The objections taken in one of this morning's communications to a recent CRIMSON editorial in regard to the attitude of the University toward the crew are based on a misunderstanding of the spirit in which that editorial was written. No attempt was made to excuse a defeat before it was received, nor was the ability of the crew underrated. Indeed we believe that Harvard has a better chance to win the boat race this year than for many years past. But we also think that there has been a too general idea that the crew would win this year as a matter of course; and, believing that over-confidence has been a fruitful cause of previous defeats, we simply wish to point out that the crew has worked under conditions this year which put it at a certain disadvantage, and which will make a victory all the more creditable. We sincerely regret it if anything has appeared in this column which can be construed as undervaluing the crew. The sole purpose of the editorial in question was to suggest to Harvard men that it takes more than one year's coaching on a new stroke to make the most of it, and that if the crew should lose this year in a fast race there is every reason to look for a considerable improvement in next year's crew.