Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-16
THE HUB.
Interesting Letter from
Wheeling Boy at Harvard
College.
Correspondence OF the Regisler.

attending any college IN the United
States, and certainly the largest since
her existence of more than two hundred
years. There are about l, 400 students
enrolled in the different departments.
The impression has spread abroad
that to enter the University all
that is required is for the candl-
date to present himself at the
beginning of the term. Far from this,
as many young fellow has learned to
his sorrow, is the reality. 1t requires
very hard labor, indeed, TO induce this
time-hOnOred institution 10 open her
classic portals. Out of over four hun
dred applicants for admission, this year
only about two hundred or fifty per
cent. succeeded in getting in, while out
of thirty-five examined at Cincinnati
only five were successful. The require
ments are: Latin and Greek, trans
lated at sight, a reading knowledge
of French or German, Latin and Greek
grammar and composition, English COM
position, arithmetic, algebra through
quadratic equations, plain geometry,
modern and physical geography and
physics. For admission to the scientific
course the Greek is omitted.
There are very few boys ever admitted
without some conditions, that is, certain
studies they must make up during the
year. The average age of the members
of the Freshman Class is ~ years,
although some are 20 and 2l. This class
is appropriately called Freshmen, for
some OF it's members when they first
come are decidedly verdant, but a few
months intercourse with the SOpho-
mores, whose special business it is TO
make the Freshman's life as much
burden as possible, soon rubs off this
freshness, and they become possessed OF
that quality which marks them as
cheeky freshmen" able to meet the
SOphomores on their own basis.
The first Monday after the session be-
gins, is called "blOody Monday" and is
the day, on which alone the hazing of
the "Freshies" by the "SOphO" is allow
ell by custom. But this year, despute
the sanguary title OF the day, although
some hazing was done nobody was hurt.
The hazing, consisting chiefly in dozen
Sophomores entering freshman S room
and compelling him to sing few songs,
stand on his head, treat the crowd or
something of that sort. This custom,
however, is fast dying out and it is
thought will be entire eradiCated
within two or three years unless il re-
ceives an unexpected revival. The
reconciliation of the sophs and freshmen
and the beginning OF that era of good
feeling which is to last throughout the
remainder of their college life and en-
able them to collectively persecute the
the next class OF "freshees" is occasion
ally marked bya "punch supper" given
by the first class to the second. At the
last one, the boys picked up hot stove
and thew it down the steps. 1t is
needless to say that these potite soupres
have become obsolete. Although it is
thought by many that pranks and col
lege sports are carried on TO such an eX-
tent here as to interfere with the studies,
such is not the case. Ii boy comes 10
Harvard with the idea OF not studying
any, no will find himself greatly mis-
taken, for if he does not attain a
certain per cent. he will be
dropped. Forty were dropped from
the Sophomore class last year.
Still, without interfering with the stud
les, Harvard keeps up her reputation as
being the foremost athletic, as well as
classical college in the United States.
The gymnasium is the finest, i'll archi.
tectural design, in the country. IL cost
100000, and its superintendent is a
regular physician, who tells the students
how much and just what kind OF exer-
else to take. | shall say more of
Harvard athletics in a future let
ter. The University comprises about
fifteen building recitation rooms and
dormitories, forming an immense quad
rangle, within which large trees tower,
shading a well-kept lawn. Several
buildings are without this. Memorial
Hall, the dining hall. is an exceedingly
handsome building, has theatre in one
end and seats about 600 students. II
was built by the graduates and dedi-
Gated to those of the alumni who fell
during the late war. Many OF
the buildings are of modern de-
sign and very beautiful. A lady
Is now erecting TCClIatlOH nan, 10 cost
100000. And according TO the "eter-
nal fitness of things" Harvard this
wear opens an annex, where women
NAV receive collegiate instruction, con-
cerning which shall write more anon.
AS everybody knows the University
is situated in the beautiful and admira-
bly, governed town OF Cambridge, only
three miles from Boston, the nearness OF
which is not regarded as a disadvantage
by some Of the students. "Parker's
Hotel" is the Harvard headquarters
in town. Three papers, the Grim
son. the Adrocdte and the LdnDOOn,
are published by the students, the latter
being an illustrated one. Politics, 10
use a slang phrase, are booming. The
hold Butler has gotten is wonderful, and
it looks very much as il he was going to
succeed in getting into the gubernatorial
chair this time. Every where one goes
he sees flags displayed with "Butler"
thereon. But rs have alreadytrespassed
too much upon your space, ] will close
merely remarking that Wheeling is rep
resented here in the persons OF three
bows. one Of whom is the subscriber.
HARVARD.