The Yale Letter.

NEW HAVEN, Jan. 27.The past week has been the most brilliant one socially of the college year at Yale. This year as usual "Prom. week" was ushered in by the winter concert of the Glee and Banjo Clubs. Monday evening at the Hyperion Theatre. Immediately following the concert the senior and sophomore class germans were held. The former took place in Alumni Hall and was led by F. B. Harrison '95, of New York. C. E. Heffelfinger '97 led the sophomore german, which was given in Warner Hall. About seventy couples took part in each. On Tuesday afternoon a junior german reception was held and in the evening the junior german took place. It was led by A. P. Stokes '96, of New York, about one hundred couples participating.

Wednesday afternoon was largely taken up by teas which were given by many of the societies of the Sheffield Scientific School. In the evening the Promenade was held at the Second Regiment Armory and made a splendid finale to the week's festivities. The decorations were elaborate and artistic. The members of the Promenade committee were: A. E. Foote, A. P. Stokes, Jr., M. Griggs, S. B. Thorne, J. H. G. de Libour, R. B. Treadway, W. S. Miller, J. B. Neale, and H. Twombley.

Yale's fifth successive defeat in joint debate with Harvard was extremely discouraging to all who wish to see this university come to the front in oratory. A large majority of the undergraduates here, however, are not interested in debate. They do not realize its importance. The facilities here for the acquirement of forensic training are admittedly very much inferior to those enjoyed at Cambridge, and it is now generally recognized at Yale that a beginning must be made higher up; that the deficiency in the college curriculum must be remddied.

In athletics little progress has been made during the week. The work of the university and freshman crews has varied little from the usual daily practice in the tanks, followed by calisthenics in the gymnasium. Owing to the unfavorable weather, much of the out-door work has had to be omitted. The university crew candidates have not been rowing in the tank in any regular order, but have been changed about frequently so as to give each man a trial for the different positions in the boat. The same thing is true to a certain extent in regard to the freshmen, although of late they have been rowing together in the first boat as follows: Stroke, Tweedy; 7, Brewer; 6, Langford; 5, Ireland; 4, Cadwalader; 3, Monk; 2, Noyes; bow, Gerard.

Fifty-four men presented themselves on Thursday in response to Captain Hickok's call for candidates for the track athletic team from the freshman classes. The remaining candidates for the team will be called out on Monday, January 28. Twenty-nine members of last year's team are still in college, and if several good sprinters can be developed from the new material, Yale's track athletic team this year should be a good one.

THE YALE NEWS.