Communication.

Editors Daily Crimson:

In connection with the timely editorial in the CRIMSON lately about the disagreeable noises that occur near the close of the recitations it may be well to call attention to those that occur just after their beginning. Tardy men frequently make a great deal of noise on entering and passing to their seats. In fact the exceptions to this rude habit are so rare in some classes that a stranger might easily suppose that Harvard men had set their own standard of conduct on this point. It is hardly necessary to say more by way of comment, than that besides its ungentlemanly character, this practice is decidedly annoying to students. and certainly even more so to instructors.

While I am complaining, not without reason, I trust, against abuses of privilege, I wish to add an emphatic protest against college "sponges." Doubtless there are occasional times when earnest men do not, for a sufficient reason, bring their text books to a recitation or lecture; in which case it is entirely proper to ask the opportunity to look on with a neighbor in class, or glance over his lecture notes at a later time. But when a man systematically fails to bring his text-book to the class room, or cuts one lecture out of every three, and then depends upon some generous class-mate to come to his relief, he becomes an unmitigated nuisance. For example, in a language course, wherein there is always considerable reading at sight, in which case one needs the entire use of his book to make valuable notes on the margin, it is a real hardship to a man to grant such a request, and it is nothing short of downright selfishness in any man who day after day asks this favor. In case one preserves the notes in all his courses in one binder, it is very troublesome to lend his notes in any particular course; yet there are men in college who fairly live off their more industrious or faithful class mates in just this way. It is hoped that such will abandon the practice at once.

R.