FOOTBALL TALK.

Last night in Sanders Theatre Theodore Roosevelt spoke before a most enthusiastic audience of Harvard men on the subject of Harvard spirit; how so to play for Harvard that the University shall be honored.

He said in substance.

Gentlemen, I have not come here to be pleasant and agreeable, but to point out where the Harvard spirit is lacking and how it can be changed so that each may do his duty in a way and spirit different from the past.

There is certainly an attitude of individualism, of selfishness in the Harvard spirit; this is a good thing to a certain point, but far better it is to sink one's own personality for a common object. We are all one huddle of sticks and if one breaks we all break; the surest way for one to raise himself is to raise and honor the college. It is not the man who only tries to benefit himself, but he who now fights best for Harvard, who makes Harvard his ideal, that will later make his country his ideal. Sometimes men say they try hard to do a good work, then do not receive social recognition. Surely he does not need more recognition than that which comes to him from being on a winning team. What does he want with the little, when he has the big reward? If he is a man he will know that he has done his duty, that he has fought a good fight and that will be sufficient reward.

It is not the critic that we want, it is the hard worker, the man who has the cause at heart, who has the fighting spirit and who feels his veins thrill when Harvard scores a goal, that is the man we need.

Every individual fellow owes a debt of gratitude to a man who has the qualities of mind and body to make the team and who plays for Harvard.

He reflects honor on us all and holds the interests of all of us in his hands. Therefore he has no right to be satisfied with merely making the eleven. He has won great honor, but he must make up his mind to do his best, to strain every nerve for the team. No man who is one of Harvard's representatives and who fails to do his duty, should be lightly pardoned by his fellows.

We all feel the greatest respect for those who have done their duty, who have gamely fought an up-hill fight, and though defeated, left no stone unturned by which they could ensure success. Then if we are defeated, don't explain, don't excuse it, but bear it like men, grimly and silently, and go into the struggle next time with more unflagging perseverance and a deeper determination. Yet victory is better than the most honorable defeat. Do not adopt the theory that it really doesn't matter whether we win or lose, for it does matter and it rests with all to neglect no detail, to support the captain heart and soul so that the team may line up hereafter with the spirit of "win we must and will."

Dr. Bradford, member of the athletic committee, after Hon. Theodore Roosevelt's speech thanked him in the name of Harvard for his presence there, and added that we all know that we have suffered humiliation for many years of defeat but this ought not to discourage us, but simply mean a preparation for a final victory.