Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-03-05
YALE COLLEGE LIFE.
STYLE OF LIVING AT THIS Fla
NOUS INSTITUTION.
Students Who Spend Annually Thou
sands of DoIlars-The Other
Extreme-The Actual Cost
ofAttendance at Yale.

@. F. Nirdlinger writes from New
Haven for the New York World an in
teresting letter on Yale College students.
At Yale, he says, mans position with
his fellow-students, and, to a certain
degree, with his instructors, is deter
mined by one of three considera-
tions-wealth, intellectual attainments
or a record as an athlete. The relative
importance of these considerations is not
indicated by the order in which they are
here transcribed. 1t is nonsense to eX-
claim that in an institute of learning men
should meet on an absolute level, as far
as wealth is concerned. In the abstract
the sentiment is perfect in its smallest
details, but since the beginning of things
the influence of money has been asserted
in all social arrangements. And the
same order of things prevails at Yale. Of
course, the possession of a large allow
ance is not sufficient of itself to insure
for man a position of collegiate promi-
nence; but it is certain that among the
foremost men at Yale, or any other uni
versity, you will find respectable pro-
portion of those having merely the po-
tentiality of money. That prominence
should be given to him, who, by virtue
of natural talents or of jealous devotion
to his work, attains to an unusual degree
of scholarship, goes without saying; and
it is quite in accord with human nature
that he who wins such success through
native abilities, rather than through a
hum-drum grind" should be the more
admired. The respect paid to notable
achievements on the athletic field is per-
haps a survival of the spirit that gave
to the victors in the Olympian games of
ancient Greece crown of laurel, priced
more highly than any honor known to
man. Even among the most cultivated
people there is an active sentiment of
esteem for those eminent for mere muscu-
lar prowess. Of course, the majority of
young men at Yale, entirely praiseworthy
and capable, never attain a commanding
position in any of the three considerations
of wealth, scholarship or athletics.
In spite of the prominence which the
sons of rich men hold there is we'll
defined spirit to suppress any attempt at
dashy display. Most men dress fashion
ably, but few very exquisitely, to use
that word in a MISUNDERSTOOD sense.
The style of Students apparel has,
however, certain characteristics that
make it distinctive. That wherein the
affluence of students allowance first
asserts itself is the furnishing of his
apartments. These consist of a study
and two small bed-chambers, usually oc-
cupied by two friends. Many of these
rooms are adorned in the most ele-
giant and luxurious manner. The walls
are decorated with lincrusta, with
frieze and dado of tasteful design.
Smyrna rugs cover the floor of tesselated
woods, and high-art furniture with satin
upholstery and expensive tapestries, is
ranged about the room in graceful negli-
gence. On the walls hang paintings and
engravings with subjects best calculated
to appeal to students taste. The Queen
Anne mantel is full of costly bric-a-brac,
and the space not occupied by these fam
tastes is filled with programmes, German
favors, barber shop signs, prizes, society
plaques, trophies, photographs, econ
quests" and the host of other mementoes
of events dear to the college student
One of the rooms at present most no.
table at Yale for the splendor of its fur
nishings is that of Mr.. G. i. Hyde, of
Plainfeld, N. ]. The room is in the
Durfee dormitory, and probably over
$4,000 was spent in its decorations. 1t
is regarded as an ideal student room,
wherein the easy comfort of the guest is
not sacrificed to the splendor of the fit
tings.
Perhaps the most gorgeous apartments
that have been owned at Yale in recent
years were those of Mr.. William Pollock,
of the class of '82, at present member OF
the Stock Exchange. The furnishing
of his rather small rooms is said to have
cost $5, 900. But it must be said in mere
justice that the style of adjoining quarters
at Yale is as a general thing not near SC
extravagant as that prevailing at some
other universities. Three thousand dol
lars expended on rooms in Matthews OF
Weld at Harvard is quite an ordinary
proceeding. In Beck Hall there are sew
eral suits the adornment of which entaileC
an expenditure of ten, twelve and ever
twenty thousand dollars. In the Latter
dormitory there is at present a young
man-from California probably-who ha
his furniture insured for $15, 900.
There is another side to the picture
Up under the roof of East Divinity hal
the World correspondent saw room tina
may serve as type to the other extreme
There was no carpet on the floor, the fur
niture consisted of three straight backed
chairs, and old-style lounge covered il
green oilcloth and a large home-mad
table. Upon the board placed abov
the fireplace to serve as mantel wer
some old books, two half-consumed can
dies and clock with dismal textbook
There YVES not picture on the walls
nothing anywhere to relieve the dullnes
of the place excepting blue flag tina
hung under the dusty, unused gas-fixture
and indicated that the occupant of tn
den had once rowed a successful oar in tn
class boat races. The occupant sat at tn
table straining his eyes in the twilight
over the pages of the philosophical essay
of somebody or other. 1t was plain tina
his scrupulous economy restrained hin
from lighting the rickety German lam
as long as there was a single ray of day
light with which to pursue his work.
The authorities of Yale give an est
mate in the college catalogue of the ne
Sessary expenses of attendance at the uni
versity. The figures for the four items O
room rent board, fuel and light and tex
books are put down as ranging from $35
to 5000 This estimate, which is dc
scribed in the catalogue as linear" is i
reality absurd. 1t implies that 5000 is
liberal allowance for the necessary annua
expenses, although no mention is made O
such really necessary items as clothes
railway fares and, most of all, the sun
dries. 1t is found on careful investiga
ton that the average expenditure at Yal