In spite of his good resolutions not to attend classes, movies, or even to drink a drop during the Reading Period, the Vagabond will be lured from his books in order to hear Professors Spalding and Ballantine play Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in the Music Building at 10 o'clock today.

Writing about this Symphony Professor Spalding says:

"The Fifth Symphony in C minor, op. 67, is deservedly popular because it is so human; a translation, in fact, of life itself into the glowing language of music. Beethoven's emotional power was so deep and true that, in expressing himself, he spoke, like every great philosopher, poet or artist, for all mankind. Which one of us in his own experience, has not felt the same protests against relentless Fate that find such uncontrollable utterance in the first movement? Who, again, is untouched by that angelic message, set before us in the second movement, of hope and aspiration, of heroic and even warlike resolution, mingled with the resignation which only great souls know?

"The third movement (Allegro)--in reality a Scherzo of the most fantastic type, though not so marked--might well typify the riddle of the Universe. We indeed 'see through a glass darkly,' and yet there is no note of despair. Amid the sinister mutterings of the basses there ring out, on the horns and trumpets, clarion calls to action. While we are in this world we must live its life; a living death is unendurable. The Finale, Allegro maestoso, is a majestic declaration of unconquerable faith and optimism--the intense expression of Beethoven's own words, 'I will grapple with Fate, it shall never pull me down'--to be compared only with Browning's 'God's in His heaven, all's right with the world,' and the peroration to Whitman's Mystic Trumpeter, 'Joy, joy, over all joy!' No adequate attempt could be made to translate the music into words. The Symphony is extremely subjective; indeed, autobiographic."