Hundreds of Harvard students sat outside through the rain and cold of Friday night to section for limited-enrollment Nat Sci 6 the next morning, Seasoned observers, however, doubted the extent of their dedication science. Last spring William W. Howells '30 predicted his new lower-level course would "attract all the least energentic minds in the University."

The professor of Anthropology said yesterday he was "horrified" to hear of the unparalleled waiting line. "It's a terrible thing that they had to stay up all night," he said. Next year, he indicated, the course might be expanded to meet demand.

The line began to form at 9:30 Friday evening, when Choate graduate Arklay F. King '67 and his Hotchkiss-bred room-mate George D. Kappus '67 arrived with blankets, pillows, and an umbrella to take the first two places on line. At 10:15 two more young men arrived to take their places on the porch of Burr Hall. King reported that the first ten people on line were all from prep schools, and that seven of them came from St. Marks.

By 2 a.m. over twenty Harvard men armed with transistor radios, soda pop, peanut butter and rum were huddled on the porch. They had had visits from the police ("Just like lining up for theatre tickets, huh?"), eight town girls ("What're you guys doing up there?"), four young men from Cambridge in a car who threw eggs, and two freshman, deans. The students started a list of arrivees which was used as a guide by section men in the morning.

L. Fred Jewett '57, assistant dean of freshmen, explained that he was returning home with W.C. Burris Young '55, senior adviser to freshmen, when they noticed young people with blankets trooping across the yard. "The whole evening was sort of inconceivable," Mr. Jewett said. They posted a Harvard policeman with the campers.

At 5 a.m. there were 110 students, and at 5:30 Margaret L. Goodman '66 in blue-jeans, bulky white sweater, sneakers and socks was the first Radcliffe girl to show up. "I was amazed to see all those boys lying there," she said.

At 7 a.m. with 400 students waiting a near-riot started as late-comers attempted to get closer to the doors. One boy sold his place in line for $25. "I thought the course would be full, but not like this," Mr. Howells said. "Maybe I missed out on a good thing--I could have sold tickets."