Letters

A Median Moral

TO THE EDITOR:

May I tell Mr. Stuart Barber, the Statistical Scoffer of the July "Letters" column, the story of the man who came to the bank of the Upper Merrimac with an urgent need to cross to the other side but with neither bridge nor boat available for his crossing.

On being assured that the stream averaged two feet in depth he started to wade across. Sometime later his coonskin cap was recovered a few miles down river, the only vestige of him ever seen.

Unfortunately no one had mentioned that a seven foot channel intervened to make the median depth something different than two feet.

My May issue is not at hand, and I forget the figures which stirred Mr. Barber into righteous wrath. But I think his point is a good one—and I think there is a pertinent application of it in regard to the Alumni Fund figures.

I have just received the report of the Class of 1911. It shows that the average gift of the class was a bit over $57. For the Fund as a whole, the average is about $37.40 (if my figuring, which got me a mark somewhere in the low 50's in Math 1, is correct.)

Now the median gift of 1911 was between $20 and $25—quite materially different from the average. And by the same token, I'd guess the median for the whole Fund to be possibly as low as $15.

If the median can be boosted a few notches the average will take care of itself.

Philadelphia, Pa.

John Clark Memorial

TO THE EDITOR:

Plans are being made by a number of his friends for the printing of a memorial collection of articles, editorials and correspondence of John McLane Clark '32. It would be appreciated if readers having letters from John could send these—or copies or excerpts of them—to Alexander Clark at 416 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge 38, Mass. If requested, original material will be returned after copies or extracts have been taken.

Greens Farms, Conn.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Those interested in a more detailed account of the John Clark memorial are advised to see the 1932 class column in this issue.