New-York tribune., 1909-03-20

among educated men that everybody was ready to
cal or 70 accent +Ta rns,1lfs ~ sUnb race as
test OF general ability Under these circumstances
college faculties divided into two parts: the slow
men, who wanted to keep the course. whether
ANYBODY raced or not, and the fast men VINO
wanted TO keep the race. whether there was any
course or not Either attempt in It's extreme form
There was a time. thirty forty years ago
when our college faculties seemed 10 be in danger
To-day under the operation Of the elective system.
the dangers lie in the other direction. We stimu,
danger OF losing the element of competition, OF SO
measures himself with others nor has the public
influence and private stimulus which come OF such
The problem before US to-day is 70 combine the
give the teachers all the incentive to eective teach
ing which the elective system offers but to make
to hard study which the competitive element in
the old curriculum offered. Thirty years ago we
little emong the teachers; to-day we have compe-
tition among the teachers. but very little among
It is for us to devise courses which shall make
than the Old curriculum could do. and which yet
shall be sufficiently coherent to give collegiate
just as farreaching as that which We now have IN
matters social or etoa tsS Tf be !ongt than 6 the
life Of our honored guest
RECORD FOR BIG DINNERS.
to President Taft that the management OF the
waldorf was taxed TO its utmost to find places
for the 1880 diners. The largest dinner ever
given before In a hotel that held there two
years ago, when the Republican Club had LOO
at the tables Some nine hundred persons sat
down TO dinner given in honor Of Prince
Henry several years ago.
Tables we're set in the boxes and in the gal
lerv above them, as well as in the Astor Gallery
adjoining Two boxes were reserved however
at the back of the room. and in them were Mrs
Henri w Taft. Mrs. Sheffield, mother OF the
toastmaster: Mrs. James R. Sheffield, Mrs
Thomas Thacher Mrs Arthur r. Hadley, Mrs.
Anson Phelps Stokes, jr.. Mrs. Julian w Cur
tiss Mrs Walter B. James. Mrs. William NJ
Farnurn and Mrs. Noble F. Hoggson- Mrs.
William H Taft was to have been present, but
had to go to Boston
The unusual decorations came delightful
surprise to the old graduates. AS they entered
the grand ballroom they pictures OF the old
caropus with the red brick row. in the back
Ground which had been painted large
etape scene set up behind the guests table. At
either side were large trees. under the shade OF
which the President and others at his table sat
In front Of the table was an exact reproduc-
+,o -of the old Yale fence" dear to more than
. generation Of Yale graduates, including tho
President It was torn down about 1889 and
the "old brick row" went about two years later.
R,,ilt Of real old tree trunks SCARED with many
an initial and sign cut by the graduates many
~ the diners insisted that it the original
fence. Many came to hang over It. as in the
old DAYS. and talk with bill" Taft
When the coffee served the lights were
turned ont. and from the windows Of the "old
brick row" cleaned lights. A calcium turned on
the scene gave the effect Of moonlight on the
campus
The main dining room had been turned into
q rose bower Climbing up the pillars on the
side were the gnared trunks OF rambling rose
trees which branched out overhead. and filled
with blooms reflected their beauty upon the
diners below. In front Of each box the seal
of Yale over which was the American eagle.
decorated with an American flag.
SANG OLD YALE SONGS.
In the centre Of the room were forty picked
voices members OF old giee clubs who led IN
singing the Yale songs in q way that brought
tears TO the eyes of many old graduate. Care
had been taken TO select many of the songs that
yvAre heard on the campus in the Presidents
dav including Bright College Years" and
wake. Freshman, Wake"
When the lights in the dining room out
and the moonlight streaming down the
,isb+ed dorrnitories cries such used to be
hoard on the old campus at night arose from
,arious parts OF the room Old, gray haired JUS
.,ces of the Supreme Court shouted as they did
when. as sophomores. they yelled to the fresh
men to Put out those lights
..1- there is the room where lived said a
ko,,,er limited States Senator, who had trouble
toaninr back the moisture that came to his
ewes. Then, with one accord there roliea over
~ tbrone Of old and young heads the strains
- -onoa os the dear old songs. All were boys
again on the old campus. When the lights were
tT.r,,ed nm many were seen taking sly dab at
their ewes with their napkins.
THE TOAsTMAsTER's ADDRESS.
Mr. Sheffield the toastmaster, was exceedingly
happy in his opening remarks He said:
We should have had this feast in 1909 anyway
hut a special thing has summoned us ne nSie 80
yirI+t for which Eslihu Yale and MS eoou VIE,
NSfher Yale have waited more than Two nunoTeu
wears And now that ne has arrived, even III
Hadley admits that he Is bigger ana ilner man @ ~
pected His advent is hailed with JOY oy al iale e
men I am authorized by Dr. Hadiey TO s say sd uIai
Mother Yale is doing well, ana is very prouo
and very happy. she should be, ana , almost
ready TO forgive the rest OF rs for being awe
Each class since 17oi has done its share IN pH-