HARVARD LETTER.
Disappointment over the Debate—A
Democratic Victory—The Hs.
Cambridge, Dec. 4.—The outcome of
the annual debate with Yale last evening
came as a surprise and a disappoint-
ment to the students at Cambridge.
Owing to the fact that the contest was
held at New Haven, less interest was
aroused than last year, when the meet-
ing was in Sanders’ Theatre. But in
the debating societies the result was
eagerly anticipated. The activity of
these societies seems to increase yearly
and the successive defeats have been
keenly felt. Many of the students had
collected in front of the office of the
Crimson to learn the result. The
general verdict on the cause of the de-
feat seems to be that Harvard had the
wrong side of the question. Little is
heard in criticism of the men who rep-
resented the Universitv.
The Crimson, in its editorial comment
on the debate says: “The Harvard
speakers, though they have failed to re-
assert superiority over Yale’s steadily
increasing strength in debating, have
nevertheless done all that lay in their
power to prepare themselves thoroughly
and the College may feel confident that
their effort was in no way discreditable.”’
At the same time that the intercol-
legiate debate was being held in New
Haven, the Union and the Forum held
the second of their inter-club debates
of the year on the question, “Resolved,
That the present system of no-license
should be maintained in Cambridge.”
The Union supported. the affirmative
and was awarded the decision.
A DEMOCRATIC REFORM.
A movement to bring about a change
in the method of electing Class Day
officers in the Senior class was started
some weeks ago.by W. S. Youngman, a
graduate now studying in the Law
School, and the proposed change was
approved by the class at a special meet-
ing called last Thursday evening. This
meeting to elect the Class Day officers
has been for many years the great con-
test of the undergraduate course. <A
place among the officers or on one of
the committees is the greatest social
distinction in the gift of the class. The
honor is coveted as is a Senior Society
at Yale. It has been the custom for
the two leading societies, Hasty Pud-
ding and Pi Eta, to make a slate each
year, which was kept secret until the
night of the elections, and which
every member was pledged to support.
Although these two societies comprise
but a third of the members of a class,
they have been able, with the aid of a
considerable following of non-society
men, to elect their candidates, except in
rare instances. The lack of organiza-
tion among the non-society members
and the difficulty of bringing out their
whole strength and uniting it on any
one list of candidates, has proven fatal
to successful opposition to the “slate.”
The petition for a reform of the pre-
sent system was signed by 130 men in
a single afternoon, the signers includ-
ing many who were prominent in the
class. The essential features of the pro-
posed reform are publicity of nomina-
tions and a vote by ballot under the
Australian system at a convenient poll-
ing place to be kept open from nine
till four o’clock on election day.
The meeting called to consider the
proposed changes was largely attended.
The societies bitterly opposed the in-
novation but were outvoted and the
new plan adopted. The success of the
reform will be watched with the keen-
est interest. It seems probable that
the non-society faction will be able to
elect its share of the -ticket unless its
members get to fighting among them-
selves.
THE FRENCH PLAY.
The initial presentation of the French
Play ‘“Athalie,’ under the auspices of
the Circle Francais, will be. given next
Monday evening in Sanders Theatre.
The first musical dress rehearsal was
given last evening, and was largely at-
tended by representatives of the French
departments of schools and colleges.
YALE
The preparations for this year’s play
have been on a much larger scale than
formerly and the result is commen-
surate with the increased effort. Fur-
ther comment on the play is deferred
until after the public performances next
week. All the seats for the three pre-
sentations have been sold. Invitations
to be present at the initial performance
next Monday evening have been ac-
cepted by many college presidents and
officers. President Dwight was among
those who were compelled by previous
engagements to decline.
COL. OSBORN’S LETTER.
In yesterday’s issue of the Harvard
Crimson appeared a letter from Col. N.
G. Osborn of New Haven, on the much ~
discussed subject of the dropping of the
Harvard “H’s”’. After commenting on
the seeming slight to Yale implied both
by the act itself and the comment there-
on in the editorial columns of the
Crimson, he says:
“T seek simply to establish the point
that, in view of all the facts, you have,
not consciously perhaps, but without
sufficient consideration, passed a cer-
tainly gratuitous, if not a actually an
unfriendly, criticism upon a foeman
worthy of your steel.
“T am sure you must agree with me,
upon second thought, that this is an un-
fortunate way of cementing our re-
lations, and if persisted in may encour-
age the repetition of history, which
would be lamentable.”
