Morning journal and courier., 1890-07-16
CORKEsPONDRNCK CK.
New London Harbor - It Contains Water-Where mathematfcians Fall -Fashion,s Vagaries.
FIT. GRIswoLp HOUSE. NEW I.nNnnN- InlY 18th.

TT. 6hlSWOLD hOOsEr
 NEW LONDON, July 18th. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 Four Yale graduates happened to meet yesterday on one of the little steamers that | puff you about the harbor for ten cents | trip. One amazed the other three by saying | with emphasis and assertion: "It is pity Yale college was ever moved from New London" The remark was made with 80 much force that the three accepted Yales auondam residence at New London as a fact, and only considered the pity of the moving. They perhaps put it to themselves this way. eff Yale ever were located at New London,it is 6 pity she was moved" This made the discussion more comfortable by giving it at least @ supposititious basis. What grand site for an insti tuition of learning Groton Heights present. Above all other things how inestimable the benefit of perpetu- ally overlooking the Yale-Harvsrd course. If the college were on the Heights the half mile flags would be kept perpetuaily flying and every day professor appointed for the purpose. A compound of Bob Cook and Chauncey Depew would hold forth to under classmen on the glories of athletics in general and of rowing in particular, followed by detailed account of the latest victory. Of course it would be just like Harvard after while to insist upon having the race elsewhere. For is 1t not perfectly well known that Harvard is always inclined to take a mean advantage of an honorable ad- versary.
 | From particulars the discussion of the four passed to generals. If athletics be or | such importance that the very existence of colleges depend thereon, and if athletics do | lead the mind of students away from curri- cula, what is to be donei Clearly, curricula must be modified in the interest of athletics. If the mountain will not meet Mahomet even half way, Mahomet must cover the entire
 distance. Institut ions of learning must re-
 fleet popular tastes and interests. They
 must search out and teach the sciences that
 are back of popular activities. To assert
 that any popular activity is one worthy of
 scientific investigation Is contrary to the
 spirit of the age. The curve described
 by base ball projected through space
 by the exertions of human being
 is just now of infinitely greater in'
 terest than the curve described by { planet moving through space under the olt
 fogy law of gravitation. Yet not a profsssc in any one of the colleges of the United State has as yet attempted to formulate these mos
 interesting of intricate curves. There are il , the United States thirty-two first class pro feesional base ball clubs, playing ball ever, , day from May to November. There are sai.
 to be in the United States ever twenty thou
 sand amateur clubs playing nearly ever. afternoon of week days and occasionally des 3 ecrating the remaining day. It is within 3 reason, therefore, to assert that every weel
 day when playing is possible there are plsye'
 ten thousand games of base ball within tn . boundaries of the United States. To b l, we'll within the average, let 1t be sup l posed that one hundred and fifty ball are pitched at each game. That woul' 8 make the magnificent total of million anI . half spheres projected through space alon the most astonishing curves of modern in . | vention. And yet all these curves are ye @ | unknown to science, ,uninvestigated by mathe matics. What glorious field for an enthu ' | siastic investigator Who can measure tn . reward that will come to the college whic 8 is first to recognize the opportunity Tn n curves of hostile projections have formed part of military study since the invention C Il T we'll worthy of attentioni
 e So the four chatted, admirinz the slopes ( n hill tops; the sweep of broad woods, nestlin
 cottages, swift craft speeding with wind C steam, huge galleons of modern fashion Is anchor, while millionaires are feasting with ,- in; New London harbor contains watel
 Paradoxical as this statement may appear 1
 a New Havener, it is nevertheless true. Ye ,f can plunge your arm into 1t up to the elbo in without encountering mud or touching bo : tom. Let everyone come and try the exper ' ment for himself. These ships that con D. and go at will are actually sailing. Thel le superb yachts at anchor are not aground. m large vessel can tack from side to side rigl '. up to her wharf. Men-of-war come in witl 'e out fear of missing the channel, for there ce no channel. It is all channel.
 W Fifteen to twenty years ego the Pequot vi ,. the center of summer fashion. The gave of the gay peopled 1t and dWelt in the co tages about. There was reyelry by day ar ?, sometimes orgies by night. Fashion whirls e. and was giddy. Here yachtmen made lo' =. hardest and fair ones were most layis s' There was no pausing. Life was very ia Dc and very furious. There was constant fee D. ing to excitement; no rest, no recruitin
 Bat fashion flew away on fever wings
 Narrsgansstt and Bar Harbor, leaving tl an Peauot sad and deserted. Every sacrif .a had been made to fashion. Without it t - Pequot was empty. There seems the | les ginning of revival and of bettermer on The old folks are coming back sober e. by ags and sTpsTisnesi end with them .