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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1898)
Von. Vii No. ae: NEW HAVEN, CONN., THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1898. Price Ten Cents. MUSICAL CLUBS TOUR. The Long Trip a Great Success, © Socially and Financially. _ The trip just completed by the Glee and Banjo Clubs was at the same time the longest and pre-eminently the most successful ever taken by Yale’s musical organizations. The ground covered aggregated over forty-five hundred miles, and extended West as far as Denver for the first time since 1889. Notwithstanding the considerable risk undertaken in making so extended a tour, it was a financial success, due mainly to the remarkably able manage- ment of Edward Sawyer, ’98, to whom too much credit for the success cannot be given. He was ably assisted in all the cities visited by the local managers and committees of alumni, whose ser- vices were greatly appreciated. The effect of the victories in football and debating was felt all along the road in the enthusiasm which any allusion to the victories provoked. Yale’s pres- tige in athletics attracted many to the concerts, and this year there was an unusually large number of athletes on the Clubs. These included Greenway, ’98S., Captain of the baseball team; Van Beuren, ’98, and Byers, ’98, track athletes; Greenleaf, ’99 S., of last year’s champion Freshman crew; McGee, 99 S., of the Freshman crew and sub- tackle on the University football. elev- en; Parker, ’98, Manager of the Navy, and several other less prominent ath- letes. SOCIAL SUCCESSES, The social success of the Clubs this year was most marked, and by a lucky chance the Clubs on which it fell to make the most important trip ever taken were made up of a representa- tive body of Yale undergraduates. The reports of drinking to excess, which opponents of the trips have sometimes attempted to circulate, could not have possibly been laid to the actions of the men on this year’s trip, for in fact the percentage of men on the Clubs who did not drink at all was much _ higher than in the entire College, and of excessive drinking there was none whatsoever. The Clubs left a splendid impression everywhere, and every man carried himself as a representative of Yale should. All this was in the face of unusual temptations. NEW SONGS. The musical success of the Clubs was marked. Although the program was of the saine length as last year’s con- certs, the men were so well received that the numbers of encores extended the time of the concerts almost a half an hour later, on the average, than in last year’s performance. The hits of the trip in the Glee Club were the solos of F. H. Sheehan, ’98, who exhausted his entire repertoire of songs and reci- tations in almost every city, and the Sweep Quartette, consisting of Schrei- ber, Butler, Wadsworth and McLauch- lan, whose encores never were less than four, and sometimes ran up to seven. The other soloists, Wadsworth, ’98, the funny man, Grenville Parker, ’98, and Butler, ‘98, were well received. Van Beuren, ’98, accompanied by the Glee and Banjo Clubs, scored a distinct suc- cess in “The Bells of Yale,” the most novel addition to Carmina Yalensia, a song written by Huntington Mason, 99, and composed by Charles E. Ives, ’98, the chorus of which introduces the familiar Battell chimes. Special men- tion should also be made of the Glee Club’s opening song, “Brave Mother Yale,” the words of which are by C. E. Merrill, Jr., 98, to the music of Mr. T. G. Shepard. The Club choruses were all well done, and G. G. Schreiber as Pres- ident of the Club combined the quali- ties of efficiency and popularity to an extent few leaders have reached. The Banjo Club’s marches were snapped off with a dash and spirit that won them more than ordinary popularity, while the Mandolin Club, a weak point in former years, caught the popular fancy immediately. THE JOURNEY. The trip began on the same day Col- lege closed, Wednesday, December 22d, ‘with a concert in Brooklyn. The larg- est audience that has greeted Yale for years appeared in the Academy of Music, and the Clubs. were warmly received. The Clubs put up at the Clarendon Hotel, but a number of small dinners were given by alumni and undergraduates. After the con- cert a very delightful german was given