The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-25

q battered white plug hat looked to me" she
said, ''as if he were crazy or had been i'm
bibing freely the night before and got him
self mixed up IN a fight
Then. as l saw several others with the
same headdIess, il struck me they had just
come out OF one Of the oldtime college
rGshes
"But when l inquired Of young lady
student and found that il was the recog-
niZed costume at the university, could not
help feeling shocked at the display OF such
a lack of good taste and dignity.
IF these young men only knew the bad
impression their ugly headgear leaves upon
a strangers mind, they would surely adopt
something more rational and more IN keep
ing with seat Of learning
Il could not help contrasting the quiet
dignity of the cap and gown in our English
universities with the ugly. undigniied plug
hats at your State University.
Your students should bear In mind the
vell-known cOuplet of the Scottish bard:
40 wad some power the giftie gle US,
To see ourseiS as ithers see us.'
This criticism is perhaps too severe, but it
shows how the custom at the State UniVer-
sity strikes stranger
1t is acknowledged among cultured men
that The CALL has done public service in
starting a discussion on the city's archltec-
ture.
1t has brought into prominence the faults
of the past and present. and given an ar
tistic standard for future guidance.
I'll. said one Of the alumni Yesterday,
"1HE CALL will do as much for the adOp-
tiOn of moro dignife- garb by our STU
dents as 1t has done for the Improvement
of the ety's architecture it will richly de-
serve the thanks of all who have the inter-
ests of the university at heart.
THE State University has long since
passed out of its swaddljng clothes and is
now full-grOwn, lusty youth.
Earo ffr Fno
the ablest men on the continent, aud its
fame is spreading.
1T is therefore time that It's students
should eschew the absurd and foolish Gus
toms Of the past.
II know for fact that thoughtful stu
dents would eagerly welcome the advent of
something more in keeping with the dignity
Of State University.
What prevents either one or more tax
Ing some decisive step to introduce a new
order OF things is simply the fear Of ridi-
cule.
ut would require a courageous man to
take uD tie fight single-handed for the iu-
PRODUCTION of the cap and gown.
But II two or three would agree to do so
and manfully stick to il the change would
soon become general.
Il don't care what Yale or Harvard or
any other university on this continent NAV
do. Our State University should be guided
by Its own ideas Of dignity and appropriate
ness.
what is the objection to the gownP Oh,
well, some think it Is too cum Dersome and
would simply be in their way. / am in
cllned, however. to the belief that the sophie
mOres don't wear them now because they
we're numerically guyed By some Of the
Juniors and seniors.
''The talk about it's being English is alb
surd. OF course ii is English. but good
many other things in our universities had
their origin in the English universities.
1T is not question of being English or
American. II is question OF whether it is
al appropriate garb for university stu
dents.
Il believe that II a vote of the students
were taken it would surprise those who are
apparently welded to the present custom.
Il hope The CALL will keep peggiug
away at the subject till better order Of
things is evolved"
The lady students, as stated In THE
CALL Of yesterday. are determined to keep
up the custom OF wearing the mortar-board
Ii is not to be wondered at, as they say il
is exceedingly becoming. One of the young
ladies said she mad ordered gown and If
she could get another "cc-ed" to follow her
example she would appear upon the CAM
pus in the English university regulation
garb.
II believe 1t is right and proper" she said
earnestly, "that we should show that we are
proud of being students at our State Uni
yersity, and whatever traditional customs
have been handed down as specially appliea-
bic to the dignity Of student lie should be
observed.
'Just wait for few days." she said, with
a laugh, "and VIC viii, perhaps, have sur
prise In store for our gentlemen students.
"What Is it? Oh. that's g secret. but we
will let you know 10 time"
1t Is apparent that the agitation agalhs'