New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
YALE OF FORMER DAYS.
TWO CONTRASTING PICTURES DRAWN
OF COLLEGE LIFE AS 1T WAS.

lied THE INSTITUTION AT THE END OF THE
LAST cENTuRY-As BENJAMIN d. SILL
MAN FOUND 1T IN THE TwESTIEs
A MORAL PLACE THEN
Little Of the recent comment In religious journals
and other publications on the present standards Of
morality at Yale has escaped the notice OF BenJa-
min d. Silliman OF Brooklyn. who Is known as
Yale's Oldest graduate In point OF the number Of
years since his graduation. He was graduated In
the class Of 1894 Mr.. Silliman says he rarely visits
New-Haven now. and cannot speak of the status
OF undergraduate social life. OF the past. how
ever. he has many interesting recollections.
Mr.. Sillimans attention was called by A Tribune
reporter on Thursday evening to a clipping from
THE Churchman regarding morality at Yale In
the closing years Of the last century The alb
stract said. among other things:
Along back In 1874 Yale College. according to DR..
Lyman Beecher was In most ungcdly state The
eonsse church was almost extinct Most o. me
Wines and liquors were kept in many rooms IN
temperance profanity. gambling and licentiousness
were common
Mr.. Silliman expressed great surprise that DR..
Beecher should be quoted the author Of such
Information. and declared that II the statements
were true there must have been great trans
formation in the conditions at Yalc between 1874
and 1920. when he entered college. Mr. Siman re-
fused to permit the reporter to quote him. but in
reply to questions he told Of the conditions Mt
New-IIaven ~ he remembered them
The prevailing spirit at Yale in the Twenties was
decidedly unlike the state OF things portrayed by
DR.. Beecher. and Just unlike the pictures now
painted by THE Voice. and other temperance and
religious publications The campus not sur
rounded by salons and similar resorts. Drinking
and carousng were not common. because every
offence summary dealt with In such man.
ner that there usually no repetitions or the
misdemeanor. At a little shop near the campus a
favorite merchant sold ale with sxpenny pies. but
ma Lost q a "a
decorous citizen by washing down the pie With the
ale The students room was not den OF inquiry
and mischief, either because tie young men had
no Ubiquitous and mischevous tastes to sratify or
because there we're too many watchful and alert
tutors and professors No better young men could
be found in tho country than the Yale men OF sew
enty-nve years ago. Boisterousness was speedily
reproved
OF clubs and societies there were few. when MI.
Sllliman in college the three big societies were
the Brothers in Unity. the Linonan and the Cal
liopean All OF these were d!stfnctively literary
and the last-named made up almost exclusive
iy OF Southerners.
Religious societies were supported by the STU
dents and church attendance was always excel
lent. largely for the reason 1t may be- that church
attendance compulsory Morning prayers were
held so early that In tho winter months the STU
dents had to find their way across the campus 10
the chapel by starlight. Evening prayers were also
held. and on Sundays church attendant wa 80, a'S.
clergyman. and the professors, even IL not minis
ters were men Of profound religious convictions
The solicitude Of the professors for the students
welfare did not end when the young men nad peen
sent to chapel twice every weekday and 10 church
on Sundays This is shown by the existence OK
rule saving that student could go out on me
water In a saboat without the permission OF the
proper member Of the faculty This rule, ike many
others laid down more 10 insure the salety 3L
the young students body than to keep his morals
intact II was fully in keeping with the idea that
prevailed then that when parents sent thelr boys
10 college the college should assume all RESPONSE
bIlity which the parents exercised at nome lot ne
Youths physical, mental and moral welfare Inc
modern variety Of football was not known tncn or
the faculty might have had heavy account WIN
parents and guardians for bruised bodies ana
broken bones. III, .,..,n.,
then than now, and there were FEWER OF lneni;;
Most young of the present generation "vuu
consider themselves shamefully treated p onrS
In The college hall was 81 60 week and 800 was
considered an ample allowance for a years ex-
nenses With few exceptions the students nNea ",
The dormtortes Some fortunate Fellows nVeu az
the homes OF relatives in the town. and others VINO
could afford II paid more and had their rooms anu
board In private families, ..., y. 1vuar
II things were bad in fIA as Dr Lyme
Reecher said and II they are as bad now as the
temperance papers say, the early years OF u1e
century were decidedly bright spot IN fale = re-
lIgious calendar and there Is good opporIt,u.iius
Tor some PHILOSOPHER to discover how cohditlohs
improved so rapidly between 1874 and ls2o ano why
they have become much worse IN the last se'-
enty-fve years.