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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1897)
THE BOOK SHELF. {Conducted by ALBERT LEE, '91.] ** American Lands and Letters.” One of the most interesting, and in many respects one of the most impor- tant, of recent contributions to the his- tory of our American literature is “American Lands and Letters,” by Mr. Donald G. Mitchell, Yale ’41. It seems hardly possible to some of us younger chaps that this book can have come from the same pen that gave us the ‘“Rev- eries of a Bachelor.’”?’ We have come to look upon that as one of the “good old classics,’ and it seems almost as if Ik Marvel of those days, and Mr. - Mitchell of the present must be two different beings. Fortunate, indeed, is the Sage of Edgewood in having seen two generations, almost three, sitting by the fireside dreaming with that Bachelor! The present volume is not of that strain. It is reminiscent, but in a dif- ferent fashion, and along other lines. Here we are told of those other writers of our nation’s early days, and we can only regret that the author, fearing to write too long a book, has dwelt upon no man whose birth date belongs in the present century. This limit has shut off a distinguished group of au- thors, born in the first decade of this century, whose names must come to the thought of every one intent upon Amer- ican literary work. But, as Mr. Mitch- el says in his preface, some people will say the book.is.too long and others that it is too short—and, no doubt, at times, he agrees with both parties. To us Yale men it is interesting to read of what names the University has sent out into literary history, and for that reason I am induced to quote some- what freely of one of our tallest fig- ures in that company: adds 2OUg sere tee Yale, in the second term of Freshman year, a young lad of thirteen, who had passed so much of his boyhood in a border settlement among forests—who had prepared for college with an En- Slish Churchman at Albany, and who (though the youngest in his class) took his prescribed studies easily; so eas- ily, in fact, and with such wayward- ness in his -courses—whether athletic: or: > ethical—that before Junior year was — ended, he received his dismission at the hands of President Dwight. '-“His father being a member of Con- gress, large landholder, and otherwise important, came to argue for a stay of Faculty proceedings—but vainly; and the lad, then fifteen, took his rustica- tion by going to sea. Twenty years after, he was known all over Europe and America by the stories he had written about lLeather-Stocking and Tom Coffin. Fortunately we have an excellent biographer of Cooper—in Pro- fessor Lounsbury, who shows a charm- ing inaptitude for being overawed by professional critics; and he has made the book, in a degree beyond most cur- aout biographies—honest, searching and air.’’ It will be a consolation to many a man to read this passage. Cooper got “shipped,” but he became great nev- ertheless. All ye who have to leave for “Faculty reasons” buy pen and ink and become Coopers. He would not have ybeen eligible to the University Club, either, had there been a Univr- sity Club in those days, and so there is good company for that small band lacking sheepskins. : “American Lands and Letters” is full of anecdote and besides bearing the charm of personal reminiscence, it is written in much the same easy confidential style that made the fame of the ‘‘Reveries.’’ ++ Yale Club Plan Approved. The New York Yale Alumni Associa- tion at its meeting on Friday, May 7, approved the general plan of the pro- posed Yale Club as submitted by its promoters. Noah H. Swayne, 2d, pre- sented the proposition to the Alumni Association, and the result was that a resolution was passed to the effect that the Alumni Association approved in general the plan as submitted. A reso- lution was further adopted authorizing the executive committee to meet the promoters of the Yale Club, and if nec- essary, call a special meeting of the Alumni Association. Speeches in sup- port of the proposition were made by Julian W. Curtiss, ’79, and Charles H. Sherrill, ’89. There is a chance that the Club will start in the not very far distant future in the old club house of ‘‘The Lambs,” where they can get a fully equipped plant and a good comfortable club house on fair terms. entered at — ' bating organizations WAT ALUN OU WHERKLY Tittany & Co. Silver-Mounted Glass A rich stock of t&is sea- son’s designs, new shapes, cuttings and mountings, in Ice Tubs, Water Pitchers, Ale Mugs, Lemonade Jugs, Carafes, Liqueur Sets, Berry Sets, Whisky Sets, | Loving Cups, Salad Bowls, — Flower Bowls, Punch Bowls, Jugs for Claret Cup, etc., etc. UNION SQUARE. NEW YORK. | YALE LOSES IN DEBATE. (Continued: from first page.) inet system and the committee system and. that Yale’s attempted combination would fail 3°47 The judges required only five minutes to form their decision and then ren- dered it unanimously in favor of Prince- ton. 'The spontaneous applause of the house showed the approval of the de- cision, in spite of the disappointment that was felt universally and very keenly. ‘A long cheer was given by the Yale audience for the work of the Princeton team. THE BANQUET A LIVELY AFFAIR. At the close of the debate, a banquet was tendered the debaters at the New Haven House. It was a very lively affair, the best of good will prevailing, as. evidenced by the.many expressions §..—+«$». of cordial feeling exchanged betweeti the representatives of the two Univer- sities. Long cheers were given by Yale for Princeton, and in return Yale was heartily cheered by Princeton. Covers were laid for fifty, and Col. Norris G. Osborn, ’80, acted as toast- master. The list of toasts was as fol- lows: Se TOUR. sey Fk. 4 o MGs 46 ee ee ...Professor Covington of Princeton ONE oes. sd oe open es Professor Hadley ‘Debate as an Aid to Government”’.. Wises sob 6b sss Wises Se 55 0 OL ee “ptabistics’’..........d40n. C. Di Wiartgies ‘he Debate’’...... Hon. Josiah Quincy It was agreed by all who responded to the toasts that Yale was exceptional- ly poor in form. Professor Hadley, who has been the prime adviser of all Yale teams since intercollegiate teams were organized, especially commented on this fact. Afterwards, in explaining more clearly the meaning of his remarks, he said: ‘Relative to the debate, it seemed to me that the substance of the Yale men’s arguments was equally as good as that of Princeton’s, but we were far below them in our form and style.”’ Hon. ©. D. Wright marked out the debate on the system of a civil service examination, by which it was shown that Yale came out two points below Princeton. The complete list of guests included besides the judges, the debaters, and the speakers above mentioned, Profes- sors Wheeler, Adams, Smith, Fisher and Drs. 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