The Harvard Football Season.

The Harvard football season virtually began in the spring, when for a few weeks Captain Emmons put to work the football aspirants not engaged in other branches of athletics. From those who made the best showing in the final scrub game, also from the other football players in college, and the best men on interscholastic teams, some 25 or 30 had two weeks of light training at Newcastle in July. For another two weeks in August, several of the quarterbacks and halfbacks were the guests of Emmons at Falmouth and played football daily. On September 17 the whole squad was asked to be in Cambridge. From this time until well into October additions were continually made to the list of candidates.

Until October, work was light, though increasing in severity. A new system of training, the scheme of Mr. Lathrop, trainer of the Mott Haven team, was adopted. His plan was to train the men gradually, making the work a little harder every day, so that not until today should the team be in the best physical condition. Other years have shown a strange contrast. Usually the players have been overtrained two or three weeks before the game. This year, while in no single instance have they shown enough endurance for a Yale game, they have had more endurance each new day, and with the exception of one or two new men, whose worrying has handicapped them, they are in better physical condition than a Harvard team ever was before on the day of the game with Yale. The scheme of sending the players off to Auburndale during the past week has proved beneficial, particularly to the new men.

October was a discouraging month. Mackie and Waters did not return until late, the new men trying to fill their places were playing poorly, and candidates were being injured daily. Four of last year's 'varsity players were so badly injured as to make them unfit for further service. Stevenson had his jaw hurt, Acton dislocated his elbow, Dunlop broke his collar bone, and Gray broke his leg. During October, too, the problem of the coaches changed. Early in the season there had been a dearth of rush line players, and a surplusage of backs. But with the return of Waters and Mackie, the improvement of the two Shaws, and the recovery of Emmons from a broken ankle, the line was strengthened remarkably. On the contrary, the halfbacks were doing poorly. In addition to Gray, Stevenson, Dunlop, and even Brewer and Wrightington were so badly hurt as to be laid off for several days.

By Nov. 1 prospects brightened. The forwards improved steadily, Brewer and Wrightington recovered, and some of the new backs began to show ability. By that date, all but three positions, left tackle, right guard, and fullback, were practically settled. Hoping that work in secret would do the team some good, the coaches announced secret practice. Since that time the eleven has improved steadily. Team work has received especial attention and is on the whole the best feature of Harvard's play this year. During the last week or two spare moments have been devoted to practicing new plays and "tricks."

The coaching has been more systematic than ever before. Dr. Brooks has been chairman and general advisor; Drs. Conant and Porter medical attendants; Lewis, Cranston, Crosby, Willard, Newell, Trafford coaches for special positions; Mr. Deland inventor of new plays; and Mr. Lathrop trainer in general.