President Eliot and Professor Hollis spoke in the Fogg Museum, last evening, under the auspices of the Harvard Union, on athletics. President Eliot's address was a statement of his own opinion with regard to athletics and their place, and also an exposition of the position of the Corporation. He was preceded by Professor Hollis of the Athletic Committee, who spoke of the functions of that body, in part, as follows:

The chief function of the Athlelic Committee is to exercise guidance over contests in the field. By guidance is not meant an unfriendly interference with the games, but a kindly aid, with a firm development of athletics for the future. In the past, athletics have led to vicious practices and guidance became necessary.

In 1882 a committee on athletics of five members from the faculty was appointed and a report made. In 1888 a further report from another committee followed, and the governing board placed in charge the present committee of nine members-three from the Faculty, and three from the graduates, appointed by the Corporation and Overseers; and three from the undergraduates chosen by them. The duties of this committee are broadly divided into three parts-to see to the standing of the men as amateurs, the health of the men, and the grounds to be used. It was recognized that when sports become business instead of pleasure they become a menace to be done away with.

This committee is not to do certain things. It is not to play games, to arrange for them, or to act on agreements, except when it is necessary; and this the committee does unwillingly. It is not to organize teams or supervise them unless necessary. In short, it is to control rather than develop winning teams.

The real functions of the committee are best shown by the rules about to be published. One important clause of these rules states that any student may present a petition on any subject which comes under the jurisdiction of the committee and be heard in support thereof. The eligibility rules are the growth of the experience of twenty years. Not one has been laid down without sound reason. That which states that no one may represent the University in any contest, unless he is a bona fide student, would have seemed a great hardship twenty years ago. In regard to probation, it has seemed that a man who is eligible to play is just as much at fault if he gets on probation as if he breaks training. Although question has been made with regard to the rules about schedules, the committee thinks them wise. They are an aid to the captain, not a hindrance. The committee aims to take the responsibility of athletic development away from the shifting student body.

The function of the committee is to guide energy. It wishes good will

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