The aims of the proposed University Club are such as will appeal to a majority of those who are familiar with the conditions of life at Harvard. It is the evident result of the elective system that community of interest, whether intellectual, or social, or athletic, is coming to have more and more influence in determining a man's companionships in college. This influence tends partly to weaken class feeling, and partly, by combining with it, to subdivide the members of each class into smaller groups of more or less closely affiliated members.

Such a state of things is not altogether to be regretted. It creates a healthy and sympathetic activity among those engaged in each line of intellectual work; it admits of a congeniality of acquaintance and friendship as great as, if not greater than, can exist at other colleges. But it very obviously does not admit of as much contact between men of different interests as is inevitable where they are thrown together in the same classes for four years. Such contact, if we had more of it, would mean, not that our present social relations would be materially altered, or that our clubs would fall into disuse, but that there would be greater sympathy between men of different tastes and interests,- a sympathy arising from a better knowledge on the part of each man, of the tastes and interests of his fellows.

We are greatly mistaken in our impression as to the general aim of the proposed University Club, if it is intended to be a means of amalgamating the widely differing elements that make up Harvard life. Its aim, we take it, is rather to provide certain conveniences that are not now afforded, conveniences that will be appreciated by practically all members of the University and the enjoyment of which, by all, would bring about a close contact between them.

It is also, as we understand it, one of the principal features of the plan that graduates in Cambridge, whether temporarily or as residents, would make use of the club. Thus both graduates and undergraduates would be brought into occasional intercourse with each other and it would be fair to hope that a greater unity of feeling arising between them as Harvard men would strengthen their common attachment for the University.