One hundred and fifty men are doing social service work in Phillips Brooks House this year; last year four hundred men were engaged in this work.

If the work done by Phillips Brooks House were dilletante slumming, if it consisted in a program of bazars, namby-pamby meetings, "sociables" and the other unfortunate features that often attend attempts at amateur social service, this falling off in interest could be understood. But the work done by Phillips Brooks House really accomplishes something. It has always been earnest and sane and has helped both the persons for whom it was done and those who did it.

Why, then, have men ceased to do this work? The war can't be blamed, for that increases, if anything, the desire of active young men to get into service of some kind. Perhaps it is the management of Phillips Brooks House; it may be that those in charge of the work have been a bit imperious and tactless in their attempts to enlist support among the undergraduates. Probably a large element in this lackadaisical attitude on the part of the students is sheer laziness and, overworked word, "indifference". That opportunities to do social service work, that is really service, should be so neglected is nothing short of shameful. The CRIMSON is not going to "urge" men to enter this work. It feels that if it is called to their attention in the right way, and its true worth pointed out, the number of social service workers will increase to at least respectable proportions.