by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Stillman at the Pierrepont Assembl-- Rooms, to which only Yale men were asked, and at which most of this season’s debu- tantes appeared. Next day the Clubs went on board their private cars at Jersey City; and these they kept the remainder of the trip. Wagner private hotel car “Riva,” con- sisting of a kitchen, dining room large enough to seat twenty-five and five staterooms holding two men each, the standard sixteen section Wagner sleep- er “Iroquois” and, for the first time, a baggage car. This innovation permit- ted each man to carry a trunk, and made the trip much more comfortable than any previous. Philadelphia was reached Thursday noon, and the Clubs were pleasantly entertained at a reception given by Mrs. M. H. Forrest. The concert was given this year in Horticultural Hall, which proved to be much better adapt- ed for the purpose than the Academy of Music. The Clubs left almost imme- diately after the concert for Pittsburg. At Washington the Yale cars were attached to Princeton’s train, and all day the Clubs traveled together, enjoy- ing the hospitalities of each other’s cars. In Pittsburg a joint concert was given in Carnegie Hall before a packed and enthusiastic house. The concert was so well received that, owing to the lateness of the hour, the Clubs were obliged to refuse encores in the last part of the program. The Clubs were entertained after the concert at a smok- er, but they soon had to leave, as the. train started at 1 a.m. for Louisville. * Louisville was reached about 2 P.M. Christmas Day. Mrs. Kumler gave a charming tea at the Galt House, and there were a number of smzll dinners given the men. The concert was given in the Amphitheatre Auditorium before an audience the smallness of which was more than made up for by the quality. The smoker at the Penden..is Club was one of the most delightful affairs of the trip. Col. Cowan, Army of the Poto- mac, *64, made a keenly appreciated speech, and Mr. Charles Ballard and Major Belknap also spoke to the Clubs. Louisville was left at 2.30 Sunday morning and St. Louis was reached at noon. Here, owing to the thoughtful- ness of Mr. Wallace D. Simmons, ’go, every man on the Clubs was taken to the home of some alumnus and given an afternoon’s rest and a home supper, Mr. Simmons himself entertaining a large party. This kindness was greatly appreciated by the members, and did much to get them into good condition. [Continued on 7th page.] The Clubs this’ year: had=the— ALUMNI DINNERS, Various Associations Meet Through- out the Country. During the past two weeks the Yale alumni associations throughout — the country have been holding their annual meetings. WYOMING VALLEY ALUMNI. The Yale Alumni Association of Wyoming Valley held its regular an- nual meeting and election at the West- moreland Club in Wilkesbarre, Pa., Friday, Jan. 7. President L. B. Hil- lard, ’83, presided, the meeting being called order at 7 o’clock. The result of the elections for the ensuing year were as follows: President, Dr. Levi I. Shoemaker, ’82, of Wilkesbarre; Vice- President, William H. Conyngham, ’80S., Wilkesbarre; Secretary and Treasurer, N. G. Pringle, Kingston, Pa.; Executive Committee, Thomas Darling, ’86; André Beaumont, ’94; Chas. B. Lenahan, ’96, all of Wilkes- barre. Information was received that the Yale Glee Club desires to again visit Wilkesbarre, owing to the pleasant impression gained when last here. A committee consisting of Thomas Dar- ling, John S. Harding and L. B. Jones was appointed to extend an invitation to the Glee Club and make necessary ‘arrangements for their entertainment. ~~ THE MENU AND TOASTS. The business meeting was over at 8 o'clock, and the banquet began prompt- ly at that hour. The menu was quite an elaborate one, and consisted of Caviar Sandwich; Sherry; Oysters (Rockaways) on half shell; Soup; Grille Salmon, Butter sauce; Sauterne; Potatoes, Machionesse; Cucumbers; Jersey Capon a la Genoise;. Claret; Bermuda Potatoes, Parsley Sauce; Asparagus; Filet of Beef, Larded, Brown Sauce; Green Peas; Dinner Bread, Brevott; Frizzled Celery, Queen Olives; salted Almonds; Dia- mond Back Terrapin, a la Westmore- land; Benedictine Punch; Cigarettes; Quail, Water Cress, Tomato Salad, Mayonaise; Roquefort and Edam Cheese; Crackers; Ice Cream; As- sorted Cakes; Bon Bons; Mixed Fruits; Coffee; Apricot Brandy; Cigars. After the banquet toasts were responded to as follows: “Alma Mater.” “The eye of intelligence is heyere, for it surmounteth the envyronyge of the Universite.” —Chaucer. Prof. W. L. Phelps, ’87. “The Tiger.” “These cats are numerous in both hemispheres and the name has no specific meaning with- out a qualifying term.”