To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

The editorial which appeared in these columns Wednesday, in attempted refutation of the communication also printed on that day, presents an admirable example of persuasive argument to English A students. The author is most surprisingly correct when he says, "Meeting other men, knowing them, and their ideals, making life-long friends, are truly as important as "booklearning." But if freshmen, who were known to be of necessity working over the evening dinner hour, were allowed compensation for the meals they missed, how much of the much-vaunted fraternizing would be lost? In Smith dining hall there are four long tables; in Standish, and in Gore, three. How much fraternizing can be done from one table to another?

The absence of those that are working will not keep the rest from enjoying this fraternity. Well then, I suppose the next argument is that this great advantage is lost to those who are working, the very ones for whom this fraternal feeling in the dormitories is intended. But, if the needy students cannot work, they cannot stay here, and eventually they lose the afore-mentioned advantages. I again take the liberty to quote from the editorial, "all men must be able to get the best that Harvard can give, if they are here at all." In other words if one is here at all, he must have enough money so that he will not have to sacrifice the best that Harvard can give while earning enough money to stay here.

Someone will now probably exclaim that the college offers ample opportunity for afternoon and evening work without conflict with meals. Yes, but think of those with a talent for music who can only get positions in cafes and restaurants over the supper hour. It is a singular fact that instead of being a small minority, this class of needy students is of considerable size each year.

Coming back to the matter of fraternity, the loss of the evening meal does not mean as much as might be inferred. The meal at which the greatest amount of fraternity is evidenced, is breakfast, where the fellow who, by noon is usually groomed to perfection, rushes into the hall a half second before the door closes with his shoes untied and his hands fumbling clumsily in a vain attempt to got a collar and tie on. No mention need be made of the condition of his hair. Any one who has lived in the freshman dormitories knows well this hectic scene.

Where then does the privileged freshman lose this valuable fraternity? According to the author of the editorial, at one meal everyday; and he makes an argument out of a single meal. Then, assuredly he must also contend that fifteen minutes of dinner table fraternity is worth more to the needy student than five dollars. I think it is not, in most cases. It seems to me, an invitation by the deans to needy students to discuss their individual cases would be both beneficial to the students and enlightening to the deans.  ROBERT S. KELLER '23. November 24, 1920.

(Mr. Kellar seems to have misunderstood the attitude of the Deans. Without extending an "invitation," they are always ready to talk over students' problems; and as regards the matter of Freshman Dining Halls, have announced that all efforts will be made to aid the student in obtaining employment such as will not interfere with regular college life. ED.