The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-25
CHAPTER VIII.
Democracy or Aristocracy7

Strucnye mind reached over 10 the
students social life and undertook to
organize that and bring it into proper
relationship with the other elements
of university life. he found that he
had put his hand upon what the guard
| ians of the aristocratic institution
were really interested In and what
they were not disposed to see changed
In brief. his idea was the organiza-
! ton Of the university In a number Of
colleges" or "quadrangles'-pra
ly dormitories-each OF which should
harbor certain number of men from
every class, with few Of the younger
professors.
1 President Wilson secured the ap-
pointment of a committee consisting
Of seven Of the trustees to investigate
the merits Of the quad" proposal, and
at the June 1900 meeting the com
mittee reported on 1.-The social co-or-
dination Of the university" indorsing
Mr.. Wilson's plan. The report of this
committee was accepted and its recon-
mendation adopted with only one dis
senting vote, twenty-five of the TWEEN
ty-seven trustees being present. at the
June meeting
/ What was amiss with the quad
proposal?
This-that it cut into the aristocratic
social structure which the dominating
element in Princeton had erected for it
self
| IT, visiting Princeton, you will pro-
coed to the top of a street known as
hi praSrnak nj IL
will see something which probably is
not paralleled at any seat of learning
in the world. Prospect avenue is lined
with clubhouses, twelve of them with
handsome buildings, beautiful lawns
and tennis courts and, in the case of
the more favored clubs on the south
side Of the street. a delightful view
across the valley to the eastward.
Some of the clubhouses are sumptuous,
comparing very favorably with the
best city clubs. Their aggregate yalur
must be much more than 81 100000.
The clubs house on an average thirty
members each-fifteen juniors and ff-
teen seniors, about $50 in all. juniors
and seniors alone being eligible. Three
hundred other members of those class
es can get into no club From this
idea has grown up this dominating
feature of Princeton life. estranged
from the university and yet having
more to do with the real forming of
its students than any other feature of
the college life.
No one can reflect for moment upon
this club system without understand
ing its essentially vicious character.
The trouble is that the clubs neces
sarily constitute an aristocracy in the
midst sof a community which should,
| above all things. be absolutely demo
cratic 1t may be all very well for the
300 youths who enjoy the delights of
the Ivy. the Cap and Gown. the
Colonial. Tiger Inn and the rest
Though such luxury Is of questionable
value to q boy who has yet to make his
way in the world. but what of the
800 young men who have not been able
to make" one of them? They feel
themselves ostracized and Inundated,
and the seeds of social bitterness are
sown in their souls There is no pro-
vision for them outside Of common
boarding houses. Not a few leave the
university.
Worse yet, rivalry for admission to
the clubs is SO great that it Injuries
the work of the freshmen and sopho-
mores The first term of the sophie
more year especially Is considered to
be entirely wrecked by the absorption
Of the students in candidating for the
club elections held that spring. So
highly is membership In a swagger
club regarded that parents of prospec-
tive students have been known to be-
gin visits to Princeton a year or two
before their son entered college with
the purpose OF organizing a social cam
paign to land him In the club to which
he aspired.
4 1t may easily be seen how the exist
ence Of these select lotteries ministers
to snobbery. how they foster toady-
ing. how they introduce a worldly.
material and unnatural element into
what Is naturally one of the finest
things in the worId-a democracy of
boys: how they set up at the outset of
a students career mistaken ideal. an
unworthy aim. and how they divide
students along unnatural lines. Over
| and over again Princeton sees group
| of congenial fellows of the incoming
freshman class gravitate toward each
other In the first few weeks of the
term and then, in obedience 10 some
sudden. mysterious influence from
| Prospect avenue. dissolve. The spirit
Of the place does not allow men to
form friendly and natural associations
in accordance with their tastes and
/ dispositions
They must always strive untiringly
to become friends of those particular
classmates who have the best chance
| Of making" the best clubs. and as
"the hnnch' passes down the line
from Prospect avenue the prospects of
| one and another student wax and
wane. and the character OF the co.
teries in which he finds himself goes
up and down. The social life Of the
| two lower classes presents such a pic