SECTION MEETINGS DEFENDED

From an editorial in the March Illustrated we learn that the ambition of the present board is "first of all to interest undergraduates and thereby to educate and mould opinion." It is a pleasure to find how near the present number comes to meeting the test so laid down. Mr. Gannet's "Impressions of Berlin University" give us an unusually intimate picture of German student life. His observations are pointed and keen; indeed, such ones as, "The German is perpetually hungry," and, "Akademische Freiheit is the Veritas of the German University," are almost epigrammatic. There is also novelty in Mr. Lockwood's chronicle of his semi-scientific hunting trip in Alaska, though his account suffers somewhat from lack of detailed description and incident. The series of articles on customs in different colleges is represented by one this month on Massachusetts Agricultural College and we are inclined to agree with the author when he suggests that the most distinctive thing about such "distinctive" customs is that they are, after all, the "common property" of all institutions. "An Interview With Billy, the Postman" concerns our own traditions and is more worth while. The flowery style in which it is written will probably not prejudice many.

The contributions that aim "to educate and mould opinion" form an important part of the number. In Dr. Day's brief summary of the problems of section work he throws out the suggestion that the weaknesses of the present system have been caused by placing too little emphasis on human qualities in the appointment of section men. He further indicates the possibility of improvement in the future by co-operation with the Education Department. Dr. Day's practical experience gives weight to his conclusion that section meetings call for improvement rather than abolition. Mr. Bullard's defence of the athletic coach is also most timely in view of the recent attack on college athletics by Coach Courtney of Cornell and Principal Stearns of Phillips Andover. Mr. Bullard recognizes the difficulties of the situation and makes sound proposals to remedy them.

The photographs in this number seem to have been chosen with great care; yet some of them are not as sharp and distinct as they should be. The silhouette of Professor Harnack is so effective that it is to be hoped this form of illustration will be used in the future. By developing its art department with a little more boldness the Illustrated might add to the body of its magazine a variety that has been noticeably absent in the past.