The statistics of "H" men's mid-year marks published in another column of today's issue come as an interesting coincidence after Professor Bliss Perry's statement Monday night that a major letter and Phi Beta Kappa Key are by no means incompatible. Contrary to the popular idea that athletes get through college by the "skin of their teeth" and the kindness of their instructors, the results compiled show that not only the athletes but even those black sheep the managers and their assistants stand, if anything, rather better scholastically than do the rank and file of the college.

The rank list last year showed that the average standing of those who attained promotion was between the fourth and fifth groups, or in more comprehensible terms, slightly above a straight C. The "H" men at mid-years attained an average of C plus; and the much-maligned assistant managers led the entire field with a mean of B.

Even more remarkable as showing that this satisfactory standing is not wholly caused by the fear of ineligibility through probation, are the percentages of these men who achieved standings which place them in the first three groups. There again the parallel holds with once more a slight advantage on behalf of those who have taken part in major sports.

Truly the old ideas are going by the board when the "impossible" happens, and football players prove students, even scholars with gold keys. The days of sarcasm about the "athletic course at Harvard" are over; and the ancient compliment can be altered to "an athlete and a scholar."