We believe that we are safe in assuming that the hockey team would hold practice in spite of the rain, if it were not for the unpleasant effect of warm water on ice. Yet rain seems to be the only excuse for the fact that the number of track candidates who reported yesterday for work held almost entirely indoors, was about one-third of the number who appeared for the first day's practice last winter. We do not believe that the track situation is in as serious a condition as these figures would indicate, and we hope that the next few days will bring the squad up to its normal size. In track more than in any other sport the apparently hopeless candidates have been given individual attention. This has been due partly to the fact that men are able to report at various times during the day, but more to the unflagging interest of coaches and trainer in men who, in most cases, take part in track athletics for exercise alone. The results of this individual attention are shown now and then by the development of point winners from hitherto untried material. Even greater advantages are those which appear only in the physical improvement of men who, if ignored in track, would abandon all regular exercise.

This spring it is imperative that all men of known ability and many others whose calibre is untried should give their spare time to the track team. In addition to the usual desire to defeat Yale there is the added stimulus of the nine-year trophy, which will become the permanent property of the team winning this year's meet. Our poor showing in intercollegiate meets should be a further incentive. In view of the importance of brilliant individual performers in this meet, our chances do not seem very bright. This is too far ahead to waste time on prophecies, however. Now is the time to act and to lay the foundation of a team which will deserve to be ranked among possibilities for a place near the head of the list.