The Bookshelf

IF the imposing tomes of Professor Morison's history of Harvard appeal too ominous, if you are interested only in the amusing side of Harvard's 300 years, if you were involved last year in the Lowell House dining fare rebellion, then "Dicts and Riots" deserves a special place in your bookcase. Mr. Bevis has written an analysis of Harvard's history from 1636 to 1936 from the illuminating point of view of its students' alimentary canals.

Today peace strikes and student unions have supplanted the more practical and more effective rebellions against rancid butter and "fish with the gust in." Harvardmen no longer pound on in with the eternal leg of mutton, for beef now varies the diet. Our hardy forebears of the 17th century would blush with shame at our foppish assortment of tableware. Members of the Class of 1645 each had only one wooden spoon and one fork, the latter beeing used to nail one's single slice of bread to the table safely out of the reach of everyone else.

Mr. Bevis has no end of such little anecdotes, and his style of relating them is as light and pleasant as the matter he deals with. His method is to take up chronologically the administration of each president as seen from the window of the College Kitchen. According to him the College prospered in direct relation to the state of the culinary arts. Whether you believe his thesis or not, you will certainly enjoy his treatment.