To the Editors of the Crimson:

Arthur Cumnock, shortly after the eleven, which he had for the first time captained, had been defeated by Yale, was seen one day outside the Gymnasium passing a football with two or three other men. When asked what he was doing he answered, "Getting ready for next year." And next year Harvard beat Yale. On each of those two years, at the close of the football season, the undergraduates gave the eleven a football dinner. At the first dinner they met to cheer an eleven which, though beaten, had done credit to Harvard; at the second to welcome royally a conquering team. At both the good fellowship and enthusiasm were unbounded. The first football dinner did much toward the victory of the next year and, more important even than that, aroused the desired spirit of interest in the University. It is needless to say that the second dinner was an event remembered by all who attended it as a worthy celebration of the victory.

Now why can not this custom of having a football dinner be revived? As Cumnock said, we must be getting ready for next year, and there is no better way to do that than by showing in a public way and as a whole that we are proud of our team. They did not win to be sure, but every man of them did his best, and from Captain Wrightington down to the last of the substitutes, we are still proud of them. "Strike while the iron is hot" is a good maxim. Such a dinner would also afford a very good chance to discuss what system is to be followed next year, and the Athletic Committee might well be invited to respond to such a toast as "Future victories and how to win them." Such a dinner will be a great success; it will give a chance to the University to repay in a small measure what the eleven deserves. Every man played his heart out for the University, and success or failure, while they may influence our spirits, should not, and I am sure will not, prevent a due recognition of the hard work these men have done for their Alma Mater. Beside, if we must needs have success to cheer, invite the Freshman team who have done so well and who as future "'varsity" players may be spurred to renewed effort.

A '93 MAN.