The Advocate.

Although several of the contributions to the fourth number of the Advocate, which is out today, are decidedly mediocre, the issue as a whole may be considered as fairly good. The editorials treat of topics of every day interest to Harvard men, and the final one in particular gives an excellent exposition of Harvard's attitude to the dual league. The editorials are characterized by a conciseness and perspicuity which many of the remaining articles in the number need.

The best piece of prose in the number is the "The Light-House Keeper's Story." It is a plain, unvarnished tale of the sea, with little plot. The chief charm of this brief story lies in its smoothness of diction and naturalness of sentiment. It is less ambitious than either of the others of the author's contributions to the Advocate, but it is characterized by the same simplicity of style.

The "Four Sketches" possess little merit. Perhaps the sketch of "Oblivious of Narka" is the best of the four although even this does not rise above the dead level of mediocrity. With this possible exception, the sketches seem strained and unnatural, and especially applicable is this criticism to "A Surmise about Happiness."

As usual, the "College Kodaks" form a very interesting part of the number. The first is the cleverest and most animated of the four, and the second the most delicate in sentiment.

Under "Topics of the Day" some reflections are given upon the new picture in Memorial Hall, the picture in which Mr. Tiffany, taking a suggestion from the legend of St. Christopher, has represented the strong, manly power of our forefathers, carrying the infant of learning and intelligence across the dark sea of ignorance.

Mr. Corbin's "The Answer" is the only excellent bit of verse in the number. Though it is a translation, it is charmingly, simple and graceful. It would be just as well if the author of "Sonnet" had a more appropriate title for his verse. Most men who are at all familiar with poetry are not unaware that fourteen lines of a certain metre and rhymed in a certain way constitute a sonnet. This particular "Sonnet" has several lines badly accencentuted and some expressions hardly poetical. The "Triolets" are neither delicate nor dainty although they are as good as many of the triplets one meets. "A Song" is fairly graceful, although it exhibits no originality of thought.