It is a fact that has been impressed upon the captains and coaches of our athletic teams and which must be more or less obvious to Harvard men at large, that an undue proportion of the athletes who graduate from the preparatory schools enter Yale. Of course it may be said with some degree of truth that Yale's victories have been the cause of this preference on the part of young athletes, but certainly the converse argument applies with equal force.

We believe that another fact underlies and explains both statements. It is that Yale, or rather athletic Yale, keeps in closer touch with the preparatory schools than does Harvard. The average school boy has a profound admiration for greatness, of which, in his mind, distinction at college is one of the highest manifestations. It is to this well-known school boy characteristic that Yale appeals, by occasionally sending her prominent men to the schools where they were fitted, to give advice on athletic matters, perhaps to disclose a new play in football, or a good trick in baseball, - in a word, to show the athletes that Yale is interested in them.

Now we believe that there is nothing in the essence of Yale's policy that is not perfectly legitimate. Why should not Harvard send coaches to Andover and Exeter and other schools this spring, or if not coaches, one or two men who have played on 'varsity teams within the last few years and can disabuse men of the idea that they will not have a "fair show" at Harvard. Harvard men are interested in these schools; why should they not show it? Of course something will be said about "advertising," but a good thing cannot be made bad by being called names. Harvard is a great University and can do much for any man whether he is an athlete, or a scholar, or both. Every honorable effort to increase her numbers is to increase the scope of her influence.