CRIMSON FINISHES GUIDE TO COURSES

The Crimson concludes its seventh annual Confidential Guide to courses in today's issue. More than 60 courses have been reviewed in the last four numbers of the Crimson. Every large course and the majority of the more widely known courses have been considered.

Where courses have been revised without the knowledge of the Crimson, no responsibility can be taken for errors arising from the misconception.

Economics 4a

Economics 4a is of value to the student taking a correlation examination in government regulation of industry. It covers this subject from the economist's point of view in a most thorough manner as far as railroads are concerned. When combined with Economics 4b it covers the subject from the economist's angle as thoroughly as possible in a one year's course.

In addition to giving a competent knowledge of railroad regulation it explains the economics of railroads equally thoroughly. The theories of rates, of valuation, are included.

But while the course covers the subject so adequately, this knowledge is given largely through the reading. This part of the course is excellent. A text book is used to give the basis and reading in other books supplements this. This reading period work is exceptionally well arranged, allowing the student to choose his field of study from several subjects.

The lectures are quite inadequate, especially when compared to the reading assigned. They do clear the course up to a certain extent, they are too boring to attend for six or seven times waiting for some clarifying information.

Economics 9a

Concentrators in money and banking will find Ec. 9a valuable in the understanding of International Trade and foreign exchange. There is a considerable amount of reading in the course which is of primary importance, the lectures being mostly rambling explanations and illustrations of that which is not totally clear in the reading. Ample opportunity is given for discussion and argument by Professor Cole; and all aspects of controversial subjects are discussed.

For those who keep up with their work until November hours and grasp the subject by that time, the rest of the course will be easy. Good marks at the hours will carry one through. It is only difficult if the first weeks' reading is neglected.

An understanding of this course makes the second half year of Ec. 3 much easier.

English 3a

To the student concentrating in English who intends to continue in the graduate field English 3a is an indispensable course provided, however, he follows it in the last half-year with English 3b, Mr. Kittredge's course in Beowulf. To conclude one's study of Old English with 3a is to parallel the almost proverbial observation about ending one's classical career with Caesar. It is an elementary course conducted at breakneck speed to enable the student to do considerable reading in the chronicles, leechdoms, and the amusing lives of the saints. Then there are occasional bright spots in the form of informal lectures on various linguistic phenomena and interesting etymologics. Mr. Whiting, who has hitherto assisted in the course, has full charge of it this year and his previous competence promises well for its success.

German 4

German 4 is a full course devoted to studying the works of Goethe. As such it should, for obvious reasons, be the outstanding course offered by the department. That it falls short of being this by a wide margin is something to be regretted. The main fault of German 4 is the fact that two professors give it, thus destroying all unity and presenting two widely divergent methods of teaching.

There is nothing wrong with the first half of the course. Professor Walz has a charming manner of presentation, his half-hour lectures in German are delightful, and he possesses an intimate, if not scholarly knowledge of the subject. He knows Goethe and has a sincere admiration for him. He tries to convey to the class the spirit of Goethe's writings, to make the students feel the intensely human quality of them. What is more, he wants the class to appreciate it as German literature, to read it and think of it in German, and not to consider it as merely an advanced exercise in the translation of excellent German. Professor Walz has a living, personal interest in German culture and he tries to excite a similar interest in his class.

It is unfortunate for the student that "Faust" is read in the second semester. Why Professor Walz--who gives a course in the Faust legend (Comp. Lit. 8)--does not treat Goethe's masterpiece in his half year is a mystery. This is the manner in which "Faust" is studied: One member of the class reads a dozen lines in German (three-fourths of the time this is poorly done); then the instructor reads a translation of the lines either from Bayard Taylor or Anne Swannick! No comment follows this performance and no attempt is made to explain or give an exposition of one of the greatest pieces of literature. If this is university teaching then French 2 should be a course for graduates only.

Government 4

Government 4 is as listed in the catalogue of courses, the study of the elements of international law. At the outset, warning should be given that students who are not prepared to devote more than the usual amount of time to this course in order to get a good understanding of the field of international law should not enroll. Every 10 days each member of the class writes a report on a class case. These reports are what consume most of the student's time since they involve a lot of fruitless searching through library books before the needed material is found.

Even though the hours spent on this course are long, the work seldom becomes irksome. Professor Wilson makes the classes interesting by propounding hypothetical cases which are the subjects of class discussion. Only two or three times throughout the year are the class periods taken up by lectures.

Government 4 is not only recommended to those who are concentrating in the special field of international relations and diplomacy, but students of history will gain by taking it a clearer understanding of many historical situations. Others may acquire from it an insight into the news of the day. It may be considered as one of the most worthwhile courses in the Government department.

Government 13a

The origin and development of the American political and constitutional