IS GOSLING A PHENOMENON?

THE writer of the article entitled "Gosling and Swellington," in the last number of the Crimson, challenges a statement which was made in a previous article on "Public Opinion at Harvard"; and, as he seems to have misconceived the spirit of that article, I ask the use of your columns again for a short explanation.

I did not write with the idea or hope of carrying conviction, nor did I aspire to criticise Harvard social life. My aim was merely to show the influence which popular men have over public opinion at Harvard, and the good which they may do by means of that influence. I am not aware that this topic has ever been discussed in a college paper before, though in illustrating it I spoke of a practice which has been the subject of college comment, - I mean the practice of toadying.

In referring to this time-honored college custom I said that a great responsibility rested upon popular men, inasmuch as many of their admirers would imitate their actions; and, to use a strong illustration, I said that if Swellington got drunk, Gosling, even though he did not like the taste of liquor, would follow his friend's example. This is the statement that "D" challenges. I do not say that Gosling does drink to excess, but I say that he will if Swellington does, and I draw the conclusion from Gosling's conduct in other matters. When "D" says that no man ever "drank to excess, in spite of his dislike to liquor, because it was the 'proper caper,'" he shows a surprising lack of knowledge of human nature. It is natural for a man to do what the man whom he admires does. Human nature is much the same in Harvard College as it is in the world at large, and the only reason why the Harvard Gosling does not drink to excess is because Swellington does not. It is due, not to any virtue of Gosling's, but to the fact that our popular men exert a good influence.

The number of men who carry their hero-worship to such an extent is happily small. But although Gosling is not often seen at Harvard, he does exist here. We all know him. He is not an imaginary phenomenon, but real flesh and blood. To use a milder and perhaps more applicable illustration than the former one, he is the man who, though he has a short neck, must needs make himself ugly and very miserable by wearing a high collar, because Swellington, who has a long neck, can wear such a collar comfortably and to advantage.

I did not say that any one became popular by such policy as this. In fact, I meant to imply the contrary, and I am well aware that the most unpopular men in college are those who have so far mistaken the elements of popularity as to think that toadying is one of them. I did not, however, imply that any Harvard graduate was an imbecile. I merely drew a picture of Gosling, and if anybody insists that it is the picture of an imbecile I am not responsible for that opinion.

Above all, although I called attention to one unpleasant feature of college life, it was far from my intention to present an unfavorable picture of it; and it is hardly fair to say that my statements correspond with the exaggerations of the Herald. College evils are grossly misrepresented by the public prints, and society at large is not aware how much good there is in college life, especially in life at Harvard. Ability, when it is attractive, is quickly recognized here, and our leading men exert a good influence over their fellows; for it is one of the happy distinctions of Harvard that a man cannot become popular here unless he fully deserves to be so. But perhaps no society was ever so good that its members did not wish it better; and those of us who have given any thought to the subject must wish that integrity of personal character was more respected, and that rivalry and toadying might be banished from Harvard life.