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Fact and Comment

Yale '89 to Harvard '89.

The following communication, which recently appeared in the Yale News, is interestingly indicative of the attitude taken by a Yale graduate toward the feeling existent between his university and ours:

To the Editor of The News:

Here is an illustration of the way in which friendly feeling between Yale and Harvard can be strengthened. I send it as an appendix to my communication of a few days past.

The classes of '89 in both universities celebrated last year their 25th annivercary. Harvard '89 sent some slight gift and message to Yale '89. In the midst of the banquet of the Harvard class next day, there appeared a member of the Yale class. He had been sent from New Haven to Boston with a silver cup, engraved "From Yale '89 to Harvard '89," and he certainly took the Harvard men by surprise. They couldn't get over the fact that he had come all the way from New Haven, and with such a token; and when he finished his speech of presentation they finished his speech of presentation they fairly outdid themselves in ovations to old Yale. They even tried to sing the Yale songs, with what success I am not informed. But every man of that class carried away a new opinion of what Yale is like, and of the handsome way in which a Yale man can rise to an occasion. And it is an impression he will not forget.

After all, the feeling between the two colleges is summed up in the Yale man's idea of a Harvard man, and vice-versa; and this idea is built up by small but vivid impressions like the above, together with the vaguer general knowledge which each has of the workings of the other institution. These sharper impressions have come chiefly, hitherto, from athletic events; and I cannot too strongly emphasize the stake which every man in college has in keeping those events (as well as handling questions of eligibility, etc.) high and dry above all criticism. But there are many other passes, as the above incident shows; and they are bound to multiply. And in every one of them, the added ounce of generous courtesy outweighs a ton of argument. WILLIAM E. HOCKING.

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There are thirty-one men now at Yale who have won their "Y".

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