HARVARD'S "NANCY BRIG"

There is an unrecorded event in the history of that famous ship, the "Nancy Brig". Apparently she last touched at Singapore, Malay Peninsula, somewhere cast of Sucz, and there she has remained. For no sooner did she dock than the cook and the captain bold, and the mate, and the bosun tight and the midshipmite and the crew of the captain's gig, all swarmed ashore, ordered a drink and became at once the president, secretary-treasurer, election committee and sole member of what was destined to be a famous organization. Became in fact, the Harvard Club of Singapore.

It must have been a great adventure, and though its nautical days are over the club is as active as any homogeneous foc'sle well can be. Twice in the last week it has burst into print in American journals, and has survived, proof enough of a strong constitution. What is more it has burst generously. First it offered, through the Alumni Bulletin, a prize for the best suggestion of a subject for discussion offered by March 1, 1924. Now it continues its intellectual curiosity and challenges the "Advocate" to the tune of 100 dollars for its most striking article of the year. The prize will go to the writer who has produced during the college year in prose or verse something of literary merit but above all, something striking, the most striking.

After all it can't be dreadfully exciting on the road to Mandalay--or even off of it. The flying fishes play very well, no doubt, but they offer no real intellectual stimulus, and the dawn coming up like thunder all the time must be as monotonously tactless as Wagnerian opera or the alarm-clock. Moreover there is China always across the bay, never any nearer, never any further, serene, immovable, Chinese.

It is not extraordinary to find the president searching for something to discuss with the secretary-treasurer, but it is satisfying to find that he still turns to Harvard for whatever stimulant he may lack. Yet he is, the whole club is, only following the tradition of other Harvard Clubs which turn spontaneously to the College whenever they have something to give; and, more encouraging, whenever they wish to be interested.

It was with a fine prophetic fury that the poet sang:

"From Harvard Yard to Singapore,

They sing the songs of Harvard men.

Don't be surprised in Elsinore

If Hamlet mutters 'Give 'or ten!'

Or 'Victory' in foreign lands

As in the Stadium of yoro

Is sung in Nomad one-night stands

From Harvard Yard to Singapore."

So is it now in London town, so be it when the ships go down, aye even unto Zanzibar!