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One of the professors suggests to us a simple point of college etiquette. At present, it is not rare for the most distinguished members of the University to go about the grounds without receiving any recognition from the students. This comes from two causes: The students have diffidence in being the first to make sign of recognition, in fear that the older man may feel inconvenienced to return the recognition; the older members of the University, on the other hand, are unable to distinguish among a great number of men such as should be known to them.

The result is an awkward hesitancy on both sides which is apt soon to be turned into a careless disregard. It is not right that such men as President Eliot, Professors Norton, Child, Goodwin, Lane and Whitney, and the distinguished preachers to the University should pass about among Harvard men with only an occasional recognition. Such men deserve to receive every mark of respect.

It needs only a bit of good sense to set the matter aright. From conversation with a number of the foremost men in the University, we are sure that, without exception, they would be glad to return any sign of recognition which they see given to them by Harvard men, and certainly the initiative ought to be taken by the younger man. It is he that should show that he knows and respects the older man, not the older man who should mark out the younger as one known to him.

The present habit will not easily be thrown off at once; yet, in the face of the testimony that leading members of the University will welcome this more intimate relation with students, the fitness that the first advance should come from the students is clearly to be seen.