A municipal court has ruled that selling "decent wine" is to be distinguished from dealing out bad moonshine, in that it merits only half as large a fine. The effect of this decision on the liquor law is still uncertain, but the same principle might profitably be incorporated into college policy.

In the first place, "intellectual bootlegging" would undoubtedly be affected; the authorities would hardly inflict the extreme penalty on a student guilty of selling notes, if his wares were an intellectual achievement. Widener would scarcely suspend permanently the privileges of a man for defacing a book, if the comments he inscribed in the margin were pithy or well-taken. Professors would be inclined to adopt a graded system of epithets to hurl at those who happen to go to sleep during their lectures, depending upon the general interest of the discourse. The penalty for wearing a hat into the classroom might even be lightened, if the particular hat were modish and worthy of being exhibited. And Yard "cops" will no doubt allow a certain latitude to Rinehart devotees, provided their cries are particularly melodious.