The formal opening of the academic year this morning focuses attention for a moment on the numerical strength of the University. With the establishment of universities or at least of colleges in all parts of the country, it would seem that Harvard, situated in a remote corner of the land and distant from most of the great centres of population, must inevitably yield the students of distant states to their local institutions. And yet Harvard has maintained her reputation as a centre of learning so effectively that last year she attracted an increased number of students in the Central, Western and Southern sections of the country. This year, despite even the financial depression which is so serious a check to higher education, there is no decrease, but rather a strong increase. A moment's thought on the conditions under which this increase has been made reveals what a great tribute it is to the strength of Harvard.

The greater part of this increase is in the Lawrence Scientific School. This is but one more of the facts which tend to show that this School of the University is to become one of the most important, as it is already one of the best-known, departments. The large additions made this year to the opportunities afforded by the School, were wisely placed.