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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (March 29, 1899)
eT (ATU MINI VY a ee oe cuts” and “overcuts” and “church cuts”; of “sick excuses” and “physicians’ cer- tificates” and “church papers,” will dis- appear, and none will ever wish them back. Courses of study will be satis- factorily passed and count for the final degree, or they will not. “Conditions” will disappear, with all the farces which they generate. Instead of all these things we shall see at Yale an enlarged liberty, and with it a nobler manhood. The lie, the cheat, the “pull,” will not entirely disappear perhaps, but they will cease to form a staple element in the Yale life. The system, at any rate, will not encourage them. YALE DEMOCRACY. And what of “Yale democracy?” It is already a far different thing from what it was in the sixties, but no more different than the country of the nine- ties is from that of the sixties. This community must always be a represen- tative community, and as classes are more and more distinguished from the masses in the country at large, so must they be here. Superior culture, breed- ing, training, experience and power will be more and more apparent and distinc- tive here, and they must not be made ashamed of themselves by any artificial demand for mediocre uniformity. The tendency of assimilation here is too much toward the lower level of culture and breeding. Cultivated men are led by force of public opinion to renounce their culture, at least for a time, in order to conform to the artificial stand- ard of democracy which this community is urged by the older alumni to preserve at all hazards. Here again the com- ing administration will probably see an enlarged liberty of individual develop- ment. The tyranny of what is called democracy will disappear. The inher- ent liberty and freedom of true de- mocracy will be more enjoyed and cul- tivated, and no door will be closed to him who deserves to enter it. THE YALE SPIRIT. And the “Yale Spirit?” This is not so distinctive as Yale men fondly think, and therefore not likely to disappear. As long as ingenuous youth are assem- bled in large numbers at Yale, there will be plenty of “Yale Spirit.” For youth is enthusiastic, and Yale will al- ways be an inspiring place, and the “Yale Spirit” is simply the inspired en- thusiasm of youth. It does not neces- sarily vent itself in crowds and noise. It may lead to a discovery in letters or the laboratory as well as to an athletic victory. And what is it that brings the alumni of all our great colleges and universi- ties together in annual meetings where enthusiasm always reigns? It is not so much the fact that they are graduates of this or that college or university and could not have been enthusiastic other- wise. It is because they associate the tender memories of the most precious quadrennium of life, of the four most unfettered years of youth, with some great name and place like Yale or Har- vard or Princeton. It is not so much ‘what Yale or Harvard did for them, as what they were at Harvard or Yale,— enthusiastic youth. The cares and strifes and griefs and even the triumphs of responsible manhood cannot efface Lingering Winter Can’t linger so very Now and then it promises to go. Some day it will go. Then almost everybody will be wearing a KNOX spring hat. It is really time to pick one out now. much longer. the memory of those first winged enthu- siasms, when life was young, and hope was high, when friendsships were many, true and strong, and there was as yet no such word as fail. It is the memory of that time, never to be repeated, which makes alumni gatherings enthusiastic, and not so much loyalty to a particular institution. No institution therefore can safely lull itself to contented slumber even if the meetings of its: alumni are enthusiastic. Besides the enthusiasm which is naturally aroused in the recol-. lection of a quadrennium of the purest and sweetest enthusiasms that ever visit a man, the alumnus must also have pride in the conviction that his alma mater is widely and rightly enlarging her powers and changing her methods to meet and satisfy the new enthusiasms of the new generations. The enthu- siasm is always there, as long as there are alumni. The pride must be labori- ously evoked and solidly established by far-sighted educational statesmanship. THE ELEEMOSYNARY EVIL. And now a word upon what the previous paper called the ‘“eleemosynary evil.’ As now existing it is the great- est enemy of real and true democracy. The distribution in large numbers of scholarships without competitive exami- nations of any kind, and without any demand for return service of any kind, is demoralizing. Even scholarships won as prizes for successful examina- tions are not entirely without evil in- fluence, and Harvard has set a noble example in bestowing honor scholar- ships accompanied by no pecuniary ad- vantage. That introduces into the in- tellectual. arena the simple motive of the great Hellenic games,—the crown of olive. What is worth having is worth paying for, and in a true de- mocracy, all should pay the same price for it. To get a thing of great price for nothing, belittles the thing and its re- cipient. Therefore the multiplication of funds for bestowing education gratis on “meritorious and indigent students,” is rather to be deplored than encouraged. Such funds might better be applied towards lowering the average tuition charges. The larger and more expen- sive institutions might perhaps have fewer students on their great rolls, but the smaller and less expensive institu- tions would have a fairer showing in the fierce struggle for iristitutional exist- ence, and the tone of all student life would be raised. Finally, no friend of Greek or of the Classics should be alarmed if Greek should cease to be required for admis- sion to Yale, and both Greek and Latin in one collegiate group of studies lead- ing to university privileges and the A.B. degree. The Classics are too firmly imbedded in all modern literatures, and especially in English, to be neglected by any thorough students of history or literature. No one can ever aspire to high position as teacher of history or literature who has not had a classical training. No one can ever hope to at- tain to the best appreciation of literature and history without a classical training. This is admitted by all, by none more readily than by thiose whio do not wish to be compelled to take a classical train- ing. Philosophy and the great classi- cal literatures and histories will always exercise. a potent charm, and’ their friends can safely rely upon this inher- ent charm, rather than on outward com- pulsion, in the great intellectual com- petitions of our modern education. Consummate, as usual, was the policy of President Eliot, when the require- ments of Greek and Latin were lessened at Harvard. Their allureéments were en- hanced. New instructors were added, and new courses in the Classics. The number of men studying the Classics at Harvard may be less than at Yale, but the range of instruction is wider, its methods and scope broader, and the sum total of its results greater: The “cause’ of classical instruction has* not suffered at Harvard. It has immeas- ureably gained. So have other types and methods of culture, and none at the real expense of another. “The twentieth century demands more types of culture than the nineteenth, not less culture. And it must not be forgotten that be- sides cultivating and disciplining the student, the education of the twentieth century must also adapt him to the cen- tury’s multiplying needs. In this adap- tation of her students to the society in | which they must live and labor. ma old Yale play no minor part! ; A. P. Athletic Calendar. The following is the schedule of the principle athletic events, so far as they have yet been arranged, for the re- mainder of the year, including, besides the championship baseball games, all games to be played in New Haven: April 12— Yale-Wesleyan baseball game at New Haven. April 15—Yale-Lehigh baseball game at New Haven. April 19— Yale-Williams baseball game at New Haven. : April 22—Interclass games at the Yale Field. April 26—Yale-Holy Cross baseball game at New Haven. April 290—Yale-Brown baseball game at New Haven. National Relay race championship meet, at University of Pennsylvania. May 1—Class tennis tournament be- gins at Yale. May 3—Yale-Lafayette baseball game at New Haven. » May 6—Yale-Dartmouth: baseball game at New Haven. May 10— Yale-Columbia baseball game at New Haven. May 13—Yale-Harvard dual track games at Yale Field: May 20—Annual Spring Regatta at Lake Whitney. Yale Freshman-Har- yard Freshman baseball game at Yale Field. : May 22—Yale-Georgetown baseball game at New Haven. May 27—Intercollegiate champion- ship athletic games at Berkeley Oval, New York. Yale Freshman-Princeton Freshman baseball game at New Haven. - May 29— Yale Freshman-Harvard Freshman baseball game at Cambridge. May 30—Yale-New York A. C. base- ball game at New Haven. June 3—Yale-Princeton baseball game at New Haven. Yale Freshman-Prince- track athletic ~ ton Freshman baseball game at Prince- ton. June 7—Yale-Amherst baseball game at New Haven. June 10—Yale-Princeton baseball game at Princeton. June 17— Yale-Princeton baseball game at New York (in case of tie), or Orange A. C. at East Orange. June 22—Yale-Harvard baseball game at Cambridge. June 27—-Yale-Harvard baseball game at New Haven. 