Base-Ball.

The fact that the class crews are now upon the water shows that it will not be long before the weather will be warm enough to melt the little snow now upon the ground, and permit the candidates for the 'Varsity nine to practice regularly on Jarvis field. Before the nine goes upon the field it may be interesting to examine what the candidates have been doing in the gymnasium during the winter months preparatory to beginning active training out of doors.

The men who have been trying for places on the nine have not been put through such a vigorous course of daily exercise this year as has characterized the work of the candidates for past nines. It is still an open question if very strict training is of such great importance as many people think, and Capt. Willard decided early in the season that a light but systematic course was the one to be adopted. This course has been varied but little during the year and is substantially as follows: Three times a week the game of handball is practiced in the cage by squads of four men from fifteen to twenty minutes a day. As soon as the time for one squad is over and the next one is ready, the men go through a light dumb-bell drill, and then take a run at an easy pace of about seven laps. Four years ago hand-ball was not played at all in connection with the training of the base-ball nines, but now there is not a college in the country which professes to do any gymnasium work which does not require this exercise at least twice a week. An hour in the afternoon two days in the week have been devoted to sliding bases in the cage. Sliding to bases has been a part of the game of base-ball in which the Harvard nines of the past have been sadly deficient, a faculty which is now everywhere recognized as an important factor in a good all-round player. After the sliding, the dumb-bell drill and run on the track takes place as on any other day. A few times during the winter on very pleasant days the exercise has been varied in so far that the candidates were taken out for a walk across country. There has been no batting in the cage, as the light is bad and it is difficult for the batter to see the ball. Owing to the small size of the cage very little fielding and throwing have been done. In this respect the Yale and Princeton nines have a decided advantage, as each team has been practicing during the winter in large, well-ventilated and well-lighted rinks, removing in a great measure all the obstacles for free batting and fielding.

There is the material in the candidates for base-ball honors this year for a good nine, the only position which it may prove difficult to fill being that of pitcher, and it is rather more than the college should expect to find another man like Nichols or Smith. Four of last year's regular nine are now in college, and have signified their intention of playing this year, namely, Willard, Henshaw, Wiestling and Foster, and likewise the two substitutes, Holden and Choate. There is one thing, however, by which Harvard's opposing teams are greatly benefited, and that is that they are allowed to play with professional nine. Yale and Princeton have already arranged some half a dozen games apiece with professional teams during the month of April. In spite of these odds, it was only two years ago that Harvard succeeded in overcoming them, and with a sufficient amount of energy, perseverance and steadiness there is no reason why she should not make a good showing again this year.