EX-EDITOR LAUDS NEW VOLUME

The following review of the 1931 Red Book was Written by T. H. Eliot '28, editor-in-chief of the 1928 Red Book.

Another "bigger and better" Red Book makes its appearance tonight, on time to the minute. Producing the volume exactly on schedule is no easy feat, in view of the short time allowed the editors, but promptness is perhaps the least cause for their pride. For the 1931 Red Book is superficially far different from its predecessors, and is on the whole among the most artistic creations printed in the 19 years since Red Books first began.

The editors escaped one annoying task writing the preface--by the admirable evasion of having President Lowell do it for them. Thus the volume opens with a distinctive touch. Most striking of the changes is the novel appearance of the individual pictures of the members of the class. With a daring but successful hand, these cuts have been moved to the outer edges of all the pages, and the "life histories" beside them have been carefully and artistically centered. The dignity of the book is curiously enhanced by this transfiguration.

Other and less significant changes include full-page cuts for the minor sport articles--instead of cartoons; total absence of humorous drawings and of langurous ladies--the latter an excellent omission; and brief articles on "miscellaneous activities', instead of mere lists of participants. A more unfortunate alteration--cheapening but lucrative--is the placing of all the scholarship records of the class in a submerged position among the advertisements.

The Red Book is dedicated to Professor R. B. Merriman '96. Despite one or two minor flaws, the general appearance of the volume is more pleasing than usual to those who desire a sober and dignified record of a year which is not especially either of these. The editors have done well