THE ADVOCATE, THE ILLUSTRATED, AND THE MONTHLY.

The editorial published in Monday's CRIMSON has called forth the communication printed this morning in another column, protesting against the suggested union of the Advocate, Illustrated, and Monthly. In the consideration of a paper which "is to serve the function for our University which the professional magazines do for the nation," both journalistic and literary functions must be considered. The writer of the communication upon this subject fears that in a consolidation of the three present magazines, the journalistic element would be neglected, and that conditions similar to the present would arise through the foundation of rival periodicals. A remedy is suggested in the reduction of the number of issues of the existing papers. These points are all worthy of consideration, but the first two seem to lose much of their force through the very nature of a single magazine, while the remedy suggested is but partially effective.

The feature of chronicling University events in articles of some length and in such a way as to show their fundamental tendencies and relations, combined with intelligent and constructive comment, is a matter intrinsically so important that it cannot be made subservient to literary interests. Criticism of this sort is of such significance to men engaged in the activities under discussion and to the University as a whole, that it will not be allowed to fall in abeyance. In comparison with the literary productions of undergraduates, the subject of critical journalism is by far the more vital and present of the two.

The history of the undergraduate publications shows that direct competition has never long endured, and that all the present papers have obtained their position by taking possession of new fields. The lack of a literary periodical led to the foundation of the CRIMSON monthly supplement in January, 1885. To quote from the history of the CRIMSON: "The belief that such work was of sufficient importance to be entrusted to separate hands led in the spring to the founding of the Monthly." The Illustrated developed a new phase of College journalism in the publication of illustrated articles upon the general affairs of the University. There have been but three cases of active competition. From 1873 to 1882 the Magenta and later the CRIMSON were similar to the Advocate, but by no means identical. The two dailies, the Herald and the Echo, competed for six months in 1882, and a third daily, the News, capitulated at the end of October in the second year of its existence. These facts seem to show that direct competition with an established journal leads to failure for the younger contestant. Applying this hypothesis to the future, the competitors of a single magazine of journalistic and literary character will not be of great importance.

As to the remedy suggested in the communication, it looks capable of accomplishing but little. Each of the three papers now in existence have their traditions and standards which will not be altered by reducing the number of issues. Through any such move the standard of published matter may be raised, but it will be through a mere combination of the better portions of two numbers. More important, it does not do away with the present duplication or permit all the men best fitted for the work to unite in publishing a really first-class magazine.

To issue the best paper of which the undergraduate body as a whole is capable, a co-operation must be substituted for the present competition; and this can be accomplished most directly and completely through a union of the Advocate, Illustrated, and Monthly.