MEN EAT SUPPER EARLY IN HOUSE DINING HALLS

Surprisingly large number of men take their meals during the first hour of dinner, a check of the House dining rooms revealed yesterday. The survey apparently blasted the theory that the hours should be shifted to accommodate large numbers of men who prefer toe eat at a later hour.

Inquiries made at various sources in the Houses and at the Freshman Union showed that the number of men entering the dining halls reaches its peak sometime between 6 and 6.30 o'clock, and then declines steadily, until the final rush just before 7 o'clock. An exception was found in the case of Eliot House, known in kitchen jargon as a "late house."

At. Lowell House, where a detailed check was made by the house committee, it was found that about 28 men entered the dining room in the first five minutes. The second five minutes brought 45. From this point, a graph prepared by the committee showed a steady drop. Approximately 50 per cent of the men ate during the first half hour. In the last fifteen minutes only 15 per cent were represented.

Kirkland House reported that about 80 out of 200 men dined before six o'clock. The largest number came in just before 6.30, being preceded by 20 minutes during which the influx was at its lowest.

It was estimated at Winthrop House that 35 to 40 per cent of the men took their meals in the first half-hour. Fifty men ate before six o'clock its Dunster while 135 ate after that hour. Approximately 50 per cent of the diners at Leverett were found to eat during the first half of the meal period.

Slightly more men ate at the Freshman Union during the first forty-five minutes than in the similar period following, a check of the record for five days revealed.

No explanation as advanced for the unusual results observed at Eliot House. On the basis of a short period of investigation, it was discovered that not more than 35 or 40 men usually ate during the first half hour. The peak is reached at 6.30.

In view of these discoveries, the plan of a later dinner hour has been practically abandoned, although surveys in some houses are still being made. A report from Adams House was not available.