The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-11-16
sOnE KARLT HARVARD CUSTOMS.

oOAh E3ALA HAklAAA CLbIUMos
Corporal punishment BY @bOxing'
and by stripes, which must not be sin
human or rimmoderate,- was sanctioned
by law for many years. In the year
1856 it was ordered by law shat the
president and fellows Of Harvard Col
lege tor the time being. or the major
part OF them, arc hereby em-
powered to their best discretion, to
punish all misdemeanors of the youth
in thcir society, either BY fine or whip
ping In the hall openly, as the nature
Of the offence shall require, not exceed
ing ten shillings or ten stripes for one
offence" These punishments wero ad-
ministered with gravity becoming
the offence and the dignity of the col
lege government.
In the diary of Judge Samuel Sew
all. "the good and wise,r is recorded
an instance of such public punishment
for speaking blasphemous words"
The guilty person was condemned to
be whipped before all the scholars /;
to be suspended from taking his bach
elors S degree and to sit alone by him
self, uncovered, at meals, during the
pleasure of the president aud fellows"
The sentence was twice read publicly,
and, after prayer by the President, the
stripes were inflicted, the offender
kneeling, and the president concluded
the exercise with solemn prayer. The
law permitting corporal punishment
was not abolished for more than cen-
tury after the establishment of the
college.
According to the Dunster code of
laws, prepared by the first president,
all sophisters and bachelors, "until
themselves made common were re-
quired not enly to attend church,
and to refrain from gestures that
might show contempt or neglect of
Gods ordinances but to repeat pub
llcly the sermons in the hall after SER
vice. They might not, without per-
mission, connect themselves with the
artillery or strain bands,r nor 20 out
OF town or "pragmatlcally intrude
or intermeddle in other mems affairs,
II tho student woro OF 9known gravi-
tY" and sof approved sober and
virtuous conversation" and If the
president so decreed, he might be al.
lowed TO join military band.
Miscellaneous purchases, or moneyed
transactions Of any sort, to the value
Of . sixpence, were distintly forbid
den without the allowance of parents
guardians, or tutors (the latter word Il
invariably spelled with a capital)
and any contraband article so bought
sold or exchanged was liable to forfeit.
ure at the discretion of the president
The use of tobacco, except by order
of a physician, consent of parents, ol
permission Of the president, was no
allowed. If a physician's certificate
procured the privilege, the Fragrant
weed migqt be indulged in lin sobcl
and private manner"
| In the year 1872, the gay youth o
the college were forbidden, during tn,
exercises of commencement week I,
prepare or provide any such luxuriou
and ungodly viands as "plum cake, o
roasted, boiled, or baked meats" an,
even the of spies of any kind" was for
hidden together with .distilled liquor
or any composition made herewith.
The rooms Of commencers were visito'
by the president and corporation, ant
contraband articles which were foun,
were seized and fines imposed on tn
unlucky students. What would
Harvard student of the year 1889 thin
of q warning against violating th
above decree by tine use of"plain cake,
the penalty actually being the with
holding of the degree, or, II the degre
had already been given, the name wa
to be lett out or erased from the cata
logue Of the graduates
Regulations concerning students
commons were Of similar severity, an
In President Dunster's time the rels
tions between the students and th
butler, cook, and steward was cstat
lishcd by code of laws, The stew
ard was relieved from the necessity o
taking, In payment for debt, any pa
"useless, hazardous or importing detrI
ment to the college, as lean cattle I
feed, etc.' No student, without th
permission of the president or, in h
absence, of the senior fellow, nigh
leave the hall at meal time befor
thanksgiving was ended. And Oh
can easily imagine that a young ma
Of lively disposition would need to o,
ercise his wits to the utmost In orde
to provide any amusement beyon
what could be found In the study {
Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.-fIele
Marshall North, in North American.
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