Our attention has been called to a matter which, though inconsequential in itself, has occasioned some inquiry in the college. We refer to the cancellation by the University of Pennsylvania of the base ball game last week. Pennsylvania played Yale at New Haven last Tuesday and defeated her. The next day the Pennsylvania management telegraphed Harvard that the U. of P. nine had, owing to "Harvard's athletic status" this year, unanimously agreed to cancel the game. To Harvard's request for a fuller explanation, Pennsylvania made no reply.

It will be noticed that we have coupled together the facts of Pennsylvania's stay with Yale and of her cancellation of the game arranged with Harvard. We have no positive proof that it was Yale's influence which led Pennsylvania to cancel the game; but in our own minds we have not the slightest doubt that the men at New Haven inspired Pennsylvania with a part of that same fear which Yale herself has this year for Harvard's nine. Very likely Yale, whom Pennsylvania had just beaten, explained to her friends from Philadelphia that if Pennsylvania should now play and be defeated by Harvard, comparisons invidious to Yale would be drawn. It is very likely, we repeat, that this was the way in which Yale proved carefully to Pennsylvania that it would be a better thing all around if the latter college should break the engagement which she had faithfully made with Harvard. Or perhaps Yale was more unselfish and took a kindly interest in Pennsylvania, considerately advising her not to play a team by which Yale did not care to run the risk of being defeated.

It is a matter of small consequence just how Yale played her part in the matter. If she wanted to show still more plainly her distaste of meeting Harvard, she took an excellent method of doing it, and a method for which, we doubt not, she has not the slightest feeling of shame. We have nothing further to say about Yale in the matter.

About Pennsylvania it is worth while to say hardly more than a word. When Pennsylvania solicited the favor of a game with Harvard; when, after faithfully making her agreements, she wrote, up to within a day or two before the time, to further the arrangements, and gave Harvard the assurance to have the advertising done and arrangements completed; and then, at the eleventh hour, broke her word and cancelled the game for no apparent cause whatever-except Yale's influence; and then refused to make the slightest explanation,-we wonder what is the state of mind which possesses the Pennsylvania nine and base ball management. We sincerely hope that the rest of that college does not support their action; for Pennsylvania's present reputation for gentlemanliness certainly can ill afford the stigma which such an action puts upon her.