The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-04
COLLEGE EXTRAVAGANZA.
Heavy burdens Forced Upon Junior
tudcn at Yale.
Correspondence New York Post.

Correspondence New York Post.
Yale graduates not yet quite I'm middle
life will recall the old junior promenade as
a brilliant but single event OF their third
college year. IL has now expanded into
many social events filing almost four DAYS.
Ii has its g,ee and BANJO club concert, IS
teas by the societies, its class teas" its
SOphmore. junior and senior germans and
not a few private entertainments-all these
besides the prom itself. and all on a high
scale of cost. To such a point OF expense
did the gayeties reach a few years ago that
the faculty interfered and even talked OF
abolishing the promenade. This and other
influences led last year TO the return OF the
freshman contributions, and this year the
freshmen have been asked TO take no part
whatever i'm the promenade. But its ex-
penses TO those who take part do not ap-
pear TO be visibly diminished.
The prom takes place in the State ar
mory. which is handsomely decorated for
the dance. Temporary boxes are erected.
which are put up at auction. AT the bid
ding a few days ago the first ten OF these
boxes brought premiums of about 500 each:
the highest bringing $40 each This is In
addition 10 the $25 regularly charged for
for furnishing them, which the pur-
chaser p~ays-making nearly 500 for the
hest boxes, which, even II divided among
three or four students, amounts 10 n con
siderable sum. The largo and many premi-
ums paid for the boxes have long been rec
ognized as one OF the evils OF the prom"
but no serious attempt has been made TO
check II, and the premiums this year are
said to have been higher than ever. In
the case or the glee club concert the pre-
miums paid for choices to-day reached as
high as $40.
The visitors during prom week usually
stay at the New Haven House from Mon
day 10 Thursday. or about three and a
half days. But the custom at that hotel
in the case Of engaged rooms IS TO charge
for several days before Monday. or, prac-
tically. for a whole week altogether. The
students who engage the rooms usually
take their meals 1T the hotel during the
period when the rooms are engaged. but
not occupieG-thus enjoying the luxury OF
better food, but not diminishing the eN-
pense. Sometimes the visitors pay for
their rooms, but not ~unfrequently the stu
dent, who thus, in the common case OF
entertaining a mother and daughter. In
ours an additional expense OF probably $50.
Add costs of a class german $50 a ticket,
or admission 10 the prom" C3 a ticket, OF
the teas" flowers and carriages, and one
can see how enormously the expenses nun
up. What are deemed the necessary"
costs, not including boxes or hotel bill. are
per student. In the case Of the wealthy
students, who do the thing lin STYLE" they
undoubtedly spend sometimes 800 or 500.
and an instance could be cited OF a student
by no means either very wealthy or ostenta-
lions, who. lured into inviting three guests
TO the prom" found his bill over 800. The
total cost of the prom alone. not counting
the annexed gayeties. is about $3.50. and
the receipts some $500, the balance being
usually paid over TO the athletic associa-
tons of the university. But the 5000 prob
tai sum paid out by the students. and the
charge seems justly made that the prom"
has become a rich mans affair" quite be-
yond the reach of the men Of moderate
purse and fostering and accounting an I'M
pleasant class distinction at Vale. The reg
ulation of private extravagance in the mat
expenses probably not difficult. The fac
ulty committee on the prom are under
stood to favor such restriction. but their
views on the subject. Ii is stated, are not
Gha rod nv the nFRE1danf