Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-28

New Haven, Conn. Oct. 90. If the
newspaper reports OF the laat two waeks
should be taken as true picture OF
October at the colleges. an outsider
must believe that the ioinss at Yale,
Harvard, Princeton and the rest could
be summed up in ono word fout ball
Indeed, the general impression nova
days seems 10 he thnt college is an
athlatic institution, with Just enough
admixture Of such things ms study and
faculties to distinguish it from such an
organization az the New York Athletic
Club.
Probably thu easiest way to explain
the growth of this idea lies in the fact
often stated that the modern news.
pHper gives the people just the kind of
Information they want no mura---
sumetimea less. Tho average person Is
interested IN colleges mainly from an
athletic standpoint, aud go be hearH
nothing but athletics. That il is
mistaken idea month of college lifo
would show.
AS matter Of fact out of door snorta
act as great safety valve for tho uni
versities and fewer good stul entn arc
spoiled by observation-disclosures in them,
than in the old days wore lost 10 tho
colleges by the lack Of soma such
healthful outlet for their energiea.
Here in Yale there is hardly professor
who does not heartily encourage the
outdoor silo of the college life
There has not baen much timo for
such pleasures as "heeling," the foot.
bsll practice and like diversions during
the past two weeks. College always
opens in confusion; half the class
rhapna fba tbny hal
tine year BEFORE and tho other hBlf must
he shifted around to balance the
divisions There are hooks to he bought,
with the supply always less than the
demand, 90 that one must either borrow
or lend. There is house. furnishing on
q small scale 10 new rooms; innumer-
able pictures to be hung, and yards of
window seats to recovsr-and in the
midst OF this Babel, ono must fight off
a host of subscription iiends. venlers
OF improved photograph racks and
sweet cider agents for encyclopedias
and works OF art published expressly
for Yale students-and direct them 10
their natural prey, tho freshmen. Last,
and not least, for many uhfortunates,
there are conditions. The first question
ones classmate asks iH, How many
conditions did you draw" and this
means examinations 10 take. and pro-
fessore to see, before another year at
Yale is assured.
very unexpected happening this
year 10 The great decrease in numbers
OF the academic freshmen class Ma com
pared with 1900. Not since '93 has the
entering class been so small, Last years
freshman class numbered 357, the largest
class ever entering Yale, and this
year was expected to bring larger one.
Instead, when the registration had
been completed, only 296 names were
on the LETS. The reason for this losa is
n mystery. Certainly not hocauae of
athletic defeats last year. for seldom
has freshman class sent so many can
dictates out for the varsity: nor on
account of financial depression, for
times arc no worse than last year. The
Sheffield Scientific School freshman
show an increase of 10 over '9s S, which
makes the case Of 1901 Nil the more
mysterious. One new Delaware man
enters Yale this year; hs is George II,
Murray of Viola, Del, and enters the
class of 1900 S. There are three other
men now in Shelf. from Wilmington,
one in the academic department, and
two or three more scattered through the
EtuhuuAp hbhoOini ~ Eoull huuWluRl IDT
State the aize of Delaware. Fitz
Cause. '9s s. has recently been elected
a member of the University Club.
A rather interesting fact concerning
the entering class is that moro men
than ever before have applied for aid
from the bpnefciary fund, Fhia indi-
Gates that the bard times have not pre-
wanted poor men from coming to col
lege. This beneficiary fund ia sum
of $4,000 appropriated annually by
the faculty from the interest Of various
requests, and Ia ueed to helm such
students entering the university who
cannot pay all their expenses After
entering, there arc OF cOur8e numerous
scholarships open for competition; and
for col tBin number who can give sat
iafactory evidence to tina faculty Of
thoir need, all tuition expenses are re-
mitted. In view OF the really large
number OF men who work their way
through college, here and in other large
universities, much OF the talk about
institutions for rich mems IONS aeems
little absurd.
On Thursday, October 2sth, the Scien
tifiu School celebrates the Goth annivur-
Hary of lite founding. Exercises are to
BIO held in which many prominent men
will take part, notably President Gil
man Of johns Hopkins; afterwards
large reception in Winchester Hall. and
a presentation to the school of por-
trait of George Brush, LII. d., the
director of the school.
Prof. Brush has been connected with
the school almost since its founding,
and its wonderful development is due
to him moro than to any other man.
He has built up scientific department
of sumo 40 or so students into college
of over 800. Many "old grads" are
coming back to attend the anniversary,
and 1t will be a great day in Nsw
Haven. Many Of these "0ld grads
are much pleased that the constant in
crease in size OF the university has
seemingly been checked this year. They
say that aa the university grows, tho
old Yale spirit must grow less and less,
and the college loss the individuality
it hHs kept for sn many generations.
OF course every graduate thinks that
the palmy days OF Yale were the four
years be spent there. What might be
called IN enthusiasm meetingh of the
university was called last week; adj
dresses were made by alumni urging
still more general interest in college
affairs, and were heartily received.
The nrofessed object of the meeting
was to obtain more system in Vale
athletics, and accordingly committees
were appointed to represent all branches
of athletics before the faculty. BY this
means il ia hoped that fewer good men
will, unknowinRly, let their marks sink
below theIequired stand, and he there
fore disqualified.