We understand that there are other obstacles besides a lack of funds in the way of a new dining-hall,- that, on general principles, there is a serious opposition in the governing boards against any such undertaking by the University itself. It is said that the business now carried on by the University authorities is immense, and that the addition to this of the complicated management of a new dining-hall would be unwise. It is advocated that private enterprise be allowed to solve the problem of giving food to those students who cannot be accommodated in Memorial, just as private enterprise now affords rooms for such students as do not secure them in the University dormitories.

We do not know precisely how strong this feeling is and how much it will effect the policy of the University; but, against it, we wish to point out that the plan suggested would not be to the benefit of the students. No private enterprise could be expected to furnish board of the same quality and price as could a dining-hall run upon Memorial Hall principles. An element of profit would necessarity enter which must make the quality of the food lower or its price higher. It seems to us that one of the prime needs of Harvard is to make the cost of a sufficiently high standard of living among the students as small as possible; and the fact that control by private enterprise makes against this is not hastily to be passed over.