The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-04
SOME UNoA1LANr wEsLErANs.
Why Miss Eliis will not Read tho roem He
fore the Boys on Glass Dsv.


The members Of the senior class OF wes-
ieysn University at Middletown, Conn. have
been thrown into a fever OF excitement by
young woman. member Of their class, who
undertook to share the honors OF class day with
her male classmates. This champion OF womin's
college rights Is Mss Elizabeth J. Ellis. a tall.
fair-halred elrl, whose nne eyes and expressive
face show spirit and pluck.
About three weeks ago Miss Ellis was elected
class poet by a bare majority, aud then tho
trouble was begun The class split into the
"woman's party" and the "opposition." Stren-
uous efforts were made by the latter to annul
the election. Several OF the class officers elected
with Miss Il Ills resigned, and about half the
class, which comprises only thirtS-tnree mem
bers-tbirty-one OF whom are young men
threatened to bolt the class day exercises II Miss
El is insisted on taking part In them. But neither
arguments nor threats could move the young
woman or shake the loyalty OF her supporters.
Unt last SATURDAY., with only one gifl classm.te
(Miss P kins) to conhde In, she faced the storm
undaunted.
10 understand the fuss, It Ia necessary to
glance ~ the history Of CO education" at Wes-
leyau. Four young women graduateI wit hi.h
hOnors last year. They were the nrst. Their
presence there was con 'rary To the traditions OF
the college, and the boys generally looked upon
them as interlopers, and grumbed at having
their alma m ter turned Into woman's col
lege." However, these four young women won
the respect OF their fellow students by their
modest and studiuus behavior, and probably
awakened some panas of envy 0y taking high
rank in their classes, and proving that they
Oild read Plato or compute the longitude as
well as a man. But the IN Jority of the Young
men still thought II lowered the stanL ard Of
tho cole e to Dave women In 1t, aud when the
time came to prepare for class day. they I'M
proved the opportunity for ven ing their spite.
Glass dey 10 pfeeninently the students day. IL
usually occurs III commencement week, and
sever mouths beforehand the senior class
elects "A historian, "A poet, an orator. "A prophet,
=. whose business II Is to prepare the exercises
OF the dav. THIS election Is conducted vita
vast amount OF wi q pIlnR. ana the CON petition
| for places on the various tickets is sometimes
nitter. ANYBODY who has incurred the dislike
OF he class Il pretty sure to und IL out, TX CALI
| didate, at class election.
Last year, accordingly. when class election
came around, the four young women who were
| TO be among the graduates felt the dispeasure
| Of their male companions wnO, by n formal
vote. refused them tue privlese of sitting IN the
s.cTed circle on the college green wnere tue
"ppe OF peace" Ia smoked, and the bonds Of
| class feiowsnip are csmented with quaint aud
curious ceremonies. The four eirls, therefore,
had to sit under = neRhDoring tree out In the
| cod ana see the mystic smoke rise without
getting whiG This rather ungallant treatment
of tner sisters by last wears class unfavora-
| bly commented ON by some of the underclass-
men, aud it seems To nave given rlse To deter
mination on the part of III ny members Of this
years class to save he reput .tion of the college
| for gallantry py treating their classwOnen with
| greater consideration.
