The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-27
NATHAN A. SMYTH WINNER
OF THE ANNUAL JUNT0R EXHI-
BITION HELD YESTERDAY,

Eight Speakers Contested-All Were I'M
usually Good speeches-Income of the
Ten Eyck Fund Awarded as Prlaes-Mr.
smyth's Address Cheered by the students
The annual junior exhibition of
speaking in competition for the Ten
Eyck prize was held in Battell chapel
yesterday afternoon. A good sized au-
dience, consisting mostly of students,
was present most of the time. The
speaking began at o'clock and was
not finished until after o'clock. There
We're eight speakers on the program
and the speaking was the best heard
at the junior exhibition in years The
speakers and their subjects were as
follows:
w. d. Makepeace, "The Position Of
Pilgrims Progress In the History OF
English Literature, and in the Devel-
opment of English Religious Thought"
II. S. Coffin, THE Y. NJ. c. A. in Col
leges;'' c. U. Clark, 1.-THE Opening of
Museums and Libraries on Sundays;
M. B. Ferris, Cuba" w. G. Low, 1r.,
The Meaning of the Triumph OF
JAPAN" N. A. Smyth, "The Demo-
cratic Idea in College Life" e. D. Ffte,
''The Meaning of the Triumph OF
JAPAN" f. w. Burgess, 1.-THE Opening
of Museums and Libraries on Sundays.
AT the close of the speaking the
members of the faculty present retired
to the treasury building for a consul
tation and to vote on the best speaker.
During the conference the students sat
on the fence and stood about in groups
discussing the speeches and conjectur-
Ing as to who would be the winner
Many thought that Mr.. Coffin would
surely get it, but the great majority
considered the speech of Nathan A.
Smyth to have been the best. This was
also the view held by members of the
faculty acting as judges,and after a
brief conference they returned to the
chapel where President Dwight an
nounced Mr. Smyth as the winner. The
students at once poured out into the
open air and gave a hearty long Yale
cheer with Mr.. Snyth's name at the
end. MIR. Snyth is a son of Rev. DR..
Newman Smyth, the well known divine
of this city. He spoke yesterday with
a fine emphasis and a elaboration
which lent force to his words. He
made no affected gestures, but brought
out clearly and distinctly every point.
The income of the fund of $1,000 es-
tablished in 1888 by the Kingsley Trust
association in memory of Henry James
Ten Eyck 70 was awarded to the
speakers, Mr.. Smyth receiving $50 and
the other speakers $40 each. Mr..
Snyth's speech was in substance as
follows:
NATHAN A, SMYTH'S ADDRESS.
The chief difficulties which the stu
dent has to meet is that the evils creep
in under the cover of good 1t is main
ly in connection with our society sys-
tenn that democracy is threatened.
Pocketbooks and family trees are held
in light esteem by the student body,
and their direct influence is little to be
feared. New dormitories may rise
where brick rows once stood, but the
old fellow feeling yields not to such
changes. Snobbs may now and then
pass through our ranks, yet no snob-
berry can prevail against the opprobri-
UNI in which it is held. But silent in
fiuences that follow on society life are
stealthily working harm which could
be wrought in no such open way. The
danger is enhanced by the vent jeal-
ousy with which we rightly guard the
honor of our societies For an attack
upon any evils incidental to them Is
quickly construed and resented as an
attack on the system itself. Nowhere
is this more true than In our college.
Our system Of class societies has exer-
cised an influence hard to overestinate
In strengthening and purifying that
Yale spirit which we count the most
precious influence that enters our COL
lege life. It is system far in advance
of that practiced in many other col
leges, where the students social stand
ing, friends and influence are largely
dependent upon fraternity elections
held during the first few weeks of the
college course.
One almost hsitates to speak In crit
icism of any evils connected with our
societies from fear that he may seem
to be unmindful of the great credit due
them. To give them the praise they so
well deserve We're surely far more
pleasant task, and yet if they are to
continue to be power in the unbuild-
ing of Yale's life they must not rest sat
isfied with victories won. New paths
Of duty lie before them and new perils
block the way.
The source of such Of the evil that ex-
lists in our social life is the too high es-
TEEN in which the societies are held.
THE student body subjects to their con-
troll to such degree that the spirit of
democracy rises in revolt. That the So
cieties use their influence as far as pos
sible for right ends is much to their
credit. 1t is for us no justification for
the surrender of our individuality, for
no inferior good can we afford to sac
rifice the spirit of sturdy self-reliance
so essential to any one. The society
members are becoming too much of a
hero among US. The desire to become
society men ourselves Is so great that
we are sacrificing to it higher ends and
principles Freedom Of speech and act
is threatened by subtle system Of wire
pulling and toadying. The aspirants
for social honors is so continually
haunted by the fear of being ''queered
that he can neither act nor speak with
out first considering whether he is en-
dangering his chances for election.
And the man without such aspira-
lions. who yet would have his word to
say with regard to college affairs, toe
often finds his opinions passed needless