Morning journal and courier., 1890-05-28
COMMUNICATIONS.
Some Interesting and Significant Com
parsons.

Some Interesting and Significant Gem
PARSONS.
To the Editor Of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
A comparison between the college records
Of the Juniors just elected to the prominent
senior societies and those of the elect of ten
or fifteen years ago shows clearly and strong
ly Yale's present tendencies. Personal quail
tiles cannot be considered in the compari-
son; for they cannot be judged nor COM
pared. The elements of popularity vary and
are vague. As rule all Yale students are
personally interesting If they be not all per-
sonally attractive. It is very rare to find one
whose personal qualities prevent due recog-
milton of ability.
OF the fifteen men just elected into the
elder of the two societies under discussion
three, and only three, have distinguished
themselves for scholarship and literary abil-
ity. Nine had athletic records. Three be-
long to the collegre press and three belonged
to the Junior Promenade committee. The
majority had no appointments at Junior Ex-
hibition, or very low ones.
OF the fifteen elected to the younger sooi-
ETY. only one has distinguished himself as a
scholar and writer. Seven have athletic rec
were on the Junior Promenade committee. A
large majority had no appointments; but
two had appointments above first dispute.
These figures may not be absolutely correct,
but cannot be over point or two out OF the
way The third society has not been long
enough in existence to afford past for COM
pairing with its present and its elections are
still Influenced by necessity and accident.
Looking at the Junior class as whole,
iors holding scholarships one has been taken,
the other left. OF the sophomore compost
ton prize winners three have been taken,
seven left. Of the defamation prize men,
none have been taken. Of the "Philosophi-
Gals" two have been taken and ten left. Or
the "High Orations," two have been taken
and nine left Of the "Orations," two have
been taken and eleven left. Of the "Disser-
tations," none have been taken. Four-ffths
of all taken are either non-appointment men
or very low appointment men. OF the Ten Eyck
prize speakers one was taken and seven ,inclu-
ding the first prize man, left. OF the Ysls
Lit. editors one was taken and four, includ-
ing the chairman, left. The history of the
college shows no parallel to these two Incl
dents. From the college press four have
been taken and thirteen left. OF the Junior
Promenade committee all but one were taken,
and this one was elected to the third society,
while every man who has been In
any way conspicuous in athletics has been
honored.
These figures put before graduates in
startling manner the supremacy OF athletics
and the poor esteem into which scholarship
and literary ability are falling, for the senior
society elections are the best and strongest
reflections of popular opinion.
Now turn back to 1875. OF the Yale Lit.
editors, all were taken. OF the college press
the Record was about the whole of 1.-TWO
were taken aud two were left. or the Junior
Promenade committee, seven were taken and
two left. OF the Junior Exhibition men, six
were taken and four left. There were ten Of
them in those days. OF the junior appoint
ments above First Dispute, nearly half were
taken. When the class was graduated the
valedictory belonged to one society, the
salntatory to the other, and each had two of
the six Townsend speakers.
Look at one more class, the class of 80.
OF the Sunlor Exhibition men seven were tax
en- and three left. OF the Lit. editors all
were taken. OF the junior appointments
above First Dispute, about three-ffths were
taken. When the class was graduated,
among the chosen were the valediotorian, the
salutatorian and four of the Townsend
speakers. Nor In those days was there lack
OF proper aGu pTonlhoio etIetcniuR VI legs
and punching of biceps. Yale men throw
themselves heart and soul into some hing.
That is the way they are made. When Lin
onia and the Brothers were closed, and
more especially since the great diminution
in the writing and speaking prizes
of Sophomore year, the energies Of
students have gone more and more into
athletics. Rhetoric and oratory are no
longer studied because success is no longer
rewarded by the Faculty, or honored by the
societies. Il would not be difficult to lead
the energies Of the students back into the
old channels If the Faculty chose to do go.
It might even make learning and erudition
objects of laudable desire and pleasurable
ambition. The societies would be sure to
follow the example. If the Olympiads are
to be revived, at least let there be revived
with them the dramatic, poetic and choragic
contests in which the Greeks took equal
pride. TEMPoREs MUTANTUn.