The Index for 1885-86.

The Index will be on sale Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the usual places. Never before has the volume been so promptly published, and because it appears thus early it will be all the more valuable to the college. After an examination of an advance copy, obtained by the CRIMSON through the courtesy of the editor, the following matters seem worthy of note.

The exterior of the volume is really excellent. The covers are neat, but none the less attractive, and their lack of elaborate design is quite consistent with Harvard custom and taste, while it is in strong contrast with the show and elaborateness displayed on similar publications by other colleges.

Opening the book one finds that several new societies have joined the long list, winning for themselves places in this interesting volume of college archives. The Harvard Monthly, the Art Club, the Ornithological Club, the Society of Amateur Photographers, the Shakspere Club, which it is supposed takes the place of last year's "Shakespeare" Club, the '88 Glee Club, the university and '88 chess Clubs, and the '86 Whist Club all appear as new organizations. The Art Club by its large membership, gives evidence of real prosperity; and the sight of the Harvard Monthly among the college publications is most welcome.

One club, the Holmes Club of the Law School, seems to have perished; at least it does not appear with the other clubs of its kind. The Theta Delta Chi has taken a policy exactly opposite to that of last year, for it announces only the members of the Society instead of only the officers. The societies for study and investigation in general, show marked progress by their increased list of membership. The Dining Association in particular, which may be regarded as an investigating society sui generis, has increased in numbers. The 740 of last year has become 753, the maximum number that the Dining Hall will accommodate.

The athletic data, records, and so forth, are conveniently arranged, and afford interesting and valuable study for those athletically inclined. This year they afford quite as pleasant and gratifying reading as the Harvard mind can wish for. Even the Cricket Club has victories recorded to its credit, and helps to swell the loud-echoing paeans of Harvard's successes in 1885.

This year's Index may well claim superiority over numbers of previous years in at least one particular. The "Directory of rooms in the college yard." pp. 172-180, cannot but be of value to the college at large. Certainly the "subscription fiend" will glory in it, and although his glory may be others' sorrow, still a really valuable feature of the Index should not be condemned for any such slight disadvantage. It is, however, a matter of regret that this directory was not made to include the more important buildings out of the yard, such as Holyoke, College House, Little's, Hilton's Block, and Beck.

In typographical appearance the book is all that could be wished. Slight errors will doubtless be found, but in such a volume of names and figures and general data, this is not surprising. That this year's Index is a success cannot be denied. To Mr. D. B. Chamberlain, '86, the editor, the thanks of the college are certainly due for a neat and well compiled volume.