1903-04 Volume 28 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 335and entertain their friends with less formality than would be required in theircolleges. The Gridiron, comparatively a new club, is a protest against theathleticism of Vincents. It has been a moderate success, without threateningthe position held by its rival.The more important public schools are represented by clubs of graduatesat the universities. The Eton Club of Oxford is a typical organization ofthis class. All the Etonians at Oxford belong to the club, although there islittle sociability or good fellowship in its rooms. Starched sobriety is usuallyin order, but the latent social force occasionally breaks through the crustand a revival of interest takes place. The Winchester Club is much smaller,because only a portion of the Wykemists join it. Its small membership,however, makes it a social body of influence."Except the first chapter, the book is devoted to Americancolleges. The author mentions that previous to the middleof the eighteenth century there were only three colleges inAmerica—William and Mary, Harvard, and Yale; and previousto the Revolution there were only nine—these three andDartmouth, Brown, Kings (now Columbia), Rutgers, Princetonand Pennsylvania. In a chapter on "Student Life inColonial Colleges," he says:Our first glimpses into the social life of the students discover a drearyround of fast days, early chapels, severe punishments, and bad board; thestudents seem to be mere boys and are treated as such. As the eighteenthcentury advances the signs of restlessness begin to make their appearance,and gradually a change in morals and manners takes place. Profane cursingand swearing, the frequenting of taverns and alehouses, the custom ofkeeping wine, beer, and distilled liquors in college rooms, all increased, tothe sorrow of the governing authorities. Tutors were insulted and unlawfulcombinations against the college government were frequent. Laws weremade, penalties inflicted, and remonstrances repeated without eradicatingthese evils or even materially diminishing themRules dealing with every possible variation of conduct were drawn up,with lists of fines attached. The Harvard laws enumerated eighty-threeseparate offences. Most amusements were forbidden. The students couldnot hunt or go sailing without permission, at New Haven. Theatrical performances,billiards, cards, and dice were on the black list. A student mightnot lie down on his own bed in daytime nor spend his own money withoutfirst securing the consent of the authorities. He was strictly prohibitedfrom leaving his own room except at certain specified hoursBy 1725 at Harvard, and 1745 at Yale, the members of classes wereranked according to the social position of their fathers, a usage which pointsto the existence of the class as a recognised student institution. Class daywas not included in the programme of Commencement week at Harvarduntil 1760. Previous to this date the seniors met informally and chose oneof the members to bid farewell to the college and faculty in a valedictoryaddress. The early class-day programmes consisted of a '*Latin orationsandwiched in between two prayers." The list of class orators did not beginuntil 1776,- the poets not until 1786The so-called "Freshman Laws" were another strong force in producingclass feeling. By this unique code the first-year students were consigned toa form of servitude similar to the fagging of the English public schools.The sophomores tutored the freshmen and instructed them in the manners of