Crew "Dope" and Articles on War in Current Illustrated

It is only natural that with the approach of spring should come the "Crew" number of the Illustrated. It is also to be expected that in these exciting times there should be the undercurrent of military spirit which appears in the Illustrated's pages. No one will deny that it makes good filler. But it is a "Crew" number, without doubt, a moderately good one, but not on a par with their "Auto Show" number.

The editorials will pass; they are neither striking nor hopelessly bad.

Coach William Haines of the crew contributes a short article entitled "Personal Reminiscences." Memoirs should always be of some length--if not, they appear sketchy and conglomerate. This is the chief fault with Coach Haine's article; it is too diffuse. But its material is interesting.

We can always be reasonably certain what a Westerner's idea of Harvard will approximate. But never do we realize just how far their derision will go until we read something of the nature of Mr. Carpenter's effort. This much we may say: The most of it is such arrant and superficial satire as to lose its sting. We can even laugh about it--especially the poor ignorant Westerner's difficulties with the Boston transit system, and the supposedly cutting remarks on Cambridge weather. Who, indeed, will go so far as to take exception at the latter? And, by the way, the supposed "sop" he throws out to our outraged feelings in his last paragraph is wholly unnecessary. Not only that, but it mars the delightful anathema which Mr. Carpenter has hurled at us.

Mr. F. P. Champ '19 would certainly give the impression of being an earnest worker for the Illustrated. As in the "Auto Show" number, he has contributed two articles--both unusually interesting and calling for no small degree of of research. In the first, "Harvard Racing Shells," he traces the development of the shell from 1846, when the first Harvard crew rowed in the clumsy lap-streak barge "Oneida," to the efficient shells of today--those which lower records, on the Thames at New London. In "From Watch Hill to R. O. T. C.," the part that the University has played in former preparedness movements is out-lined. It comes as an interesting bit of history to the casual reader.

The photographs, as usual, are well diversified and show good choice. Mr. Cunningham's sketches are decidedly pertinent in thought, but rather less efficient in execution. The "Crew" number is not brilliant--but it can surely hold its own.