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To the Editor of the Crimson:

I was much interested in the speech of Professor Morison at the annual dinner of the Harvard Club of New York, as reported in the February 28 issue of the Alumni Bulletin, anent the presentation by the Club to President Conant of the second oldest Harvard diploma in existence, awarded to Samuel Mather in 1701.

Now I have no wish to take issue with Professor Morison as to the beauty of the diplomas presented last year--they are adequate. But as one of those "sons of younger brothers" who were last June admitted to the company of learned men, I feel I have a very definite grievance as to that scrap of paper that I spent four years of toil to acquire. Let me quote from Professor Morison; "The signatures of this diploma (Mather's) are very interesting. First comes President Mather signed in his best Latin style, Crescentius Matherus". I look at the 1935 diploma before me. The signatures are far from interesting. They might be on a receipted bill or a squash court reservation, so informal are they: J. B. Conant, W. J. Bender.

I may be several generations behind, but to me this is about as impressive as if it read: "Yours, Jim", or something o the sort. The signatures, cursory and business-like as they are, suddenly give the whole document a startling and incongruous informality, almost a flippancy, not at all compatible with the dignified Latin preceding them, or with the dignity of the occasion they seek to record.

If this new degree bears such a "very marked resemblance to Sam Mather's" of 1701, why completely destroy the effect at the very end? I don't propose that the President be requested to sign himself "Jacobus" if he doesn't want to, but wouldn't the dignity of the diploma be enhanced considerably by the benefit of at least the first name of the chief representative of the illustrious institutions that grants it?

This is a small detail, but considering that his diploma is about all a graduating senior has to show for his four years in college, outside of a financial headache, I think it deserves a little more pains. Mightn't a polite request to those in charge do the trick? I feel it is a pity that the oldest college in the country should present its graduates with an instrument that compares unfavorably in dignity to the degrees of "Chirotonsor", which are so prominently displayed in the Copley Plaza barber shop. Arthur M. Jones, Jr. '35