A Square Meal

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Recently I read a story in your paper expressing disapproval of the new trays that have been ordered for the mess halls. I am distressed by your opposition to progress, because, although I seldom complain against the local mess hall (in fact, I take solace in the prospect that the children who can stand no cooking but their maid's or mother's, will soon eat in mess halls that will make them yearn for Ptomaine Tessie and the K-house Consolidated), I have been mightily distressed by the present tray situation.

As you may know, the present trays were made when the metal shortage got rough during the war, by grinding up salvage GI socks and underwear turned in by the heroes of the late conflict, embedding these in a plastic matrix and coating the whole with a thin coating of superior smooth plastic in much the same fashion as in the old Columbia victrola records. Now I'm not squeamish, and I have great faith in the miracles of modern science, so I'm not disturbed by the fundamental arrangement. (I am told by a friend from Adams House that Irene was utterly horrified when this was revealed to her.) But as a result of many years of violent GI-ing with harsh abrasives and caustic merchandize, the upper layer of fine plastic has been eroded away, exposing the layer of textiles below. Now this leads to two hateful features: First of all, I object to having ravelings of socks in my food, however sterile they may be. But worse yet, the porous fabric becomes impregnated with organic remains of previous meals, and I suspect the resultant deposits of rotting material, socks and food together, form a fine breeding ground for more than one case of the GI's.

I am highly pleased that the mess hall people are taking corrective action, however belated. As a civic-minded institution, you should offer praise, not criticism. Dwight B. Minnich '51