AN ENCOURAGING GAME.

In spite of some evident weaknesses in the University team, the game on Saturday was distinctly encouraging. The victory did not come by the use of any unusual football strategy, but by the better execution of plays which have been used repeatedly in earlier games. This improvement was most noticeable in the strong defence offered to the attacks of the Dartmouth backs, and in the increased effectiveness of the offensive play when a score was in sight. The Dartmouth team was by far the strongest opponent met this season, and to have scored two touchdowns against it is no small achievement.

But while we give great credit to the team and to its coaches for victory over Dartmouth, it is to the game next Saturday that we look with greater interest. This year the Harvard-Yale game is to be a real championship contest between two teams that stand clearly above all the other teams of the year. As the two elevens are physically equal, the issue will depend on the more effective application of brain-work on one side or the other.

We have confidence in Captain Fish's team. The fact that the coaching system which was successful last year is practically unchanged, the eight victories already won this fall, and the consistent improvement from game to game, encourage us to believe that the season of 1909 will end as well as did that of 1908.