3 June 29—Yale-Harvard boat race at New London. July 1—Yale-Harvard baseball game at New York (in case of tie). hn i a ~—Twe Bad Weather for Crew. Although the University Crew candi- dates have been on the harbor about four weeks, the bad weather and rough water have prevented any very marked advance in their work. On Saturday, Griswold, who has been rowing at seven, and Niedecken, who has been at three, changed positions in the boat, thus making the order of the men at present: stroke, Williams; 7, Nie- decken; 6, Captain Allen; 5, Cross; 4, Flint; 3, Grisworld; 2, Wickes; bow, Greenleaf. Several old oarsmen were in town last week assisting Dr. Gallaudet in the coaching. Dr. J. A. Hartwell, ’92S., was with the men Monday; Dr. S. B. Ives, 793, on Wednesday; Dr. John Rogers, ’°87, and G. S. Brewster, ’91 S., on Thursday and J. O. Rodgers, ’98 on Friday and Saturday. The men will be given a few days vacation this year, leaving work with the rest of the University Wednesday, and returning for afternoon practice on Monday. Alfred Cowles, ’86, is ex- pected to coach the men upon their return Monday, and will probably spend all of next week in town. The order has been given for a new shell but it is not expected before about May first. A further reduction was made in the squad last Saturday and it now num- bers twenty-one men, as follows: Cap- tain F. W. Allen, 1900; R. L. Atkinson, Toor; -H. -Atichinctoss; igor; J. P. Brock, 1900; F. G. Brown, toor; A. Cameron, Jr., 1901; J. W. Cross, 1900; R. P. Flint, ’09S.; J. C. Greenleaf, mo J.C Greenway, 1900; W.-H. S. Griswold, ’99; J. D. Ireland, 1900 S.; R. A. McGee, ’998.; P. L. Mitchell, too1; R. M. Newport, 1901; J. ; Niedecken, 1900; H. P. Olcott, 1901; R. M. Patterson, 1900; G. S. Stillman, Some People Will wear anything. You won't. And we can’t be sure that you will accept anything from us, unless we offer you everything to choose from. Seven hun- dred and fifty shirt patterns pretty nearly sweep the circle of choice. Would you like samples ? CHASE & CO., New Haven House Block. wR oY mA T EH hop Ss: FRANK A. CORBIN, TAILOR TO THE STUDENTS ‘OF YALE AND TO THE SErADUATRS in all parts of the country Address : 1000 Chapel Street, New Haven, Conn. 1901; It. FP. Wickes, 1900; and W. B. Williams, 1900. TRAINING TABLE CHANGED. A new plan for combining the social and athletic interests of the University has been adopted this year in the loca- tion of the Crew training table at the University Club. Through the courtesy of the board of governors, the privileges of the Club have been extended to the candidates, and thus, besides being in itself well adapted to the accommodation of the table, it gives the men an additional opportunity of coming more closely into touch with the rest of the under- graduates, and affords diversion during the long and tedious period of training. If the plan proves satisfactory this time it is probable that it may be repeated in the future. The table was started Wednesday of last week and the following men have been taken: Captain F. W. Allen, 1900; W. B. Williams, 1900; W. E. S. Gris- wold, "90; -J. (WW. Cross, 2960: K.P. Flint, ’99 S.; J. H. Niedecken, 1900; H. P. Wickes, 1900; J. C. Greenleaf, 700 S.; J. C. Greenway, i900, and J. P. Brock, 1900. ho» dm ee we The Freshman Crew. The Freshman crew training table will be located this year at 126 Wall street and will start on April 3d. The Freshman candidates will be given the same vacation as the Uni- versity crew men, leaving at noon Wednesday and returning Monday afternoon in time for practice. The coaching thus far has been in charge of T. D. Hewitt, ’09 and R. M. Patterson, 1900. > ao > ~wew The Freshman Union has sent a chal- lenge to the Princeton Freshmen for a joint debate, the time and place to be decided later. The conditions call for three men to represent each side and Princeton is to choose either the sub- ject or the side of the question.