Replying editorially to the letter the
Crimson says:
“The idea expressed by the writer,
that both the action taken and the
comment thereon were direct cuts at
the dignity of Yale Uuiversity, and in-
tended to belittle the record of this
year’s Yale team, is so utterly foreign
to the spirit in which the H’s were re-
moved and the editorials written, that
we find it hard to believe that such a
misconception can have obtained gen-
eral foothold in New Haven. Nothing
could be further from our intention than
to condemn the team for failing to win.
Without any reference whatever to the
result of either game, or to either of the
opposing teams, we voiced the opinion,
right or wrong, of a great many Har-
vard men, including the players and the
coaches, that in the first game the team
did not play up to its ability, and that
in the second game it did play up to its
ability. The key-note to both criti-
cisms lies in the comment on the Penn-
sylvania game quoted in the letter:
‘They have done their best.’
“Now if an accident of phrase has
really occasioned such a misapprehen-
sion at Yale, the Crimson and all Har-
vard men regret it sincerely, for never
in the history of their intercourse has
Harvard felt more kindly disposed to-
ward her old rivals than at this time olf
reconciliation. Her attitude toward her
own team is something which it is un-
reasonable for any outsider to question,
but that it implies any criticism of her
opponents, or disparages in any way the
splendid record of the Yale team, is far
from the truth. Harvard has not in the
past been slow to admire manly quali-
ties in any adversary, and it is a mis-
take to think that she grudges the trib-
ute now.”
J. Weston ALLEN.
——___4»—__—_——_
Part of Lake Whitney Closed.
The New Haven Water Company
recently filed an application with the
State Board of Health, to prohibit
boating, skating and fishing at Lake
Whitney, above the second bridge.
This will not effect the lower part of the
lake, which is more generally used for
these purposes. It was necessary for
the Water Company to take this ac-
tion to prevent the water supply of New
Haven from being polluted.
The State Legislature passed a bill
last Spring which would, at the discre-
tion of the Board of Health, prohibit
the use of the lakes and ponds owned
by the New Haven Water Company for
boating, skating or fishing purposes.
The case will be heard Saturday,
December 11th, and will undoubtedly
be granted. The violation of the order,
if passed by the State Board, will be
punishable by a fine of $25, payable to
the Water Company.
ALUMNI
WHEE KRLY
Organ Recital.
Mr. H. B. Jepson, ’93, organist of
Battell Chapel, gave the second of his
organ recitals in Battell Chapel Tues-
day afternoon.
The following program was rendered:
L. Boellman—Prelude in E minor.
J. S. Bach—Toccata and Fugue in
D Minor.
Alexander Guilmant—Lamentation.
Mendelssohn—Sonata, Number 3, in
A major.
1. Con moto maestoso.
2. Andante tranquillo.
Samuel Rousseau—Elevation.
Maurice Lee—Gavotte Louise XV.
Richard Wagner—War March from
Rienzi.
On next Tuesday another recital will
be given, to which, as hitherto, the pub-
lic are invited.
a OG
“Scientific Monthly” Contents.
The second issue of the Scientific
Monthly appeared last week, and con-
tained the following articles:
“The First International Congress of
Mathematicians,” by Professor Pier-
pont; “A New Form of Cellulose,”
by E. L. Freeland, ’98 S;- “Steel Cast-
ings, by Robert D. Reynolds, ’98 S;
“Postal Savings Banks, ” by W. W.
Knight, ’99 S.;-- Lhe Development of
the South African Diamond Fields,”
byo dias Ganby, 99S: “Sir Isaac
Newton,” by H. L. Davis, ’99 S; and
the usual notes and digests.
THE OLD
reuaBLEe PARKER GUN
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The Yale basket-ball team was de-
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team by the score of 29 to 20, Saturday
afternoon, Dec. 4th.
The Parker Gun has Stood the test of over
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Managers will do well to write for samples
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THE SPALDING OFFICIAL FOOT BALL
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Edited by Walter Camp. Postpaid, 10c.
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AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN PLANS,
‘ Headquarters for Yale Men.
Cieans and Polishes. Lubricates.
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NEW. YORK. CHICAGO. PHILADELPHIA
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Established 1858.
HOLIDAY RATE SOUTH.
The Southern Railway takes pleasure in announcing for the Christmas and New Year's
holidays, 1897-1898, reduced rate round-trip tickets to all points south at one and one-third
first class fares for the round trip. Tickets on sale December 22d to 25th inclusive, also
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nection with the Tampa car, continuous Pullman service New York to Augusta, Ga. Elegant
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No. 35, “U.S. Fast Mail,’ leaves New York 12.10 midnight, daily. Pullman drawing
room sleeping car to Atlanta, Montgomery, Mobile and New Orleans. New York to Chi
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