MAY THE ANGELS SING

By choosing two such capable leaders as Dumas Malone and Henry Nash Smith, President Conant has given the American Civilization Plan a new lease on life. After drifting along without unified direction since Professor Buck's resignation as chairman a month ago, the Plan is at last in efficient hands. Those hands have a clear task ahead of them, for they must resuscitate an idea which has all but perished from administrative neglect and unfavorable publicity.

Although the appointment of the director of the Harvard Press as chairman of the American Civilization Plan is no doubt surprising to many, those familiar with Dr. Malone's record can only appland the selection. As historian, professor, and editor-in-chief of the Dictionary of American Biography, he has amply qualified himself for his new status.

An equally fortunate choice is the Plan's executive secretary. Ranking Counselor Smith has the experience, the energy, and the time to make of himself an admirable liaison and field officer for Dr. Malone. President Conant's creation of the secretaryship was a wise adjustment to the practical needs of the situation.

While the Plan's anonymous financial angels thus have reason to rejoice, mere appointments are not sufficient to insure the Plan's success. In the undergraduate mind the Plan is still associated with the notion of "study" which the Bliss examinations represented. Although these have happily been abolished in favor of short essays for the same appealing prizes, it remains for the Chairman and the counselors to "sell" Harvard on the American Civilization idea.