'Southern Mermaids' Triumph in Marathon

South House jocks took first place in the annual Radcliffe Swimming Marathon last week with a sweeping win over East and North Houses.

The "Southern Mermaids," as they are sometimes called, tallied 4761 laps during the five day contest, smashing all previous Marathon records.

East House opened with 1035 laps on Monday--a record number for one day. But South House pulled ahead Wednesday, and never lost its lead. North House finished third with 1055 laps.

Much of the credit for the South House victory, said one wet source, goes to the support of dorm head residents. For the first time in Marathon history, men were allowed to swim in the contest. South House male residents, said the source, not only swam but brought their wives.

South House can add its new trophy to the one standing on Barnard Hall's mantelpiece. That one, four years old, was originally nude, but now wears a black felt dress.