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in some cases college honors, are sought because of the influence
they might bear. Membership in the ‘‘Bones'and the Keys” is really
valuable since it Introduces a man to the best graduates , of Yale
wherever he might be and .secures for him entertainment by able
undergraduates on his return to his Alma Mater. Both clubs have
developed men of great pride and generosity. In their attitude
toward the public the .“Skull and . Bones” makes no. display
while the “Keys” is ostentatious. This spirit is typical of the mem
bers in each,—“Bones” gathering in men-, of'real ability and the
“Keys” men of brilliant social qualities.
For many years the neutrals, continued to be bitterly hostile
toward both these secret societies, but. the hard feeling is gradually
disappearing. Senior societies in other colleges have tried to imi
tate the* “Bones” and the “Keys” but have always failed. They seem
to have a distinctive, character of their own which belongs to Yale
alone. The Yale system of lower-class societies makes possible
the sifting of men so that the ablest students are well-marked char
acters by the end of the junior year. The Harvard system might
have developed like Yale had it not developed social clubs.on the
basis'of congeniality. Furthermore, it would be hard at present to
deyelop a system .of ¿o<;ieties on a class basis owing to the elective
system which does away with close class sympathy. The freshman,
instead, of meeting freshmen only, in his. classes may now be thrown
among students .of all classes. In 185$ • Princeton abolished all
secret'societies and has claimed immunity from-factions and petty,
jealousies because of this action. -
In larger universities and especially in the West there is a strug
gle between fraternities and neutrals for supremacy in politics. The
fraternities-bind themselves together) working'with organized plan,
and the neutral's, though they outnumber their opponents, Will often
lose the day for want of a good leader and a definite plan of action.
Whether the ultimate end of fraternity influence on the individ
ual or his college is for the best is still an open question., . Able college
men argue on both sides. One prominent college graduate gives,
it as his opinion that his fratmity experiences are the most valuable
portion of his college training} while another equally as prominent
says they are the chief cause of dissipation, and neglect of studies,
and they interfere with the highest scholarly progress of the very
best • fellows. Objections raised, by .those who have, made special
study of the question is that they divide the college into factions,
thereby promoting envy and jealousy. They are contrary to the