Advocate Pleasant and Interesting

A former editor, Theodore Roosevelt '80, writes the leading article of the current Advocate. In vigorous language he urges that Harvard "establish as part of its curriculum an efficient system of thorough military training." A minority of zealous pacificists last year were able, mainly through the CRIMSON to spread the impression, to use Mr. Roosevelt's phrase, that Harvard men were taking the lead the wrong way in having "anything to do with the absurd and mischievous professional-pacificist or peace-at-any-price movements." The CRIMSON'S policy has evidently been reversed, how ever, and the quick organization of the Harvard battalion proves that this minority has not succeeded in its efforts "tending to Chinafy Harvard."

Mr. J. T. Rogers '18 goes so far indeed as to write a hectic letter to the editor, "War--and the Millenium," in which he asserts that "War is the raging drink of life and death, or hell and heaven, pressed by the hand of a God of Battles into a full cup." He also confides to the editor, "I am an ancient cave-man in my inmost soul. My heart is hot to drink the cup of wrath, to press the rue from the drunken bowl." But President Wilson in his message says that "If our citizens are ever to fight effectively upon a sudden summons, they must know how modern fighting is done, and what to do when the summons comes to render themselves immediately available and immediately effective." It would seem advisable, therefore, to keep sober even for war, and be temperate in all things, even in the Harvard battalion.

The Harry Simmons, of Mr. Courtney's story. The Great Orator," is far from Mr. Roosevelt's "college sissy who disapproves of football or boxing because it is rough." At the mere thought of disturbing a lecture, "'By God,' he cried, 'if I must go then I'll go as a man should.'"

Mr. F. C. Nelson '16 and Mr. H. W. Rose '19 also offer entertaining stories quite in the Advocate tradition,--good undergraduate writing, unabashed and unashamed, agreeable reading rather than precocious "literature."

The bulk of verses shows a healthy interest on the part of the Advocate board, whose president, Mr. W. C. Sanger, Jr., '16, contributes perhaps the most distinguished poem, "To a Young Girl." Mr. Putnam '18, with "Storm," and Mr. Cutler '16, with a translation from Catullus, add good things to the number. In spite of an imitative and derivative air about most of these productions, patent confessions of the amateur's willingness of spirit and lack of skill, there is much promise and considerable present fulfilment. It is somewhat surprising not to find the poets rhyming about matters more pressing than the woods in Aiken, S. C., or a cavalier's song, with the Great War so near us that an ex-President of the United States writes on preparedness in this very number. Yet this number of the Advocate is, with its enterprise and entertainment, a magazine interesting and pleasant to read, suggestive in its editorials and stimulating in its most notable contribution.