The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19

sarily produced by the elective system have
perplexed the Harvard authorities. The
old simple days OF small classes have long
gone by. Class patriotism Itself must be
atrophied when the classes are composed OF
hundreds, not all entering at the same time
nor graduating at the same time, and cut up
into groups by differences OF studies and
pastlmes. The change has its good as well
as its bad, however much IL may be de-
plored by the praisers Of past time. In
sentimental college songs and at every
college reunion IL Is pleasing to put the
rouge OF romance over the memories Of
undergraduate life and to regret much that
has been well lost. The now cracked bell
in Harvard Hall sounds to the ears OF
memory much more melodlously than IL
sounded when IL hurried budding and
yawning youth to Appleton Chapel at hours
impossible to the less uncomfortable II not
less robust picty Of to-day. Who doesn't
venerate the amlable JONES, the ringer OF
that instrument Of pain? Yet at $40 A. NJ.
JONES might have been the eIecutioner, so
unwelcome were his services
What the Memorial dining hall Is to that
| ancient ugly railroad station, near the old
Holmes house, where commons, and not
too long commons, used to be served-that
the new Harvard Is TO the Harvard ola quar-
ter century ago. There are some beautiful
gates now to that yard in which ruder
generation was not allowed to smoke and
to which 1t regarded board walk as vast
improvement. Compare the Hemenway
gymnasium with that little gas house OF a
gymnasium surrounded by n chain, where
MoLINEUx was the sable guardian. Glass
feeling" has gone to join horse cars and tho
patron and the little blue catalogue in the
store rooms OF Time, that oldest OF
goodies"
In the crowded lifo OF the present
Harvard, one may still live as he swsstly
pleases. He may make his own friends or
go without them, be IA sociable MS he
chooses or as lonely youth as the ipgc-
NOUS Mr.. FLANDRAU shows or invents for
Harvard Episodes 1t Is n city and you
are under no obligations to know your
neighbors. The old American college ideal
was q sweet little spot where the halcyon
brooded and you walked arm-in-arm under
the elms with your little mates. II was n
good ideal and Is substantially preserved
in some fortunate institutions, albeit most
OF the country colleges are highly urban,
and purple and fine linen are worn in
Arcadin. But where the conditions have
changed. the existence OF the old order OF
things is impossible. II has ceased at
Cambridge. 1t Is ceasing or is only arti-
titcial at New Haven. New times, new
manners.
Harvard men don't pretend to love one
another simply ms Harvard men. They are
sincerely attached to Harvard. Not merely
as the nurse OF their days OF cubhood,
but az II figure OF a splendid historic con-
tinuity. the college is dear TO its sons. The
| club founded by Major HIGGISsoS will be
! a centre OF undergraduate life. 1t will or
should be q common meeting place for the
students and graduates. 1t will bring all
sorts OF students, social conditions, opin-
ions. prejudices. ambitions into contact.
II ought to teach the athlete that the
grind" Ia not half bad fellow inspire
the grind to initiate the athlete little,
make the recluse little more socable,
knock of the rough edges OF the schoolboy
playing man, soften the cheek OF the snob
and teach tolerance to all its members. To
the graduate on pilgrimage It will be a
welcome haven. Unless Cambridge has
greatly changed n stranger might easily
starvc there.
We believe that some memorial OF the
Harvard men who died in the Spanish war
will be included in the new building The
River OF the Soldiers Field and OF the
Harvard University Club will receive the
thanks OF all Harvard men.