In the early days of college journalism the daily newspaper had no part. College news, such as there is now, did not exist. When the number of students was small and their interests and activities were necessarily restricted, a weekly or even a bi-weekly paper was easily able to perform the functions of recorder and commentator, the only ones then needed. What real news there was spread quickly through the narrow limits of the college. Those were the times when notice of a club meeting posted at University Hall was sure to be seen within the day by every one interested, so concentrated was college life. It was as this concentration became ever less and less possible, through the extremely rapid growth both in the number of students and the range of their activities, that the need for a daily paper made itself felt. Through that alone could students any longer keep themselves informed of what was going on in the college.

At Harvard the function of news purveyor was first undertaken by the predecesor of the CRIMSON, then under a different name; and has been passed on through succeeding boards without a break to the present time. The progress has not been an easy one. A long time after student favor was won, official favor was withheld through lack of confidence in the students' ability to carry on their adventurous undertaking. But years of experience bring knowledge. The editors of the CRIMSON at length proved that their paper was worthy of official recognition. Having gained so much, the paper has gradually made iself almost indispensable to the student. It tells him in the early morning everything of interest that has happened in the college world the day before and as far as possible all that is to happen; it has become the medium of communication between officers and members of all University teams and between many members of the Faculty and the students under them; it gives the only means of keeping in close touch with the affairs of the college world.

In beginning its fourteenth year, the CRIMSON hopes for the renewal of that hearty support which it has hitherto received, and at all times endeavors to deserve, at the hands of the college.