The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-07
TO REVIVE THE YALE SPIRIT
EN7H USIASTIC MEETING OF UNI
YERSITY


YERSITY UNDERGRADUATES
1000 Students Present-Julian W. Curtiss
'97. of New York, Made the Principal Ad-
dress-Frank Butterworth '95 Urges a
Closer Inspection of the Records of Men
Possibly Available as Athletes.
In old Alumni hall last night probab-
ly thousand of the undergraduates of
Yale university gathered to listen to
the speeches and hear the plans of
several athletic leaders of the univer-
sity.
The meeting was announced to be one
in which an attempt would be made to
stir up the old Yale spirit and awaken
the undergraduate body to the fact that
the success of the athletic department
depended entirely upon the candidates
from the various undergraduate classes.
At 7:30, Julian Mason, manager of the
News board, raped for silence and
stated the purport of the meeting to be
substantially as given above. He then
introduced Julian II. Curtss 10 of New
York city.
Mr.. Curtiss, who is a we'll known
member of the New York Alumni asso-
citation, and is always interested in
everything that goes on at Yale, said
in part: upon receipt of the invita-
ton to come here and speak tonight
l hestitated very much and thought the
matter over very carefully before ac-
cepting. This hesitancy was not be-
cause of innate bashfulness, but be-
cause I was fearful of being misunder-
stood in what might say. I have not
come here to propose some scheme
whereby this old Yale spirit, which has
been dominant for several years past,
may be revived. 1 am simply sincerely
hopeful that the captains and managers
Of the college athletics and the whole
undergraduate body may become more
closely related.
Il believe in undergraduate manage
ment of athletics. 1t is said that more
Yale spirit is necessary. More athletic
spirit. There is plenty of that good old
Yale spirit here. 1t has been here all
the time and is now simply dormant.
All it needs now is a little stirring up.
Let's wake up. This spirit is the in
terest that every undergraduate takes
in the athletics. Every man can do
something in this line. He has ability
of some nature, If he can't do any
thing physically let him do it morally.
Back up the team at every point. Let
the men know that the eyes of each and
all the members of this great univer-
sity are upon them. This will inspire
them to greater efforts and their ef-
forts can't help but bring success
There is no lack Of material; it's the
lack of the proper spirit. This falls
work on the football field and the num-
Der of men out trying for places on the
Varsity team have been a source Of
much comfort to and has stirred up a
very great degree of enthusiasm among
the alumni living in New York city.
Would that every man in this room
might tingle with enthusiasm for the
success Of Yale athletics. If such were
the case, we would never again hear Of
Yale being defeated in athletics
This talk was greeted with vocifer-
Gus applause and it was some time be-
fore quiet was restored.
Butterworth '95, who has been coach
ing the Varsity football team this fall
was the next speaker. His remarks
were few, but he proposed new plan,
which, if inaugurated and carried out
may materially assist the captains,
coachers and managers Of the several
athletic teams in knowing just how
much dependence to put upon a man
as far as his stand was concerned.
His plan was to have a committee ap-
pointed who should investigate the
stand" of each man who presents him.
self for position on any of the several
teams and be able when called upon to
furnish the captains with this informa-
ton. This would greatly facilitate
matters and enable all those in charge
to work the men to a better advan-
tage.
No action was taken on this sugges-
ton.
Benjamin '9S then moved that a COM
mittee composed of the captains and
managers of the football, baseball and
track teams and the crew and two
members of the senior class, OF both the
academic and scientific departments, be
appointed, who should devise system
for Yale athletics; said system to be
one which should continue in the future
and become fixture.
A vote was taken by ballot, but the
result will not be announced until some
time to-day. The meeting then ad-
journed.
Previous to the commencement of the
meeting, Mason, who presided, wanted
all the newspaper men to leave the
hall. He said that he didn't want the
outside world to know what was said
or done at the meeting. The meeting
took no action on the subject, how
ever.