The first football mass meeting of the year, held last evening in the Union, was remarkable for the enthusiasm shown by the crowd, which filled the Living Room and overflowed into the adjoining halls. The long and short cheers were given with great spirit under the leadership of J. D. White '07, and J. J. Rowe '07 led in the rehearsal of last year's football songs.

J. D. White, the first speaker, said that the coaches are doing all they can to develop the team, and the members of the University must give the team their support by spirited cheering at all the coming games.

Coach Reid expressed his appreciation of the hearty support given the team last year, and spoke of its prospects for this year. The new eligibility rules were hard on Harvard, he said, as four of the men who were counted on to play on the team this year were made ineligible. For this reason, a great deal of time has been spent on elementary work and the development of new material. The great characteristic of the team this year is the spirit of good fellowship among its members, a spirit which is invaluable in the development of good team work. There have been very few injuries owing to the principles inaugurated last year by the coaches, and a better opportunity has thus been given for getting the whole team together. There is also less drudgery about the work this year owing to the short periods of practice, and more spirit has been put into the game. The team is led by an able and efficient captain, one of the best Harvard has ever had.

The team usually gets strong support only at the end of the season, but it needs just as much in the middle of the schedule, during the formulative period. What the team wants is good support without criticism. Last year there was a great deal of grumbling and criticism, and the coaches were accused of favoritism. You men must feel confidence in the coaches, and trust us to pick the team. If anyone has any criticism to make, let him make it direct to head-quarters, and an explanation will be given him. The team this year is typical of Harvard, and as such it should be heartily supported.

Captain Foster spoke of the attempt which has been made this year to give members of the visiting teams a more friendly reception than in former years. They have been introduced to their opponents on the Harvard team, and both teams have run on to the field together. This has made the games more pleasant for members of both teams, and the idea will be carried out throughout the season. The men who will go into the game tomorrow, he said, are a stiff, gritty team, a team which will put up a good fight to win, and I hope that everyone who can will come to the game and encourage the players by singing and cheering.