—Cen- tury Dictionary. A. H. McClintock, Princeton ’72. “The Military.” “He is a fit soldier to stand by Caesar and give direction.”— Othello. Maj. J. S. Harding, ’80. “Yale Bachelors.” “Love seldom haunts the breast where wisdom lies.”—Pope. C: Fi Bohan, 83: 6, :S. “Yale Luck.” | : “Luck may and often does have some share in ephemeral successes, but not in any last- ing triumph over time.’— Lowell. G. W. Woodruff, ’8o. PROFESSOR PHELPS ADDRESS. Prof. Phelps was introduced, and in response to the toast Alma Mater, spoke in part as follows: 7 “The most prominent changes that have taken place at Yale are not those in the buildings, but in the character of the Faculty. College teachers are not recluses as they used to be, but are men of the world in the best sense. The college professor to-day must be able to mingle with men and to discuss matters that have no bearing on his specialty. For this reason, the rela- tions between the Faculty and the students to-day are not those - between prisoners and jail-keepers but between gentlemen, and as such are much more pleasant than they used. “Yale’s success in athletics has been largely owing to the fact that the Fac- ulty have always strictly adopted a let- alone system. The Faculty believe that the management of athletics should rest wholly in the students’ hands, and that there is no occasion for, interference unless some abuse makes it necessary, or unless some special privilege is de- sired by the athletes. This system has relieved Yale of a great many embar- rassments, in which Harvard and Cor- nell have come to grief. “In debating, Yale’s progress has been steadily upward. In force, logical power and earnestness, Yale’s debaters are to-day without an equal. In the matter of grace, ease and skill of pre- sentation, however, there is yet very much to be desired. In these matters, Yale-is. distinctly inferior to Harvard, and this is the question that lies at the root of Yale’s strength and weakness in many ways. Yale has always culti- vated force at the expense of grace. Let us hope that the time will come when she will pay equal attention to both. “The English courses at: Yale are more thorough this year than ever before, and Yale’s weakness in English as compared with Harvard’s is not now nearly so manifest as it was. Harvard lays the greater stress on English com- position, and Yale lays the greater stress on English literature. At pres- ent, we may truthfully say that the student who wishes to study and culti- vate a taste for literature has fully as many opportunities at Yale as he has at Harvard. “The attacks that have recently been made on.the character of Yale morals have no foundation in fact. Many of these emanate from New Haven citi- zens, who, because they hear a few noisy men at a late hour of the night, imagine that all college students are sons of Belial. They hear and see nothing of the vast majority of students who are serious and industrious men. From my own experience of the Col- lege from 1883 to 1898, I-can say posi- tively that the standard of morality has been greatly «raised during that period. A college community like any other community must be judged mainly by its ideals, and the ideal at Yale is exceedingly high.” Andrew H. McClintock, Princeton "72, of this city, representing Prince- ton, was the next speaker, responding to the toast, “The Tiger.” He spoke of the pleasure of attending the Yale ban- quet and of the consciousness that, although animosity existed between Yale and Princeton in their younger days, it should be set aside at the pres- ent time and both should stand as con- genial brothers together. He regretted, he said, that at the last football game the Tiger’s roar became much more like a growl. Maj. John S. Harding spoke on “The Military.” He confined his remarks to the military of Pennsylvania and paid a high encomium on the efficiency and system of the national guard of that State. [Continued on 5th page.]
