The Portland daily press., 1891-12-26
The HARVARD DiCKEY.
1t Brands IFS NOVitiates with Lighted
Cigars,
MIR. GARRISON'S COMPLAINT AND
PRESIDENT ELIOT'S REPLY.

Mr.. Garrison Says the Society Is Cruel
formances Are Only Silly-Improve-
ment in CoIlegians Since the Days
When the Dignified President Was One
of the Boys.
BOSTON. December 25.-William Lloyd
Garrison writes an open letter to the facul-
ty of Harvard University, calling attention
to the seventies practised in the initiation
of members into the secret societies of the
university-notably the D. K. E. In his
letter, Mr.. Garrison says: "fhe secret So
ciety known as the d. K. e. has long been
source of scandal and of private indigna-
tion. Aside from the witless penalties at
tending the initiation of members, cruelty
has been supera6ded, akin to the barbarism
OF the Fejee islands, or the practices of de-
graded Indian tribes. AS elimination of
the ceremonies and as an indication of
pluck and endurance, the Victims arm is
barred for branding. In the case which has
just come under my observation, six deep
and savage burns, from the shoulder to the
Lifelong scars and Disagreement are bad
enough, but the shock to systems already
reduced in vitality by previous physical
exactions is severe and dangerous. In
comparison with cigar, branding iron
would be merciful. but it seems necessary
to add to the danger Of the burn that of
blood poisoning"
President Eliot was seen last evening
and this communication shown to him.
"The language is little strong, certain
ly," he said. ''Mr. Garrison takes an over
serious view of the matter. The Dickey,"
the society Is known In the university by
that name-"is an old society and is a relic
the only survival of the savagery of the
olden time. The only cure for it is public
sentiment-an education away from Git.
We try to exert an influence against its
somewhat barbarous initiation and hope to
tone 1t down in time. The only possible
remedy, however, is to reach it within it.
self In that way. 1t is not essentially a
secret society. Everybody knows of its
forms of initiation and knows its members
ana its applicants for membership. What
it imposes in its initiation is rather ridicu-
l0us than severe.
The worst thing about 1t Is this brand
ing, which is done with lighted cigar. 1t
has been part of the initiation for years.
do not know of any serious results that
have attended. although there has been
some talk OF instances of blood poisoning,
The initiation is not the same in all cases.
Ihe newcomer is required to do whatever
he is directed. and generally it Is some
ABSURD thing, such as riding from Cam
bridge to Boston In a street car wearing
some striking costume, or with coat turned
wrong side out, or applying at Beacon
street residence for cold victuals. They do
these things as matter. of honor. This
whole matter is silly, in fact.
1.-The society Is considered one of the
most exclusive OF the university. and our
best men are among its members There
are probably sixty men waiting to become
members of the society and there are
probably one hundred and fifty who are
portion in total number of 270O students
When | repeat that this is the only thing
of the kind in the university / have this to
8 add: When / attended this university, forty
years ago, there were things done beside
which the performance of theDickey society
would not be mentioned. In the first place
there is comparatively no drunkenness. At
pieces through drink out of total of few
hundred than do so now out Of our nearly
three thousand men-not in proportion to
the number. 1 do not mean, but absolutely
a greater number than now. This reform
has not been worked by any laws that we
made or could have made. 1t is simply a
change in moral sentiment. It is no longer
fashionable to throw ones life away in
that manner.
Then there is the matter of haziDg.
That died away ten to fifteen years ago.
1t was at one time carried to great ex
tremes. but there is nothing left of the Gus
tom.
Again. the men do not carry on In the
extravagant manner they did in my time.
l remember one occasion where they went
so far as to carry barrel of pitch to the
top of the building and were preparing to
set fire to it when discovered"
And you took part in those little af-
fairs?"
"In many of them of course"
President Eliot also said that Mr.. Garri-
son thought his sons illness from scarlet
fever had been aggravated by this initia-
tion into the society hence the COM
plaint