The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-01-17
MIR. ovIArr ON ssh AMs.o

MIR. OFIATT ON "SHAMS."
a Striking Article in This Months Yale
Lit, Which is Exciting Much Comment
on the Campus.
So much interest and discussion was
awakened at Yale and about town gem
orally yesterday over the article by Ed
win Sidney Oviatt of this city in the
january Yale Lit, just issued, that the
entire article is given herewith, as fol-
lows:
ON SHAMS.
1t is always easy to criticise, and it is
but natural for a college man to stand
out against the accusations OF outsld-
ers. 1t is even easier to praise, and
quite too natural to assume an attitude
of blind enthusiasm, and make state
ments, inspired by ones pride in Yale,
the untutored optimism of which is the
very sign of their inherent weakness.
We are assailed now and then by the
outside press and by individuals with
criticisms. On the other hand, we are
quite accustomed to the general line Of
college editorials, fatty contradicting
each and every derogatory remark, up
holding with intense enthusiasm every
word of praise, and Wearylng the
thoughtful reader with the inceSsant
round of stereotyped phrases, whose
general tone disgusts instead of inter-
ests him. We are not boys to be caJoled
with the toys of phrases, we are not SO
verdant as to be bought with few
lines of printed panegyrics. What we
need and what we want is some sound
criticism, and if are men and not be-
badged and thoughtless numskulls we
will read the lesson rightly.
1t is not hard for an observer to see
that we are not right in all things here
at Yale. Indeed, it is an insult to the
college to take any other view than one
of kindly criticism, as it is a libel on
the human race to be any other than
a pessimist Under the outward ap-
pearances, below all the so-called joys
of these few years turks poisonous I'M
dercurrent, that spreads itself into all
the roots and fibres of our college life,
and anon rises menacingly and lower
ing into view. On the sustinence that
such a life-blood can give, grow and
foster all the branches of our work.
There is no man, whether he be high
of low, whether he be strongly, or weak
ly in the current who does not feel it.
HE may be only a simple scholar, UNI
known to many of his class, but his life
at Yale has been embittered, his strug-
giles for victory over himself and his
work have been left without a recogni-
tion. because of this blight on our fair
fame. He may come here neither to be-
come a. great scholar nor to win the hon.
ors attendant on success in literature
his only aim may be to broaden himself
into man-but if he lacks the ambition
to attain position by questionable
means, if he has not in him the wor-
shipful spirit of reverence to a would
he hero, his life here is dwarfed, mar
rowed, browbeaten into sullen silence.
and he leaves at the end with tears in
his eyes, perhaps, for the tender asso-
Citations of the new friends as noble and
as independent as himself, and with in
ward cries Of rage at the system of
things that has brought it thus.
1t is all true, absolutely true. The
materialism of undergraduate life to-day
is something enormous in its reaching
and portentous in it's meaning. 1t is
but sad product Of the spirit of our
forefathers when they built these halls,
1T is but dreary foundation for the
coming generation to build upon. We
are neither the students nor the men
that our predecessors We're. A materi-
alism insinuating in its oiliness has
creptin upon us unaWares and throttled
us-a materialism so deep-reaching that
true scholarship is fancied but mean
goal to strain for in a college education
"a materialism SO penetrating as to
make literary success means to So
@ciaI success materialism SO terrible
in it's grip on college life as to enter
even the Holy of Holes and place poll
iticians at the altar of the Highest
This materialism exhibits itself along
one main phase of our life which in its
place would be invaluable, which in its
place would be an important factor in
broader education, but which in its
present distorted importance is a curse
TO the college, and that line is college
politics. and societies the prizes there
of.
Years ago, when the century was
younger, it was no such tremendous
advantage to a college man as it liz
now to have made one of the leading
societies. In those days it was mans
advance, his attainments, his mind
broadening, his heart-deepening that
was considered success. No such
thing as the loading down the vest with
insignia of fancied Importance made a
man Of him. He stood on his own
merits. If he was a! man, he was recog-
mized as such and honored accordingly
If he was wealth worshipping, gilded
and tinseled dullard, he was recognized
AIS such and despised accordingly. But
Us it so to-day?
How many true scholars are there
amongst US? How many men vino dc
battle with the Indifference OF asso-
ciates, with the contempt of their SO
called superiors, and work for the
broadening results of ali education
Men graduate from this college yea1
after year with less mental strength
less moral strength than the average
s'uneducated" man whom they pass or
The street. There is very general de.
sire amongst US to get through ON the
least work, to outwit the instructors
Ito BATTLE the very means that would
make US better. To bluff the profes
sor is considered a more creditable ex
RQuCZH9!o9as RATS