He's still crimson after all these years

CAMBRIDGE -- Walter Seward, Harvard University's oldest known living alumnus, may be 107 years old, but he still shudders at the mention of rival Yale and still marvels that he graduated at all. Seward, who finished Harvard Law School in 1924, visited campus yesterday as an early celebration for his 108th birthday in October.

Back when he applied, just about anybody could get into law school at Harvard or Yale, no LSATs needed. He stepped off the train in New Haven, but didn't like the looks of it, so he kept on his way to Cambridge.

From then on, it was sink or swim. Among Seward's professors were Felix Frankfurter, later appointed to the US Supreme Court, and Edward ''Bull" Warren, the model for the Kingsfield character in ''The Paper Chase." About a third of students flunked out, said Harvard Law archivist David Warrington.

Seward seemed surprised when dean Elena Kagan told him that pretty much everyone graduates these days. He was also amazed by the plush chairs, air conditioning, and laptop hookups in classrooms. ''Everything is so deluxe!" he exclaimed.

Seward, of West Orange, N.J., never smoked or drank, and he still exercises every day. But his diet includes plenty of fried foods, salt, and at least one bowl of strawberry ice cream a day, according to his children.

Kagan presented him with a leather-bound certificate declaring Aug. 23, 2004, to be Walter Seward Day, but the honoree remained modest. ''I think still to this day he feels lucky he slipped through," said his daughter, Marymae Seward Henley.

MARCELLA BOMBARDIERI