RECEPTION TO NEW STUDENTS.

A large and enthusiastic audience among whom were many upper classmen attended the reception in Sanders Theatre last night. Professor Shaler as chairman of the committee introduced the speakers. In his introductory remarks he said that the object of the committee was to help the students to become reconciled to their environment and to understand their opportunities.

President Eliot, the first speaker, said in substance: For forty-eight years I have watched the stream of men who have passed through this College and I will try to tell you what sort of man seems to promise the most happiness and serviceableness to himself and to his fellow men. He must have first of all have a body available for the uses of life. This is not indispensable but it is a good sound sign of a promising career. The power of strenuous application, of assiduous mental labor, I count the next in importance. The man who is fresh while others are tired, is sure to win an advantage in the competition of the world. Another mental trait which University life ought always to develop is independent thinking. Let a man think about the thoughts of wiser men but let him think for himself. Such a man will be self-regulating-quiet but strong-minded-not to be blown about by vulgar breath. Though such a man be reticent, his character will impress the casual observer as strong, pure and honorable. Though he never speak a word of exhortation, he will have the influence that is quiet, solid, visible. Every man here has an influence and is responsible for it. During the last twenty years there has been a tendency to magnify the savage virtues, really destructive to the mental as well as to the physical powers and not essential to true manliness. The physical and moral powers lead on eventually to the happiest and most serviceable life in after years. And for happiness and for serviceableness a man must possess vigor, purity, honor.

Gov. Wolcott was next introduced and said in brief: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Harvard College have lived in amity and mutual obligation for two hundred and sixty years. You bring with you youth and vigor. On her part, this commonwealth, with Bunker Hill, Lexington Common and Plymouth Rock, speaks to your hearts and the hearts of all Americans as do few of her sister states. Whatever success you win must in part look back to Cambridge and to the commonwealth.

If the voices that breathe beneath the vaulted roof of the vestibule behind me, voices of men in their early twenties could speak, I think they would say: "Be not too slow to put on the responsibilities of manhood." I know that youth is a time of happiness, but I think you will find that the happiness of manhood is the real happiness of life. Put zeal and vigor into your work, as did those young soldiers who won fame for Harvard University and bequeathed their names to it.

Professor Palmer in his speech brought out the fact that in college, the instructors sought to give while it was the students' share to take; that the student was treated as a mature man, willing to work for his own pleasure. "We insist," he said, "that you do what you do here, for yourselves, not for us. We want to see every man pushing forward in pursuit of his own distinct interests.

Chas. Grilk '98, welcomed the Freshmen for the upper classes and spoke of the committee of upper classmen to meet Freshmen. "I sometimes think that we cherish these sacred surroundings of ours more than at other places because we talk about them less." You will find there is no indifference but of snobs and idlers. Nor will you find any favoritism here except the favoritism of merit.

The upper-classmen are with you in wishing to do what they can for the interests of the College and the country.

Rev. S. M. Crothers, the last speaker, said in brief: It seems to me to be one of the greatest characteristics of Harvard University that it is possible to speak to the whole University on religion. The University accepts religion as fundamental and necessary in human life. It does, however, ignore the dissensions that have marred its fair face. Preachers do not come here to contradict each other, but to unite in large and great aims, to give a dignified and fundamental presentation of religion to young men whose minds are still in solution and whose aims are still unfixed. We do not address you as sectarians or agnostics, but as human beings. If you have unbelief let your unbelief be a reverent, charitable, loving unbelief, and do not be offended if people take it for religion. Religion is just that abiding law that you cannot escape.

After the speeches the Freshmen were given the usual opportunity of meeting the officers of the University in the Memorial dining hall. The reception was a decided success in every way.