Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
BLOODY MONDAY"
The Annu Rush of the Present Time
Past Customs.


Fast Customs.
In describing the time honored
Bloody Monday" of Harvard the
New York World says: There is
little blood let IN the scrim-
mage nowadays, of course but what
is saved in gore is spent on battered
hats and tatte"ed coats
The custom is almost old enough to
be called traditional The modern
simple rush used to be wrestling
match, and genuine one too The
sophomOres challenged the incoming
freshmen. If the ''soph5 were thrown
the juniors gave similar challenge.
Ii these were conquered, the seniors
either entered the lists or treated the
victors to as much wine, punch, ETC.,
as they chose TO drink
Those were the days when they had
evening prayers; and, at the cOnclu-
sion or the service, the competing
classes assembled on the playground
and formed an extended circle from
which q STRIPPING of the sophomore
class advanced into the area. and de-
FED his adversaries in the name of his
fellow classmen. to enter the lists. He
was matched by an equal in stature,
from the newcomers Beginning with
these puny athletes, as one and an
other was FRUSTRATED on either side,
the contest advanced through the in
termediate gradations OF strength and
skill, with increased excitement of the
parties and spectators. until it reached
its height by the struggle of the cham
pions in reserve on each of the oppo-
site sides.
This form of initiation into college
life was afterward superseded by the
football rush on the old delta" where
Memorial Hall now stands. But even
this was at last thought to be too saw
age, and the faculty Tin 1860 voted to
prohibit the encounter.
The Students however decided to
have a closing service. In tie early
evening procession appeared, at the
head of which was grand marshal
with huge bearskin cap and baton,
accompanied by assistants with
craped stats and torches, and followed
ing muffied drums), the elegist or
chaplain, with his Oxford cap and
black gown, and brows and checks
crooked so as to appear as if wearing
huge goggles; four spade bearers, six
foot coffin on their shoulders, and then
the sophomore class in full ranks.
They looked poverty-stricken. their
L l. ~
in, bore the figures '63 in front, that
being the year of their class, their
apparel such as is suited to the tearing
foot ball fight, and their left legs hav-
ing Grape on them.
The procession moved on in perfect
ly good order to the Delta" and
halted under the trees toward the
upper end where circle was formed.
and the coffin passed around for the
friends to take a last look at the con-
tents-simply football with painted
frill fastened into the head Of the
coffin, while the spade bearers piled
their spades industriously in digging
the grave.
The elegist then in the most excess
lively mock sanctimonious manner,
amid signs and sobs and groans and
lamentations, read by torchlight
funeral address.
The coffin was then lowered into
the grave, which the sections filled.
and at the head was placed an appro-
pirate epitaph in white letters Oh a
black board. On the foot piece the
words In Memoriam" were inscribed
over winged skull.
While they were filling the grave
the class sang the air of '.Auld Lang
Syne." Cheers for the various classes
and groans for the faculty were then
given and the students dispersed. hav-
ing gone through all the ceremonies
with d laughable mock gravity, good
humor and good order.