It was suggested during the late discussion of the "Tree" exercises that none of Harvard's few old customs should be disturbed and that her old traditions should be preserved as far as possible, unless real valid objection to them or some unbecoming fault could be shown.

The strictest following of that suggestion, however, can hardly justify one old custom-the Memorial Hall custom of stamping whenever some thoughtless visitor in the gallery keeps on his hat. There is not dignity or point enough in the practice to make it worth the name of a Harvard custom. Few visitors know what the stamping means when it begins and only a part of them find out before it ends. The rest go away with strange ideas of Harvard manners. All in the gallery must feel uncomfortable and embarrassed to see several hundred men gaping and stamping at them as if they were on show. In the endeavor to prevent occasion for the stamping the directors of the Hall have posted conspicuously warnings to all men entering the gallery to remove their hats,- warnings which are indirectly insults to the visitors and slurs on our manners. They are a kind of "Beware-the-dog" sign, warning those who come "to see the animals feed" not to rouse those animals.

If the stamping occurred only when the visitors were unaccompanied by ladies the practice would be less obnoxious. But whether alone or with ladies, whether young or old, a man who thoughtlessly forgets to remove his hat is made the mark for all eyes and the unconscious cause of an outbreak of stamping. Old men whose age entitles them to more respect are treated like their youngers.

Some call those who keep on their hats impolite. So they are perhaps, but thoughtlessly, unintentionally. The few who keep on their hats intentionally do so, not to insult us, but to show us off, to put us through our paces, for the amusement of those whom they are showing the sights of Harvard. By noticing them we please them and make ourselves tools for their amusement.

But even if our visitors are impolite and insult us by standing with hats on in our private dining hall, we have no excuse for repaying them in kind. We should not top their impoliteness with actions more insulting than their own.