records were kept as were necessary for computing the dietaries and 

 each subject was required to present himself at the beginning and end 

 of each period of observation to Dr. E. A. Darling, instructor in 

 hygiene in Harvard University, for medical examination and to 

 Dr. D. A. Sargent, director of the Hemenway Gymnasium at Harvara 

 University, for strength tests. At the end of the academic year the 

 grades attained by the men in their respective studies were obtamed 

 from the college office. 



From such data the diet may be computed and the relative bodily 

 strength, general health, and scholarship of the subjects ma}^ be esti 

 mated with tolerable accuracy. Briefly, then, an effort was made to 

 measure four variables — diet, physical strength, general health, and 

 mental performance. Obviously but one of these variables — the diet — 

 is capable of measurement in physical units; the other measurements 

 being necessarily in the nature of estimates, which are, however, 

 approximately comparable for the different subjects. 



THE SYSTEM AT RANDALL HALL. 



Unlike most college commons, Randall Hall has no fixed rate for 

 board. The cost to each student depends solely upon what he orders. 

 Sugar, salt, and water are the onl}^ things which are served free. The 

 building and equipment, designed especially for their present purpose, 

 are comparatively new. During the college year covered by this 

 investigation about 1,000 students were members of the Randall Hall 

 Dining Association, which means that they had the privilege of boarding 

 at Randall Hall. 



Dividing the average money expenditure for one week by the number 

 of boarders gives $2.24 as the average weekly price of board for the 

 whole institution, on the assumption that all members were regular 

 boarders taking three meals a da}^ throughout the college year of thirty- 

 five weeks. This figure is probably too low, because the assumption 

 that all members of the association were regular boarders is not strictly 

 true. The average price per week paid by the men examined in the 

 study for the three periods was $2.66. Since the subjects were chosen 

 from men whose })oard bills ranged from very low to medium amounts, 

 it seems reasonable to conclude that the real average price paid for 

 board at Randall Hall for the j^ear was somewhat above $2.66 per 

 week. 



It is worth noting that the students themselves serve as waiters. In 

 this wa}^ many of them earn the price of their board by waiting on the 

 table several hours each day. 



For each meal each table is provided with the bill of fare for the day, 

 showing the dishes ready to serve and the prices. In addition to these 

 the bill of fare gives the menu of so-called "combination meals." 

 These meals served at uniform prices (breakfast and lunch 14 cents 



