Who will be so bold as to criticize the lack of interest in studies at Harvard after reading the communication from Mr. Lane which we print in another column? Many earnest individuals not content with monopolizing the air and books of Gore Hall for hours at a time must needs appropriate for their exclusive use the volumes most in demand. As long as they are actually using the books no one can severely censure them except for dullness; but when they attempt to found a private library by stealthy and underhand methods, it is time for all fairminded frequenters of the Library, as well as the less studiously inclined, to constitute themselves into a detective agency and bring the offenders under the fire of public opinion, if not of more summary justice.

Infinitely more humiliating is the permanent disappearance of books from the shelves of our libraries. We hope that some outsider is responsible for these thefts, but the continuance of these losses points to some unworthy member or members of the University. No one who has any sense of loyalty to the University should hesitate to report any information which would lead to the discovery of the guilty parties, for the sooner an example is made of some flagrant offender, the better it will be for the Library and for the great majority who use it legitimately.