The Yale-Harvard Freshman Game.

The following statement, made by the manager of the Harvard Freshman eleven, explains the peculiar relations which have resulted in the forfeiture of the annual foot ball game to Harvard, by the refusal of Yale to play the game upon the date agreed upon.

"To say the Yale freshmen have acted in a strange manner about our class game would be putting it mildly indeed. We feel that we have not had a fair deal in this matter, and, what is more. Yale can in no way justify her position. On the matter of choosing a date, we had absolutely no choice. Saturday, Nov. 15 and the morning of the day before Thanksgiving were the only times Yale would even think of playing. About three days before the 15th, we received a telegram saying, "Will play Saturday or not at all." This was the first hint we had that they even thought of that date. Of course on such short notice we declined, inasmuch as we were in no sort of condition and would furthermore be deprived of several men on account of the Princeton game. On receiving this answer the Yale men replied, "Will play the morning of Wednesday before Thanksgiving, or not at all." Now that, we call unreasonable. They knew we could not leave Cambridge any day but Saturday. Therefore we refused to play. In reply they said the class had voted not to play after Thanksgiving day, and intimated with the most charming nonchalance that they could hardly take our word for it, but would like a certificate that we could not play Wednesday signed by 2 members of our faculty. This was somewhat surprising; but within twenty-four hours the paper was in New Haven. Now how in the world, we could play before Thanksgiving, we should like to have somebody show us. Still Yale claims that they gave us every chance to play, and it was no fault of theirs if there was no game. But now comes the funny part. On receipt of our certificate those delightfully vacillating freshmen again assembled and voted to play on the 29th.

So they told one of our team who was in New Haven, and the game was thought settled. We made every preparation and on Friday morning were all ready to start, although we had no word from Yale in answer to our letters. Friday morning a telegram came from New York from one of our own men, saying there was to be no game. The class had had a third meeting and decided not to play after all. With beautiful disregard they here dropped the matter. They were not accountable for our actions-what mattered it if we all did come down to New Haven? By a mere chance we were saved the useless trip; it was no fault of theirs, though. Now we leave you to decide if the game is not justly ours?

But notwithstanding all this we challenged them again to play this week; we had worked for the game and hated to give it up. In answer we learn today that as the college is just in the midst of semi-annual examinations the team could not be got together. (Query, does Yale close in March, or is the second half-year a three-quarters?) With this, all our hopes for a game are at an end. Our team has kept training to the last, laboring under the vain delusion that Yale would finally give up child's play. We have been deceived.

B. W. PALMER, Manager Freshman Team."