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To the Editors of the Crimson:
I suppose only those of us who were forced to sit at the end of the field Saturday could fully appreciate the great superiority of the Yale cheering, which must have much encouraged their team. This was partly due, no doubt, to the fact that their cheerers were better massed, but that alone does not explain it, for the volume of the Harvard cheer was greater than that from the opposite stand. The trouble was, I think, that our "Three long Harvards and three times three" is slow, drawling, and unenthusiastic. It typifies everything which Harvard is not, although fairly representing what our enemies think we are.
The insufficiency of the cheer was never better shown than in the last few minutes of the game when time was precious and the eleven needed, if it needed anything, to be urged to quick, snappy play. Then the nervous, bubbling enthusiasm of the great south stand was throttled by those three long slow "Harvards" and nine slow "rahs," while even the band struck up "Fair Harvard" to the tune of a funeral dirge. For such occasions we want a quick, snappy yell--something inspiring and encouraging to nerve on our teams. I suggest that, before we forget the necessity of it, the class presidents appoint a suitable committee to compose or receive proposals for a cheer which shall better voice our collegiate enthusiasm. '97.
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