Class election took rlice on Nov. 49, For some
weeks beforehand c .nvassing had been gung on
| ACTIVELY. Miss Ellis. who had won admird-
| tOn by her brilliant III sllectual qualities. was
| proposed as candidate for class poet, post she
was not unwilling o nl Ine ranks Of uer sup
purters were swelled by the general feeling tn
| the class ought TO make some amends for last
| years foolishness. some of the young men
| who thought woman mad no business In the
class day exercises were yet willing, out OF
| courtesy. TO have her can nIidatc. and to give
| her pretty strong minority vote. lbus. they
| im gined. feminine am DitiOn might be hattered
| and satisfied, wniIe the control Of class day
| would remain IN masculine HAMS. That Miss
| Ellis would get "A majority was d possibility that
did not enter into ,helr calS ulstlons
IA fha sNxnn "a afF0n and In
| earnest, and by dint of persuasion here ana ar
nument there they manaeed TO secure nearly
were secured for her, and only short time be-
fore tine election did the opposition discover
their danger. One OF their long-headrd men
with genius for arithmetic, by comparing the
list of names 10 the catalogue with the expies-
ana IN the caucuses. made the Charming dis
covery that the wOman's party lacked only
one vote Of enough, while the opposition were
several votes snor., aud three voters, any one Of
whom could elect Aiss lie. were doubtful.
Ihe three men who were Oh the fence were I'M
mediatsly besisged. But theY had got " INTO
| their heads that Miss Ellis must, Tor the hVnur
| Of the cl,ss, receive heavy vote. the arith-
Be'ie man fsied to convince them that they
held the late Of the class In their hands, aud
| on election day Miss Ellis was elected.
Then there was lively time hree Of the
| officers elected with Miss Eili--T. Z. Marun,
| orator for Feo. ~ Billy Haven. B shop Gilbert
| toran-resigned wnen an attempt was made
| to 10 on with the election of prophet and other
| officers, IA scene OF confusion eusued, aud the
Ihe Opposition" was determined not to
yield the class nonors into a giti's keeping, and
| the "wOman's party" would not Ccsert their
fair leader. VINO stood up manfully for the
rights OF her sex. For week. efforts were
made 10y the opposition TO have the vote re-
| scinded, and u meeting was even held Tor that
| purpose, but It failed Miss Ellis and Miss PIT
| kins were present., aud the former listened un-
moved to the respectful, though decided lau-
guaRe Of those opposed TO her. She did not
| biench, aiinough sue blushed when one " the
speakers declared that she ought to resign
| gracefully instead OF thus Icing down the
wishes oil a lsrge part OF the class. she said she
thoughtit aduty to her sex to keep tho position
| To which sne had been elec ed. Inc feeling on
| of the class TO bolt the class dav exercises
80, we'd To widen the breach, ana the class was IN
danger of being made ridi ulous on that SUI
strves to show its best side out.
ON saturday another meeting OF the class
was held ana another effort was TO be made by
The OI position 10 overthrow the election OF Miss
Ems, and the young lady herself put an end
Martin were then reelected ora ofs aud tue fan
list OF class officers was Inade OUT, with not
woman among them nut Goss, VINO had
resigned tho place OF s-lutatorian, would not
accept a reclectinn.
iney couldn't have put me out Of the oflce."
Mis- Ellis sai spiritcdly TO a Sun reporter ON
Satuid But resigned Of M own accord,
because | thought should better serve tue
"a stop to the dispute that threatened to break
w class day. wanted 10 keep the position,
not 80 much On my own account, as because my
being elected 10 IL was an honor 10 our sex, ana
1 appreciated II. Cu-educatlon Is a new timing In
TINS college. ana thefe are IN ny OF the stuuonts
opposed to IL; Uut he opposition 10 not quite SO
strong This year as last, and thiuk our cause is
gaming ltue.
rhe Rev Or. Cyrus Foss, the new President Of
| Wcrlcyan, said no mad he.rd about the troubles
in the senior class. but neither he nor any other
member Of the Faculty had intcffered IN the
| boys affairs He thought tue opposition to CO.
educatiun Was nIrdlY so strong this yoar last.
Miss Rllis, lac SUD, W very smart student, aud
| highly esteemed In the college, ami she was
worthy Of the houor her classmates mad shown
| her, Although there mad ALWAYS been feel
a.l a.
! of WOIucn, Yet tuOss admitted had uniformly
| been treated with respect by their classmates,
| Us oy everybody connected with the college.
IIs InPnLNLL,n a EL.IGIIIS