Communications.

EDITORS DAILY CRIMSON. - When the freshmen are assailed on every side with so many charges, it seems almost to be treason for one of their number to join in the assault. But forbearance certainly ceases some time to be a virtue and this time seems to have been reached in the matter of the conduct of certain members of English A. The catalogue states that this course deals with the theory and practice of English composition. But some who are taking the course evidently think that it deals with the theory and practice of English conversation, especially with the practice, at least one would infer so from the conduct.

The talkers invariably arrive late and their seats are always far from the door. They are seen beyond a doubt (if they desire that), but unfortunately they are heard too. In time they reach their seats, there is a pause for a moment and then the conversation begins. The range it takes is wide: one morning the freshman crew, the glee club, the banjo club, theatres, sport in general and the triumphs of one of the speakers in society, were discussed in the compass of forty minutes. At the last topic the talkers usually stop and for the ten minutes that remain of the hour, their neighbors enjoy a long wished quiet. Meanwhile how do the lecturer's word reach the unfortunate men who sit near those I have described. Something in this fashion: - "Let me give you an example of metornymy, he is certain to get on the crew. Care should be taken in the use of personification, and - in stringing your banjo. I think you will easily see that the writers purpose has been defeated - in three rounds. Personification often lends picturesqueness and - she's a daisy." Is scacely need to point out which are the instructor's words and which those of our talkative friends.

One cannot but ask for an explanation. Doubtless a member of the upper classes would say: - "They are freshmen and so know no better. But as a freshman I dismiss this answer with the contempt it deserves. For my own part, I can devise but one explanation. Probably the men who converse are so thoroughly familiar with the principles of English composition and are so skilled in the practice of it that little, if anything can be added to the knowledge and skill they already possess. Being thus raised so far above us who have not attained this intellectual height (the "ignoble vulgar" as it were), they altogether for, get that we should like to hear the instructor's words, even though we lose the pleasure and profit of our friends' conversation. Let them not scorn us but pity us and aid us to reach their intellectual eminence.

Finally in all seriousness, the annoyance caused by the amount of random conversation in English A., despite the instructor's gentle remonstrance, is sufficient to warrant an open statement of it and an appeal to the CRIMSON to rebuke the talkers.

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