The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-04
.~SARRoWNEsS At Y4LE.y
An Undergraduate Stirs Up the University
by . General Round of Criticism.

by q General Round or Criticism.
NEW HAVEN. Dec. 3.-soms excitement has
been caused on the Yale campus by the publ
cation in the November number OF the Yale
Literary Magazine Of an article by one OF the
editors, Benjamin B. Moore. on "Narrowness
at Yale" Mr.. Moore sweeptnGly denounces
the undergraduates. the faculty. and the cor
p~oration for the narrow and provincial spirit
displayed in their management OF the affairs
OF Yale. He declares that Yale men have, in
the eyes OF the world. a notorious narrow
mesa" and strawberries them as =" crude, IN
read. and wholly without cultivation" super
induced principally by " laziness and indifHer-
ence." Mr. Moore. who is a member OF the
present senior class, scores the athletic mania
in unmeasured terms. and even has some IN
pleasant things to say about Dwight Hall. the
eentre Of undergraduate religious effort.
This lack OF breadth" he says, "creeps
into even the religious side Of the college.
Whatever ones individual feelings may be.
there is hardly any one who would condemn
Dwigh Hall as it should be. But many, and
not altogether unJustly. DO condemn IL rs it is.
sake of a political pull or who are persuaded
TO go there on account OF the prestige attached
all al ' sineer pSru and WITH WITH the highest Mahs ST Ro fff aa
But these same men often become so
very narrow that they can see nothing. do
walls d Dwight Hall And these men are lust
as bad as the others: their hobby il religion. as
athletics or grinding Is that Ot others. They are
no nearer the goodness which they desire than
those whom they condemn, They too. must
broaden; knowing more than the work Of the
Young Mems Christian Association, II they
wish 90 really attain that virtue Of life which Is
their ideal.
The writer also has no Iondness for the
sophomore society system Of Yale, which he re-
CARDS as another INDICATION Of undergraduate
prOvincial!sm. Mr.. MOOre's remarks on This
subject are rather timely, inaSmuch as a COM
mitree Of the FACULTY Is lnyeHtigattng the sub
their curtailment or aboli'' N. 'Thi SAME
characteristics, SAYS Mr.. Moore, shows itself
In the much discussed matter Of sophomore
societies., Nothing could be IN many ways
smaller than rh-ir present policy. the most
marked regularity i which Is It's shortsight-
edness. They do not seam To see that 60 nomi-
nate and endeayor TO run into office IA man no.
tortously unfit does ahem more harm than the
Only effect is 10 make evident their lack II .
competent man, and 20 arouse indignation at
The attempt to forre on the college a man unfit
for the position. Nor could anything be more
evil than the custom observed by some VI the
sophomore ~sonisEies Of having their men form
a clique. asSOciatlng Wlth no one hut their own
members. There IL no narrower man nor one
who IN the end does more harm to his society
do it-who cuts himself of from his former
friends and from every one not in his society.
two sophomore societies, and were they Zone
AWAY with and a few reforms mate there would
be no rG|a = their aboIishRlenE.
The faculty Is 40 ulOle lOp4Iat with The
present writer than several tiIne-h9nored in
situations OF Yale. Inder sUch clrcum-
stances. +" he says, ' one would expect the fac
glty 70 labor = III all their might foe a broader
lie but in many cases they; Too. are u~nrortu-
nately on the Ilttle side. Yale has IN her faculty
many splendid men OF whom she 0r any mt
yersity may well Do proud. but she has also .
credit to the university thsre are stu too many
professors whose horizon Is 50 limited that
they can see not merely nothing but
their own subject out only a portion OF
whole OF life, and teaching it A. 50 much
pedaptry. Culture IS 2 thing OF which 5he
average Yale unierg radudte Knows ltttl- and
cares less; but the lIck OF Il in some Of mis-
professors is what gives them IN his eyes their
small and grut-sque appearance. such men.
before ssum,ng treir positions, need broaden
ing amt a kaen realization ot the fact that no
sIUl.ct. mU b. less The mere pAtauIc side II IL.
Is OF any talue or tts own sake; and they also
need t. earn the meaning OF . word strange 70
Anne ricans. and especially co New EnElauders-
culture: but the faculty Of Yale on !ht 70 be
conspicuously nc the head Of q movement
toward greater breadth among underKraduates
retarded and repressed By the opposing in
| hnonee Of eeFtaln peotessors."