THE MONTHLY-ADVOCATE.

A stranger to Harvard, wishing to show his interest, will often ask, "What is the name of the college literary paper?" This question is a puzzle to the average undergraduate, who has, perhaps, an opinion but rarely a conviction as to which paper, the Monthly or the Advocate represents Harvard in the field of college literature. The Illustrated being journalistic rather than literary is not considered. At other colleges students read, subscribe to, and write for the college magazine as a matter of course. At Harvard the interest of the undergraduate is discouraged by the presence of two rival magazines. He does not care particularly for either, so he neglects the two impartially. The logical result of this division of interest is a struggle between the boards for the comparatively small patronage of the College. Neither of the two receives quite enough material to fill its issues without the addition of systematic editorial padding. Brilliant stories, poems, and articles flash forth occasionally from both papers; but their effect is lessened by the mediocre matter which predominates. The natural remedy, suggested by the case itself, is a consolidation of the two staffs into one organization. The advantages of this step are obvious. A single magazine would control the whole field of college literary activity. The best material received would suffice to fill the issues and establish a standard of excellence hitherto unattainable, financial difficulties would be relieved, and a literary paper truly representative of Harvard would result.