The record-union., 1891-04-26

lty to the fact that Yale had not then been
conceived OF. President Dunster, too,
overhauled the whole system and drew
up a set Of rules, some of which are very
interesting as showing the state of affairs
In 1850 quote one or two: mo scholar
shall, under any pretence of recreation, or
other cause whatever (unleSs allowed by
the President or his tutor be absent from
his studies or appointed exercises, above
an hour at morning bever, half an hour
at afternoon DINNER, and so long at sup
per-"
As the meaning of the word bever was
refreshment between meals" we must
pe1eVe that the young Puritans of those
days, IN spite of their big ruffs, sober gar
ments and long faces, were carnal minded
enough to be fond of eating to a some
what anomalous extent. Another rule
forbade any student to eat out of the COM
mons; This rule was the source of dire
troubles, which did not cease till the pro-
hibltion was removed. Still another rule
ran as follows: Neither may any scholar
rise from his place or go out of the hall at
mealtimes before thanksgiving be ended,
unless liberty be given by the President,
II present. or the senior fellow, or such as
for that time possess that place."
PRECISE" PILGRIMS.
1t is an amusing picture that rises to
ones mind of all those small pilgrims"
sitting in their places so prim and pre-
cIse, with their long black stockings and
bagglng trousers, their white rutfs and
solemn visages, vainly trying altogether
to repress the human fun that would
gleam in their eyes, and prompt them to
throw the potatoes, while some digni-
tary with a nasal tone muttered an in
terminable grace. Compare that scene with
the present college eating-hall, where,
amid the din of scores of walters, hum
CTR to .l,4.sr
the buzz Of voices and the crash of break
age at intervals, one could not even think
Il grace.
Between 1856 and 1860 complaints of the
commons were frequent. and President
Chauncey applied to the General Court to
have it remedied, but to no purpose. A
large part of our information in regard to
the commons is derived from the account
books OF six college stewards, found in
the possession of Il family of the name of
Boardman, descendants of persons of the
same name, who filled the position of
college stewards from 1852 to 1850. The
steward was, of course, the chief func-
uonary. Then came the butler, which
was not altogether misnomer, for con-
siderable beer was drunk in those days,
and our little Puritan students were good
men at the tankard. Food furnished in
the commons hall was called commons
rms was dinner only. For long time
breakfast and supper were distributed to
students out of the buttery window. Food
furnished in this way was called settings.
The waiting was done by students. From
I6o0 to 1874 were many complaints. The
food, no doubt, was often badly served
and poorly cooked, but, on the whole, it
seems to have been fairly palatable and
digestible.
SwoRE A LITTLE.
Judge Sewau tells of one student who
spoke blasphemous words about the
fare" and, in consequence, was. obliged
to sit uncovered at meals in the presence
of President and fellows. 1t would seem,
therefore, it was the custom for the stu
dents, etc., TO eat with their hats on.
Imagine President Eliot and all his two
thousand charges sitting in the same hall
consuming soup with their hats on. The
hard fare OF the students in commons
in 1851 touched the heart of one Samuel
Ward, who gave the college an island in
the harbor, the rents of which were to be
devoted to the welfare of the students in
commons"
In 1924 the Board of Overseers ordered
all students to board in commons, as they
had began to evade the old regulations.
The new rule, however, was not well
kept, and in 1871 an investigating commit
tee of the board made very harsh report
as to the condition of the college at large.
IlCy OlICI luluGS,
laws to prevent students and graduates
from using punch flip and like intoxi-
eating drinks;o to compel the fellows and
graduates who had chambers in the col
lege to board in commons, to require that
the commons be of better character and
more varied, that clean tablecloths of
convenient length and breadth should be
furnished twice week, and that plates be
allowed.
1t naturally occurs to one to wonder
what the students had been in the habit
of eating from-if they were not allowed
plates. 1t is evident from the persistent
attempts to make every one take their
meals in commons that there was a grow
ing tendency to luxury among the rising
generation of students, which greatly
alarmed the venerable overseers of q
generation past, who then, as now, were
apt to be several decades in the wake of
the college.
Pecuniary fines had now been instituted
in the college, and misbehavior in the
hall was punished in this way. When
we learn that the steward was allowed to
sell his bread and beer, etc., to the stu
dents at an advance of fifty per cent, and
that the beer was made at the college
brewery, and was therefore very thin,
we do not wonder that from 1877 to 1869
the commons were a source of great dis
order.
THE QUANTITY REGULATED.
The quantity in the commons was reg
ulated by the Board of Overseers, who
voted in 1850 "that the quantity of com
mons be as hath been usual, i. e., two
sizes of bread in the morning, one pound
of meat at dinner, with sufficient sauce.
and a half pint of beer, and at night that
a part pie be of the same quantity as
usual, and also half a pint of beer, and
that the supper messes be but of four
parts, though the dinner messes be of
six And as the students were again
drifting away from the hall, the over
seers promised them pudding three times
aweek to induce them to come back. This
not being effectual, a stringent rule was
passed, which led to open rebellion.
The students had for grievances the
persistent refusal of the authorities to
listen to excuses from prayers, and the
badness of the commons. The Board of
Overseers met on the 7th of October, 1766,
and condemned the action of the stu
dents, but at the same time resolved:
THAT there has been great neglect in the
steward in the quality of the butter pro-
vided by him for many years past, and'
etc. The rebellion was quelled with
great difficulty It is not stated whether