The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-19


The Frolies OF American College Lie.
OUR NKw HAVEN CORRESPONDENTS.
NEw HAVEN, November Is, 1850.
The Bwrial of Euclid.
The following slight sketch of students froIc
at Yale, may not prove unacceptable to some OF
your readers. II il meets your APPRECIATION, please
insert it at an early day.
The 'Burial of Euclid" is one of the Oldest Gus
toms ofthis Institution. Its origin is indeed lost in
the lapse Of time. The study of this ancient au-
thor 10 completed during Freshman year, and
when the class has assumed its sophomorical
dignity, one of the first duties which devolvs upon
it, is the "bural' of his corpse, with all due So
lemnity. For masy years this custom received the
sanction of the faculty, and considered as one
of the harmless amusements Of college life
gradually, however, il became rather noisy and
disorderly ceremony, and consequently suffered
the prohibition of that august body. For few
yearsit was discontinued; but respect for the dead
soon revived ii, and never since, notwithstanding
the positive prohibition of the faculty and their
strenuous efforts to prevent it, has Euclids spirit
wandered around the Styx, lamenting the negli-
gence OF his followers.
The present sophomore class. with characteristic
generosity, determined to conduct the obsequies of
their ancient foe with all due respect. committee
was organized, and made the necessary arrange
mens with all possible secrecy: finally, late in the
evening of the 9th, notice was given in the various
literary societies that the "burial' would take
place that night, at "Barney's Halp'-the watch
word was "Zsps." Annexed is the order of
exercises -
BURIAL OF EusLIp, NOVEMBER, 1850.
PROGRAMME OF ExERCisEs.
l. Overture, by full band from kippiennososts nuto
. Introductory Ode TUNE, i Gaudeamus igitur.n
Fra nTss s. .1sss asus
IuoIid rspuS,upt fs,a. Fratrss sdhuc fui mus
Lqnimus tres msnses Bis vitsm dun hsbsmus. Bis.
9s;;
fuimpa oi1issins. u 1es 'n nOrtas trer'
F0I',nis'qSi i'Ss. Ss. Euclid. Ct cSS$'tur. sBi..
xn.S% 9"i sd,S S. ds:Hs:
's Ha Il asssa ss: s.Ds
sAi'''s' Thrones Bi'' oS %sns SIq ui fire.
Nulius non dsfeat }B;,.
funer qui VENT
sSs.psr e| :, ds, e. rusns
Attasene c9nat. IBIS.
8. Music. 4 Oration--b by Bill Fhzle. S. Poem. g.
Music from the German OF Kismc.schy: 7: Funeral
Sermon by Dr.. r. Itch. Musc-Eucld's Requiem
.. PaDtomims. TO- Song tune Jim crack Corn.
Some months ago when days were warm,
With murmuriDgs loud and purpose high,
We that Euclid he should die
CHoRUs- Prex forbids, but we don't care,
Prex forbids, but don't care,
Prex forbids. but don't care,
And Tommy's gone away.
The night Is dark, the winds blow cold,
The moon is hid in . cloudy fold,
And the time has come, the hour is nigh,
When We swore that Euclid he should die.
Prex forbids, but We don't care &c.
within the Temp here TO- night,
We feast our eyes with the wished-for sight
We zee him in the cofhn lie,
And know that Euclid hs must die.
Prex forbids, but We don't care, &c.
Come sophomeres, ye tried and true
And Juniors, Seniors, Freshmen. too,
Come. shout alo7d the joyous cry,
And swear that Euclid lac must die.
Prex forbids but We don't care, TO.
Hr funeral rites We now prepare,
Thee sad and solemn duties dare;
With oldsn customs comply,
And Euclid, be sgain must die.
Prex forbids but We don't care, &c.
Take courage all who OFT at Yale
o'er tutors wrongs and might bewail;
In death we see old Euclid lie,
And thus thall student tyrants die.
Prex forbids, but We don't care,
Prsx forbids but We don't care,
Prex forbids. but don't care,
Old buclds bresthed his last.
l1-Procession. I2-Pnyer at Grave.
ls-Dirso at Grave Tune, "Auie lang syne.
Til. night a band of valiant sophs,
With hearts all brave and true,
Have cared the threats OF power, that be-
To render thee thy due.
Thy bideous vissge, Euclid new
With sweet delight we burn;
And while We stand together here,
Thy minion tutors spura.
III.
Black curls the smoke above the pile,
And snaps the cracking fire:
The joyful shouts OF merry soIhs
With walls and creams oonspire.
May ye!ls more q. Ddish greet thy ears,
And Games yet hotter glow;
May lercer tormepts rack thy soul
In Pluto's realms below.
AT the appointed hour. the students began to
appear; all were disguised in order to prevent de-
lection and probable dsmission from college sub
sequtnty. An efficient force coxnnittec, we'll
armed took every precauton TO bar the entrance to
any "tutor" or "spy." Ere long, the door was
closed, and The solemnities commenced. ia the
centre Ct the hall Law the black coflin containing
the corpse; various diagrams and figures Surround
I'd the remains. The head was uncovered, that the
class might take one last, lingering look
sat Euclid, the gentlest Of sinners below,
Who had caused them often a little round o."
The skeleton Of the defunct mathematician pre-
sidtd In n most lugubnous aud solemn manner.
AfteT an Introductory ode in Latin, came the ora
tion, witty in the extreme, followed by poem,
other songs and music, all evincing a strong vein
Of bumor. Finally came the sermon, one OF the
most acute and logical productions we have ever
listened 10. Then The procession was formed; the
cofiiD carried by four pail bearers, escorted on
either side by The force committee; torches
abundant; the night WAS dark; the music good;
and the students OVERLOOKING with fun and joty;
proceeding To the colleges, accompanied by very
large number OF towns people, they were greeted by
hearV cheers from ihrir fellow students, to which
they Justify responded; thence, by circaitous
robtes, topping TO sereBade awrlLknown re sidence
in Grove suett, they arrived at the funeral pyre.
Here the usual psntouiue was executed.
hole Is bored through crpy Of the corpse's works.
ard all take look, that they may say they have
,ecp through IL al once; they all walk over IL,
IN order ioat they may asser that they have bern
oru Or.s UsH, ADD many other similar jokes.
The cclIin is finally placed the piles PRAYER IL
offered to Pluto by priest in flowing robes; the
fire is lighted and the dirge is sung Soon the pro-
cessioD 10 again resumed. and oil return to the
College, much cheering and other noise, all dis
perse 20 their rooms.