THE BLACK HOLE

Although generations of initial-carvers have practised their art on the plank benches of Sever and even more on those of Harvard Hall, the air in these venerable edifices has never been given a fair chance to escape from its bondage; with typical New England economy it has been used over and over. Like those Californian builders who place stucco fronts on frame houses, the University has provided ventilators which have for a long time proved admirable embellishments to the otherwise bare walls. There is one difficulty with these; with the general increase in knowledge during the last few decades, some of the more sagacious among the undergraduates have been led to suspect the genuineness of these instruments. In some quarters this tendency has developed into open disbelief that any air circulates through them.

There has, however, been a movement counteracting the prevalent stuffy conditions of the atmosphere in classrooms, by opening the windows and letting in the icy blast. Again, there comes an impediment to this policy, for after five minutes refrigeration near the windows, he unfortunate ones whose fate it is to be so located are prone to close them. In effect although the stifling conditions and foul air may be a means of promoting one's indifference, even the most unconventional hesitate to yawn in Professor Kittredge's face.