A NEW SONG NEEDED.

The announcement with regard to the football song competition has appeared none too early. Whether or not it was from lack of time, this competition last year was not productive of the desired results. It is not to be inferred that the singing during the season was a failure because of the fact that no song of lasting qualities was produced. The old songs were used again acceptably, and in fact the comment was not infrequently heard that the more the old songs were used to the exclusion of the new the better the singers as well as the listeners were satisfied. But this does not contradict the presumption that had a new song been written last year with the necessary vitality of rhythm adaptable to a large chorus it would have been taken up with an enthusiasm which the old stand-bys will soon fail to command. Half-hearted singing of unfamiliar songs is even worse than half-hearted cheering and infinitely more depressing. Last year it seemed as though the committee in charge of the competition were determined to gain something besides experience from their efforts, and accordingly chose five contributions by the elimination process, retaining these five as there was so little to choose between them. Such a situation is unwarranted for the old songs are still available and the dust is not so thick on them that they will not be rendered with hearty enthusiasm.

The man who will produce a true Harvard song in word as well as in tune-- that will have the martial air of victory coupled with the appealing tunefulness of good melody--that man will be a benefactor of no small consequence to the University. Perhaps it will be in this competition that such a one will find his opportunity.