Review of the Advocate

The present number of the Advocate is timely. Editorials giving welcome to the new President and advice to the new Freshman are followed by an Inauguration Ode dedicated to President Lowell, and what is called an appreciation of the President by An Ancient Editor of the Advocate but is in reality an exposition of the present difficulties of the body academic at Harvard. Mr. William Phillips, Third Assistant Secretary of State, contributes a concise article on The Diplomatic Service of the United States which should be of distinct value to the student thinking of making that service his life work. Mr. Phillips has himself contributed towards raising the standard of both our consular and diplomatic services. Mr. Tinckom-Fernandez has a pleasant and facile swing in his Ballad of Harvard Square. His verse suggests Kipling, who has, above all writers of our time, caught the fancy of young poets and story-tellers. A story by Mr. Van Rensselaer, The Corward, also has a suggestion of Kipling, but more in the story than the style. The author could well try rewriting The Coward many times; at the end it should be very effective. Corners in York, by Mr. Huckel, describes a ramble in the old English city under the guidance of an eccentric local character. It is well told. It takes some lines, however, for the reader to decide which York is meant, the only New York, the English city, or the old English settlement in Maine. Mr. Schenck contributes a story, Fate and the Traitress, novel in situation. The reader is quite taken by surprise twice during the tale. A very good novel might well be made from this short story. Some rather blind verses on The Blind Angel, and reviews of recent books close the number.