New-York tribune., 1903-04-05
YALE'S NEW SOCIETY.
"EI;hu'' Is Started on Basis NesC at
This University.

tse iron doorway Cor windows. and posts in
front frsnse6 with loops OF chain. Between tho
stone posts that flank the gateway. single narrow
furrow in the stone walk 10 the door shows where
thousands of Yale feet have shufied for score OF
college generations
The Yale undergraduate who Is asked such
question glances about him furtiveiy to make GER
tain that one is within hearing lowers ms
voice and says the word. ''Bcnes
That epitonlizes the whole attitude which most
Yale undergraduates take. through the force OF
campus tradition. regarding the three secret So
cieties that make up most Of the social hfe OF the
Yale senior year. To mention either one of them
il the presence Of college who is a member,
or who is likely to be. or who has been, Is
sacrslege that no right minded Yale under
graduate viii commit. For four years ne goes
through the Yale life takes part in all Of the
campus activities. finds his friends among the
sorty-five who make Up the quota from his class
who receive elections the three senior societies.
and never once. except when some inquistive out
sider who does not understand the sacredness Of
Yale traditions. asks the question. point blank
does he mention the name Of the three instr
tutions known Skull and Bones, Wol1s Head
and Scroll and Key. which are the acme Of under
graduate social ambition.
Nevertheless. eleven prominent members Of the
present Yale senior class have just announced the
organization Of a society. which is totally at
variance with the accepted traditions at the New
Haven university. and this announcement Is just
now caIlengi ging the entire Yale undergraduate and
graduate world n thorough discussion Of the
which il already gone in forming college social
ideals in New-Haven. and what il bids fair 10
lead 70. unless attempt is TO be made 70 in
tro5uce different spirit IN the Yale social system
This nex society. be known as the Elihu, is
he first step ever taken al Yale TO introduce the
open society system Of ether colleges The fact
that II has already received the good wishes Of
many Yale men. both n college and out, Is good
sign that the reform If such It can be called,
long desired by many close students Of Yale life.
has about begun. Il would be at all surprising
If in the course Of years further steps would
he taken broaden the society life AT Yale along
these new lines Il that is done. and Il is under
stood that the movement is supported by many
faculty rnernher the near future is likely
complete change In the Yale Society system.
though without in any way impairing the strength
which the old societies have in Yale undergraduate
life.
= has long been ? y uonder TO students of other
universities. and in many instances source Of
amused caricaIure. that Yale. with its large
classes made up Of young fellows the large pro-
portion cr whom early make their mark IN the
graduate world. has clung its secret societies.
walled I'D in windoHless meeting halls. and fenced
about with the most complete silence and secret
ness 10 which adnittance is denied except 10 a
bare forty-fve men out Of every senior class OF
above three hundred
EuuaI criticism has been heaped upon the exter-
zion Of this system 10 Junior class, in which
four secret societies taking in in all not over l5o
men and shrouded from public gaze by the same
secrecy comprise much Of the social opportu-
rite. which the college offers. Until few years
ego the sophomore year had its societies also. each
hedSed about with equal secrecy. TO mention which
IN public was met by stony stares from the mem
bers. - -,
Ices tris secrecy was dropped years ago. and
..oners. societies and clubs substituted Al hae
there has never been any a'teillpI H'i'-4 NV -
make this change
,T-,a -ea1 reason why no attempt has been made
,,-7 nov 20 revise the Yale society system mas
been the lack Of any organized sentiment that cor
-.-5o-e needed change. There have been sporadlc
-e,or,,-jors plenty Of Them various youtnIui JeIt
-ssps bzxe renned youthful diatribes in the col
Ieea rress: the faculty has in tunes pas"
e1c,ed the more harmful OF the secret socleues'
s,1c7 zs the famous suppression OF the freshman
so-se-ies a generation ago. the annlFeIsaIE u
,i.77 ie stiu celebrated the campus on OMEGA
lambda Chi night. The first systematic eIloit -
,.ae5 our the succession Of class socleueS caiIo "
<n- ,esrs ago when a senior class In two success
sze ,-ears trained its non-society ire on the Pie
+-,e evil Of sophomore societies. with the result
7hst these societies were completely wiped OUT
tse Faen said that Yales social system IS mace
- - ,v-,, distinct parts-the secret societies. winch
s-a- n only = few and the fence which Is open u
- -,.n and which mas been able 10 continue
-ne old time democracy. changed as II iia'u
rss aeen by the changed character OF 'ne , u,iu
r-rs5-,ares themselves and Of campus soc-ai iu
Whether this is true not the tact remains '
,,r5er The PREVALENT system at Yale only c''
I'm .rs rewarded with any social recognition o
= - .,,,rse ard rhrt great body OF men, OF I,
,-tq- standards and Of ability. nave hao 10 81
--~,,.,, their Yale course unrecognized as De4Hs
a rroninent as they really have been. slTnPiE D
csr=e Of 1he physical impossbility Of stre'chiis
-yn society quota TO receive mem ,.,e often
- e--ile 81 tDe Yale society system nave
SEQ 10 blind their critics 10 the actual sood deied
-h-r have accomplished. loI II - - 80 vale A
rhfr ,1niore has createu al O.
social goal that has had hieht - ne three
undergraduate ne 1IIc .o,oolefed only
soI}eftes instance. u -
80 --e orr-- --flN VINO are u
[[i-ereSeo.s rom the incoming senior cIass- .bs
th;s that has nlade Tap DAY. M fs "a the great
erC = Ma. th% most IiIlpoT "a, +ornd an the
Is: uurn5er cf juniors that Is - p Ftarnoop the
Tse calendar At o Clock on ao, -, fe,re on the
Car7,e sT5 o-re 5z one the acconnpan -
!rteIse excitement on The part o. N are
1sIan-sS@ hv The senior society meInpefS S..ra.ad
tected 70 nj their places ne lIpot Ie ceremonai is
nor drliea4ed bv any other function In me c.S coeS
year. To man who recel es taso o. chosen as one
- - -orT,-f,e riazgest-' men in his Class
whatever lire # work he mas P PuI be II literary.
6ThIetir or social has been 'recogTlzeo, - - he
nan who is not chosen iheLe 80 mat h. can
trc- - yale student As the result OF @ Ills 81 81
very high standard Hllcn s,te - come to stand
Tor The very nest in Yale NE a. 49,, rewsTd for
Undergraduate career With the hlSlt SSt man can re-
ceive from his fellows =. 49,, shat -he reason
Al the same ti1ne-snd II IS mere ma @ -, fo,,o5E
for tie Organization of the FIlihu y 70 ag9i.jou
v-exe-f e--efen1 giving. il does rec
o only 1eW Of he TnanE strong s.,de 10 use no
.a - d5ecfive on account Of this the . ciiu
cism has been made agains' eis eh Social standard
s5d that as many good men are ieft ouisioe " q
s@1ll' M sc-o that is maintained about the lsle
xCr;etz- evrtern throughout The year y - lr11ouys
.iaii during the initiation weeks 10 s o,r ~ the
-vEo. ooes On behind the cioseo IRON 9NO. 70
go C9iat5es alter the members elect are