The sun., 1909-06-29
OLD GRADS MAKE YALE HUM
NEW HAVEN NOISY WITH THE
GLEE or THE REJUVENATED,
Reunions OF Alumni. Glass Exercises and
Preparations for the Morrow FIJI lrp
Happy and busy Day-Departure Of
Dean wright Only Note OF Regret,

Preparations TOR tne MORROW Hi Vu
Happy and Busy Day Departure Of
Dean wright Only Noto OF Regret.
NEW HAVEN. June 2s,-When old va le
hits this town something always hap
rsns, as all Yale men and all permanent
residents OF New Haven know. There
Usually is a lot Of noise; there was this
afternoon between 1880 and 2:SO O'Clock
when hundreds Of old grads came rolling
in on trains and motor cars
The rain wasn't made by the Yale men
Nature furnished that part OF the com
msncement show in the shaps OF the
nosiest slambangiest thunderstorm New
Haven has had in years. The oldest
living residents flocked to the newspaper
Offices after the downpour and heavy and
light artillery Of the heavens had ceased
TO bear witness TO the truth OF this state
meut
The open air exercises Of the Yale
College class day Of 1909 were just about
to begin on the old campus. just south OF
old South Middle, now known as Conneo-
ticut Hall. The storm broke up the open
air part of the show. Did 1t ruin the
exercises? Not bit OF it. The girls in
y,
hearts and mothers too, just gathered up
their skirts and made wild scramble in
the wind and dust and pattering rain
drops, punotuated with terrible growls
and roars by the thunder god. for the
Hyperion Theatre. a little more than
100 yards away. The seniors formed in
line and marched in
Then what happened? Why. the speak
trs, showing the true Yale spirit Of never
tay die, not only got of their speeches
in fine style, but actually 30 timed the fine
points OF their talks as to use the thunder
elaps and mighty rumbles for part OF the
applause,
Guess that's going some. said proud
senior Shows what a class like 1909
can do in the way Of meeting emergen-
ties'
But that storm was really hummer
New Jersey may be famous for its own
private brand OF lightning but all the
world knows that for the real article no
llace, no commonwealth can equal the
record Of rock ribbed Connecticut.
All hands agree that to-da Us storm
was veritable cloudburst. Hundreds
OF visitors we're marooned in the rail-
road station for an hour The streets
surrounding the place were literally knee
Geep in water.
The visitors took the situation philo-
sophically, for it gave opportunity for
scores of private reunions. II was curl
Gus to watch the enthusiasm OF the old
grads grow as they neared New Haven
Leaving the Grand Central station on any
through train you would scarcely know
Yale man was on the train unless you
might chance to overhear word here
and there as a couple of men passed your
seat. By the time the train reached Stam-
ford there were numerous groups in every
car in earnest conversation. When
Bridgeport was reached several process
sons passed through the train. There
were numerous handshakes and hearty
greetings. By that time you knew that
two-thirds OF the crowded train was
going back to New Haven as part OF old
Yale
When New Haven was reached and the
young and old fellows Of the days gone
ty passed out OF tho cars and mot others
who had come on other trains and were
held up by the storm their hilarity
reigned.
Old graybeards and young and old
the back. and it was Hello. Bob. Hello,
I ON. Jack. Harry. Walter and all the
rest.
How ye gettin' on?' was about the
question. Then 1t was How many
children ye got?' II the answer was sat
isfactory there was big slap on the
shoulder and further notes were compared
as to boys and girls.
Occasionally one of the younger grads
would admit reluctantly that he hadn't
any additions to the family. but some Of
them would whisper confdentially now
Gnd then and almost invariably the whis-
rering would elicit a response like this:
Good! Hope III be a boy so you can send
him to Yale Then there would be a
laugh.
All hands wanted to know exactly who
was and who wasn't coming back. after
which they asked for news as to the pros
rects Of beating Harvard in the boat race
on Thursday.
Then it was that Old Yale came back
to New Haven. When its representatives
ere able to scull out Of waters that sur
rounded the station they went up town
,r into town, whatever it is. like normal
eines. sedate members of the community.
ind disappeared. Half an hour later the
Younger set OF them appeared in hotel
Hobbies and on the streets in all sorts OF
cutlandish costumes What relation there
h between the clownish attire Of the
Younger alumni OF 4 university and higher
academic education in these days per-
haps experimental psychology alone can
reveal. But IL experimental psychology
can explain this puzzling matter, it didn't
have a chance. for these graduates kept
feesawing about the streets in glides and
swings, dancing and hurrahing and acting
ike whirling dervishes. When they
paused for rest they played marbles. ball.
kowtowed to every one and every mothers g
son was sure he was having the time OF his
life.
The class Of 1905 was especially promi-
nent. Its members wore purple surtouts
or tunics or robes--call 'em any old thing
you wan. reaching to their knees. They
had black knee breeches and maroon
stockings. They wore tin cus2idors or
red bandanas for headgear. They had
strange and marvellous signs and things
lettered on their backs and calves and
thins They carried toy rifles and ever |
and anon a company Of them would form |
behind some barricade on the highway |
and they would shoot down the imaginary |
foes OF Yale. Their drilling was worthy |
Of the best emulation OF the famous Null |
lgan Guards.
Thus. fellow citizens. you can appre-
ciate the benefits Of a college education |
after II has been allowed to soak suitable |
number Of years.
Were the members OF the graduating
class devotees OF frivolityf No. 1t win |
take them yearS Of experience ip the |
rough and tumble things OF the world |
20 develop that. They were dressed In |
sombre black, with caps and gowns. and
they played their part OF dignity and |
gravity as well as the returning alumni |