The withdrawal of the Weld Boat Club from the National Association is a step which on general principles deserves commendation. The work done last summer by the Weld eight which rowed at Philadelphia was to a certain extent useful in that it offered the men a definite object for their efforts at a rather critical period in the club's history. It also undoubtedly provided a certain amount of valuable experience for a green crew.

Nevertheless, the wisdom of adopting such a policy, even under these peculiar circumstances, is, to say the least, doubtful. It is certainly stretching a point to enter a crew of college men representing a college organization in an event which takes place at a time when the real activity of the college has ceased, and its members are no longer engaged in their regular college work. Strictly speaking college athletics is meant to be an adjunct to college study. It should not be permitted to attain undue prominence during the season of serious college work, and it is a little inconsistent to continue it after that work has ceased. Such a course is particularly ill-advised when it necessitates an expense for transportation to a distance, and for training purposes. The effect is, on the whole, to exaggerate in the eyes of both the public and the college, the importance of the athletic side of college life.

We hope that in future the Weld crews will cut down as much as possible their list of non-collegiate competitors, and that they will row no more races during the summer vacation.