The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-18
THE LAW OF osTRACIsM.

THE LAW OF osTRACIsM.
 It is now some years since Presi- dent Hadley advanced his argument in behalf of social ostracism as sure cure for the offending indicators and owners of predatory wealth. Nor has it lost any of it's strength as a doctrine since that time. The coun- try has seen it applied in more than one case and it has worked with an educational fury upon conspicuous sinners. There has been eyer since an encouraging desire on the part of the weak and trembling to be good and thus escape the awful conse- quences of being bad
 To be frank we did not expect to see this doctrine applied in any way to any of President Hadley's young men. The people of New Haven have grown so accustomed to the immunity
 
 which protects them in all other con nections that they have read with amazement the obviously inspired mo- tice that the management of Smith college at Northampton prefer that the students of Yale should keep ! away from that scholarly refuge for young women on Sunday This Is leading up to the Sunday observance laws with vengeance. It appears that In by gone years student now and then has put in an appearance at Smith college on that day for the l purpose of seeing his sister or some other fellows sister. Being but a 1 single worm he has been permitted to make his way about without mol estation. He has even been allowed to attend the college vesper service where he has filled his eyes with the poetry of young women at prayer. It was doubtless thought a l good thing by the faculty that erring youth alone could get the chance 10 develop spiritually in such consecrated atmosphere. We can in imagination see the young wo- men rejoicing silently in their effec- tive missionary work. If church full of young lady students does not pos sess the power to reclaim the falter- ing steps of the male wanderer the l jig is up. This must have been the reasoning of the college authorities in the earlier days.
 It appears, however. that the Yale student has been Of late multiplying | himself at Northampton on Sunday ] Whether he has seen the spiritual up- lifting of his fellows and developed a thirst for like medicine may never ,,e known. Certain 1t is, however. that Smith college has proved itself mag net According to statistics. which in this case are more or less reliable, a large part of the prosperity of the New Haven railroad company has come from these rowing students who have made Northampton their Mec. ca; it has even been hinted by Presi. dent Mellen that had it not been fol these Sunday pilgrimages the divi. dend now paid by his company would have been reduced. The manage. ment of Smith college is not, however mercenary. Dollars rank below doughnuts. Dividends paid corporate wealth are one thing. but the sight ci fifty possibly Goddess Yale students al the Sunday college vesper servic, each week is quite another thing. | is something not to be endured anf the edict has gone forth that tho dreadful law of social ostracisn must be applied. The Yale boys mus remain away from Northampton anc bite their thumbs elsewhere.
 The Journal-Courier realizes if weakness as an advocate in an emer gency like this, but it cannot resis the frenzied temptation to invoke tn gentler judgment of the Smith col1eg , faculty. If there is any system whicl will automatically lead the students e Yale to Sunday vesper services ought to be reinforced, not disturbed F There has been frequent opportunit of recent years to dwell upon tn higher moral tone of undergraduat life at Yale. While hitherto no def } mite explanation has been given, i is now clear that it has been tn , quiet and effective missionary worl carried on by the lovely students il a neighboring state. It is a pity tha the benign influence should be with : drawn. As last resort we Woul