ideas, she certainly has a faculty for never letting slip a good idea that once she has grasped. Now if Harvard abandons to Yale past wisdom, and trusts in the power of her present efforts alone, the day is surely coming when she will lose. If, however, Harvard holds as fast as does Yale to the wisdom of experience, then she will always have an advantage in the greater abundance of new ideas.