THE GYMNASIUM QUESTION

Each year hundreds of plans for reforms and a few for betterments in the College equipment ate conceived and die a hasty death as soon as their patrons have withdrawn support. But of all those that dawned last year a certain healthy few are gradually emerging, even in these early weeks at College, from their summer hiding places. Not the least important of the few is the active campaign for a new gymnasium which started so auspiciously last year. The canvass made in the spring showed that the undergraduates were seriously interested in the project. Members of the Class of 1913, who know that they could never use the new building, pledged themselves to its support generously. So with the members of 1914 and 1915. With 1916 the case was different, for there was every likelihood of its members seeing the old Hemenway Gymnasium, so fine in its day but now out dated, replaced with a modern building; and they pledged themselves accordingly. The Class of 1917 will be called upon to pledge itself with the same expectation in mind.

But, though in that respect the classes have contributed from different motives, yet in another their purposes have been one: they are all anxious to make Harvard as famous today for a new Gymnasium as she was years ago when Hemenway gave her such prestige over all the colleges of the country. It is true that, compared with the total amount necessary to build the gymnasium, the pledges of the undergraduates have been small, yet, compared with their resources, they have been remarkably large.

And now, though they have done their duty financially, they are not losing interest in the plan. Instead, they are each day becoming more and more eager for the time when the final steps will be taken. Indeed, they are becoming impatient even their conversation frequently turns to the subject. And so we shall watch the canvass of 1917 with lively interest, hoping that its members will subscribe with the prospect of making good use of the building which is if such vital importance to us.