Those Harvard's in the know have been making an awful fuss about their swimming team. Extravagant embryo bets have been the order. Our fellow columnist, in his locker-room ballad of Dartmouth reported the Crimson lads swimming in Hanover during the Carnival, were all offering even money. But we've not seen any of that money come out of Boston. And right here we'd like to put in our bid for some of that loose-flying Crimson coin.

But we don't believe it is loose-flying. In fact the Cantabs seem suddenly to have disappeared with all their lucre; vanished in the manner of Handsome Dan. The latest and best odds we could muster were three to two, which is after all a fifty percent price rise. Perhaps the men from Lowell and Dunster Houses are getting an attack of the jitters, or maybe their previous offer was just one of those Carnival necromances.

Kiphuth and Jinxes

More likely, though, the Kiphuth tradition has them worried. It's almost as bad as the Dartmouth jinx. Only, the legend that Bob has built up is not based on luck. There are long and tedious grinds through the tank, novel exercises and constant experimentation.

To get back to the matter of odds--they were high like that last year too. In fact every Harvard men we've met in the last few years has predicted victory for their outfit. This year doesn't seen to be any exception to the rule, but the Crimson chances are definitely improved. Hutter and Cummin have been looking awfully good and they ought to cop their specialties But it won't be any cinch for either. Bob pulled one out of the hat when he unleashed Ralph Penn for the short dashes. Ralph is a Senior, now, and has been inactive for a couple of years due to scholastic troubles, but he is potentially one of the greatest short distance men in this country.

Connie Mittendorf, too, may surprise. The Maestro of Payne Whitney considers him one of his greatest competitions. When a job 's got to be done, he just sets out and does it with tremendous spirit. Down at Navy, he came within one second of the record for the 100-yard long-pool race.

Final Calcium Comments

And then of course there are Dick Cooke and Johnny Macionis and Charlie Rogers. Charlie, by the bye, may be another ace in the hole. He's been doing some remarkable swimming in practice, and has not yet reached his season's peak. We'll only drop a hint--Charlie was a good Freshman back-stroker.

No matter what the outcome, the meet should be one of strategy plus. Both the coaches are old hands at suddenly pulling rabbits out of hats, and swimmers out of obscurity. And with strategy the keynote--the question, one of outguessing one another, my chips are colored Blue--on past experience.

So come on Harvard. We'll take anything up to five to three. REFEREE.   The Yale News