Communication

To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

The review of the current Lampoon in a CRIMSON of last week was recently brought to my attention, and my reaction toward it. I think is natural. To my mind Mr. Code has rather overstepped the bounds of good sense in writing a "slam", as he himself confesses, in lieu of a formal review. It is with his attitude that I disagree, and I would like to call attention to several rather important lapses in which Mr. Code has indulged.

If any review be considered as such, it must be a complete criticism of each point of the thing reviewed. The Lampoon review seems only to consider the jokes and the verse of the issue, neglecting entirely the drawing, the editorials, the general make-up of the sheet, etc. In reviewing (sic) the jokes Mr. Code un-burdons himself of the old Clemens theorem of surprise in humor; yet he forgets that there is no surprise in the oldest and most honored joke in the language. His platitude of rime polishing the point of humorous verse is apropos but not of sufficient moment as constructive criticism. Indeed there can be little constructive criticism in a reviewer who merely throws up his hands and groans.

Furthermore, I believe Mr. Code's point of view is wrong. He does not seem to realize that the Lampoon is a club which prints its thoughts in an irresponsible way in the organ it has founded for that purpose. It tries to keep away from the atmosphere of a publication office, and its literary pretensions are consequently ingenuous and insignificant. The members of this club enjoy seeing their works in print; this enjoyment is the only return for their trouble. Why the magazine should have been compared to "Life" I cannot see. The CRIMSON might as well be compared with the Transcript. Moreover, if Mr. Code wishes to compare, why does he not place the Lampoon against the "Sour Owl", the "Orange Owl", the "Tiger" or some other less zoologically named paper of humorous character? As for Lampy's boast of being the father of "Life", I would like to call Mr. Code's attention to that quotation which has something to say about the child being father to the man.

It must be understood that while I was in college I had no affiliations with the Lampoon beyond the subscription list, so my personal feelings are untroubled by Mr. Code's tirade. Lampy, I think--and I am not alone in this opinion--, is at a point of development which is nearer to the type of a professional humorous publication, however, than any other representative of collegiate wit, and I think also that Mr. Code, if he takes a dose of pepsin and another look at the sheet, will agree with me. I am, sir, Yours etc,   G. EMMONS '16 Concord, N. H., Feb. 6, 1922.