The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-11-22
TIE oRGAN1z ED oREER.

liam Lyon Phelps of Yale College that
in all of his public speeches he says
something to make the other fell
think, whether he convinces him or
not. It was so even when he was mis-
quoted in the newspapers with regard
to Kipling. He did not say the unkind
thing attributed to him about the no..
ed English writer, but he did prov 'ke
a most interesting discussion as to
whether the Kipling pen had shown
less point since his severe illness in
New York.
1t is now Professor Phelps expert
ence to sit by and hear his views on
organized cheering In intercollegiate
contests discussed. At a mass meeting
OF the students Of Yale University the
other evening at Alumni Hall he elo-
quently told his audience that they
should cheer with mighty will at the
approaching game with Harvard and
make such a noise that the one
thought in their minds would be III.
glory Of Yale. The Hartford Couran.
at this makes a vicious plunge at the
Phelps center in these words: an our
opinion the esteemed professor verges
closely on the crime of melting the
students to breach of the peace. The
pumped-up cheering, with gyratlng
lunatics squirming in the foreground,
is amusing for the first few minutes,
but as the game develops it becomes
distinct nuisance. At times it so n
terferes with the playing that requests
to shut up are sent in from the fled
When a really thrilling situation comes
along the artificial enthusiasm dies a
natural death, and after the situation
has resolved itself the genuine enthus-
iasm bursts out In striking contrast to
the Come now kind. The occasional
songs of the colleges come across the
field delightfully."- and they are a dis
tinct addition to the entertainment.
But this cheering on the make lot
of noise plan is disturbance "
1t is very embarrassing task TO
Judge between the convictions Of two
such able-bodied and attractive au-
liberties as Professor Phelps and Col
lionel Charles Hopkins Clark of the
Hartford Courant One of them could
surely whip us in free hold aud pos.
sibly both could. It is therefore the
voice Of reason to select as our adver-
sary In the controversy the one with
whom we might have the best chances
We agree with Professor Phelps that
whatever tends to make the student.
of Yale reflect vociferously upon the
glory of the venerable Institution is q
good thing, but we feel a weakness Of
the knees when he asks us to accept
organized cheering as an expression Of
that reflection. 1t has been our obser-
walton, though we admit we may pos
sess poor sight, that organized cheering
is so impossible of recognition wheI
anything Is done which Is really wortl
while that we have lost faith in it. /
reminds us of the eloquent speeches o
discomfort which IRE made when ev
erybody is at work and happy Du
which are forgotten the moment dis
tress comes. If we could have alway
on the athletic field the kind of or
genized enthusiasm which Professo
Phelps creates by his presence W
should enter no protest, but there /
no comparison between that and tn
kind handed out to a crowd bent upo
Exhibitions of skill.
These are days, however, of ope
< discussion. Would it not be goo
1 idea to bring Professor Phelps an
Colonel Clark together in this tow
r for the purpose of settling the dis
a pute? If we were to search among GU
wide circle Of friends for masters {
the art of suasion we could find n
two more suited to the task of mt
= tually confounding and enslaving a
" audience than these gentlemen VIII
are the more lovable because they az
charming in their disagreement.
such were to agree upon things til
delight of living would be gone altt
It gether. 1t is the inexperienced tht
u makes life worth living.