On The Rack

The CRIMSON takes pleasure in introducing a new column to its readers, with the purpose of acquainting them with its many distant relatives in the growing family of journalism. It intense to review the magazines with the frankness of any discussion of relatives between friends, but briefly withal, and will point out the best qualities and contents of each, as they appear on the newsstands.

The modern world takes much of its intellectual nourishment from these periodicals--literary and philosophical small-try, as is natural in a "tabloid" age. Newspapers, but more especially magazines, are the cultural equivalents of the quick-lunch counter, and the CRIMSON feels that at Harvard, where digestion of learning should be orderly, and the rations well-balanced, there is much need of a menu for magazines. Aside from the fecundity of the Ballyhoo magazines, the growth of periodicals has been alarming, making life hectic for the student who would be well-read in the modern world, and hard for the graduate scholar who seeks for his special information.

The CRIMSON proposes to read the chief American monthly and quarterly reviews of general subjects, and will pass on the news of any discovery or lesser tidbit in them in which Harvard might to interested. It will take special notice of the works and criticims of Harvard men; graduates and undergraduates. Professors and neophtes, local land abroad. Though it does not intend to go much deeper in the field of magazines than the local newsstands can follow, it will make sallies into Economic Bulletins, high-caste Literary Quarterlies, and other rarities, where special articles warrant it, and will get experts to comment on these more exotic forms.

The Atlantic Monthly

The March Atlantic Monthly commences inauspiciously with a plaintive and unintentionally amusing article by Wilson Follett, entitled "The Forgotten Man to His President." This unfortunate beginning, however, is rectified by the featured article, "The Revolution in science," by J. w. N. Sullivan. This critical exposition of the scientific philosophies of Eddington, Jeans, and Millikan, succeeds in avoiding most of the errors of modern popularizers of science. Not sufficiently accurate, perhaps, to conform to the standards of Professor Whitehead, it is clearly written and stimulates the reader's thought; it is an excellent introduction to the rather febrile speculations which have grown out of the Post-Newtonian physics.

Claude Fuess, in a discussion euphoniously headed "Debunkery and Biography," replies somewhat obliquely to the recent efforts of Barnard Devote '20, instructor in English, on that same subject. It is not the point of view diametrically opposite to Mr. DeVote's; but in arguing in favor of modern biography in a loss extreme manner, it develops stronger brief for the maligned disciples of Strachey.

Scribner's

The March Scribner's contains three Pisces of interesting matter. First there is a plainspoken review of America's present foreign relations, with special reference to the war Debits and Japan. The doctrine that we should forget about out rights in the debit negotiations and think more about our interests is refreshing, and there are many arguments for abandoning the negative policy of isolation which has characterized the last three administrations. This article, "Is There a Crisis in our Foreign Policy?" by A. D. Howden Smith should be appointed to be read in churches, movies, and senate Houses.

Then there is a thorough and nicely turned biography of Kari Marx, the well-known mystery man, by Max Nomad. It is of medium length and excellent outside reading for anything. In his column near the back cover will be found Billy Phelps on the subject of Mr. Devote and his biography of Mark Twain. This review, as an intercollegiate inter-office memorandum between English Departments, is highly appreciative, only criyucizing Mr. Devote for depressing the reputations of Mark Twain's contemporaries to elevate the public opinion of his hero.