Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-40.djvu/311

Rh followed by invitations to call, unless a further acquaintance with the student seems to justify this extension of hospitality. The average student is thought of as a sort of happy-go-lucky fellow, bent on having a good time and on spending the allowance vouchsafed him by his "governor," but caring not overmuch during his stay in New Haven for the refining influences of the home circle. This idea, it is hardly necessary to say, is an incorrect one. By far the greater portion of the students are thoughtful, earnest young men, and they respect the confidence reposed in them by the families whose friendship they have sought. It may be remarked here that a large number of collegians do avail themselves of social privileges offered, and become well known in New Haven society before they graduate.

Many men widen their circle of acquaintances through their connection with the various churches in the city; others, by their brilliant personality and evident intrinsic worth; still others, through the kindly offices of post-graduate relatives or friends. A sprinkling of Yale men is generally observable at almost any private entertainment, and the quota of collegians at a social affair conducted on a large scale is always conspicuous. A few men in each class enjoy pleasant social relations with the families of the members of the faculty. Among the most delightful occasions of the whole college year are the receptions given by the President to the Freshman and Senior classes. The former occurs in the fall, and the latter in the spring, a short time previous to graduation. Although the majority of the professors may not invite the students to their homes, they take a genuine interest in their welfare, and are slow to curtail their liberties in any manner. The lack of constraint between pupils and instructors is a prominent feature of Yale life.

The meetings of the Young Men's Christian Association and the class prayer-meetings are the means of bringing many men together in one common pursuit, and warm friendships are often formed through these mediums. The glee-clubs and other musical organizations, as well as the various literary and debating societies, accomplish the same result.

It is a rather curious fact that marriages between New Haven girls and college men are of rare occurrence. Why this is so is hard to explain. It cannot be that the young ladies of the Elm City are not pretty, for they have a wide reputation for good looks, and their beauty is by no means skin deep. Many of them are unusually accomplished, are entertaining conversationalists, and cut a brilliant figure in society. On the other hand, the Yale men are as handsome, wear as good clothes, and possess as much intellectual ability as do