The appearance of the football notice to the Freshman class, which we publish in another column, is an unfortunate beginning for 1901's athletic record. Out of the largest class which has yet entered the University, only some fifty men-or little more than half of last year's number-have come out to play football.

There seems to be an unfortunate failing, a sort of blindness which suggests mental weakness, that takes a firm grip on large numbers of Freshmen every year. They have to be told upon all possible occasions where they can do most to benefit themselves, and there is no end to the necessity of prodding them on to do things which they ought to have sense enough to do of their own accord. If there is one thing which can put a new man at Harvard in the way of making friends with his classmates and can give him a dignified and respected position before the College public, that one thing is to make for himself a creditable record on the football squad. For this consideration alone, then, even those who are incapable of bestirring themselves for the sake of their class, and for the sake of their college-for it deeply concerns the prestige of the University itself to maintain the high Freshman athletic record of the past-would do well to enter the competition for places on the Freshman team. They owe it to the college, to their class, and as a mere question of intelligent policy, of self interest if they will, they own it to themselves.

Now once for all let members of this year's class wake up to a realization of their opportunities. Upper classmen are weary, and so is the CRIMSON, of reiterating the advice, as old as it is sensible, to try for your class teams."