Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-22
A DESPICABLE PRACTICAL JOKE.
How . Harvard Society Annoyed an Esti-
mable Boston Lady.

From the Worcester (Mass.) Spy.
Many older graduates, especially OF Harvard,
will recall the formerly uch-talked-of Med
Fac. "a corruption of medical faculty-and
how at the doors Of this mysterious association
Of sophomores and upper classmen the COM
mission of by far the great majority OF college
pranks of those days was laid. The club, it is
believed, died a natural death some years ago.
just as its greatest rival, the Frozen Pudding
Club, was entering field upon whose broad
expanse deeds of daring and of deviltry were
done which brought blush of youthful envy to
the cheeks of aspiring emulatora
The Frozen Pudding Club, or Phi ri Kappa,
to use the Greek symbols which adorned all its
belongings, is, equally with the MED Fac. ="
thing of the past To the credit of Harvard
be it said that such associations do not take
strong and lasting root in Cambridge soil.
In the clubs secretary's books no name ap-
peared; simply the Greek letter initials OF the
members pseudonyms and all transactions
were written up in such manner and in such
terms that to the uninitiated all would have
been the veriest jargon. Upon the same officers
desk stood the SEAL
This is the first public explanation giving the
reasons of the change of the seal Of Harvard
some twenty-odd years ago from oval to round
That the change was compulsory will readily
be seen.
The seal mentioned had been the college
seal. member of the society, who had one
day been summoned into the august presence
| of the college president Chen the late Rev. DR..
Thomas HilD to receive q warning for some
| slight misdemeanor, slipped it into his pocket
and gave it to his club. In addition to the
| functions it performed in the esoteric rites Of
the society it added weight and importance to
many fictitious degrees issued in the name OF
the college. Among these degrees were those
| eagerly accepted by Daniel Pratt and .'Count
Joannes," as we'll as others sent to men OF prom
inence in this country and abroad. The fact
| OF society and college using the same seal
| causing some. confusion, the alma mater. as
many dear mother has done before, yielded
| to her youthful scion, and, while retaining her
tlme-hOnOred motto. changed the shape of her
| seal from oval to round.
The initiation attendant upon admission to
membership in the Frozen Pudding Club or
Phi ri Kappa followed in many respects the
curriculum e1empli6ed in the Oldest literary
society Of the college-the Hasty Pudding. 1t
continued six days.
Mrs. Otis, whose husband had competently
| filed several political positions, among others
upon the sanitary fair commission during the
war and was known throughout the loyal north.
She had achieved q recognized position and
her friends we're legion.
For some time things had been rather dull
in the ranks Of the Phi Pi Kappa, and it was
that the giving Of bogus party reception
be undertaken. 1t was decided that Mrs. Otis,
owing to her prominence, should be the inno-
cent donor. There was no animus whatever
against herself, and she and vast number of
her friends were known to various members of
the club
The day was set Some fifteen hundred invi-
tations were issued, not only to personal
| friends but to men in public life and to women
OF note by reason OF social and literary renown
OF the state legislature, Of which Harvey
Jewell was then the speaker.
1t was town talk, as had been anticipated
The first intimation Mrs Otis received of the
contemplated gathering was in a letter from
Speaker Jewell regretting that the legislature
could not as body accept her kind invitation,
but promising that as many as could possibly
attend would do SO.
Mrs. Otis was, to say the least, astounded.
Calling upon Mr.. Jewell, she was shown the
invitation beautifully engraved. which indi-
Gated INT she was to hold reception at her
home. IA Mount Vernon street, upon the speci-
fed day from l until o'clock. What to do
she did not know. but at least that invitation
was made null and void. That the existence
of other invitations had not, and apparently
did not, come to her knowledge is inexplicable.
1t 10 possible she thought this missive to the
legislature the only one. At all events no
steps appeared to be taken to Illustrate what
was impending
On the day before the reception" several
members of the club went to every store Of
prominence in the business part of the city and
ordered articles sent to Mrs. Otis residence
the next day between / and o'clock. They
ordered furniture groceries. barrels OF -four,
vegetables, coal, hacks, furniture vans used for
moving household impedimenta, pianos, sew
ing machines-in fact, they ordered pretty
nearly everything that could be ordered. doing
much of it by messenger, both to save time and
to save their appearance in person.
In tho Boston Herald" Of the morning Of
the fateful day appeared the following adver-
tisement:
..wANTED-A cat. Any one having fine gray cat
street today at o'clock"
As the family OF Mrs. Otis was about sitting
down to lunch furniture van drove up to the
door and the bell rang. In answer to his in
Quiries the driver was assured he had made a
mistake. He had hardly gone when the door
bell rang again. Standing on the curb
truck, and on it. securely incased, q grand
piano Of famous make. With fear and trem-
bling Mrs. Otis bethought herself of the episode
Of the Capitol and her interview with Speaker
Jewell. Going to the door herself-upon the
sidewalk were barrels of-nobody knew what!
Three sewing machines, already. Far as the
eye could reach came rolling carriages, trucks,
carts, furniture vans, vehicles of every de-
scription. Loads Of coal were dumped along
the curb. Boxes, cases. market baskets. furni-
ture, blocked the way; and struggling through
this wilderness of confusion came. panoplled
in full array, the guests who had been hidden.
A man was stationed at the front door to turn
all away with hurried explanation, and an
other at the back to repel the fast invading
crowd pouring along the alley in the rear. The
police were notified and responded with pla-
toon of uniformed men. who kept comparative
order, but that was all they could do. Those
invitations had been issued, those orders given
covering the time from o'clock until s. and
the people came. At 2 o'clock a delegation of
boys and women, bearing the desired gray cats,
lent vigor and caterwaulng to the scene.
For blocks the streets were impossible.
Drawn by the uproar, by the crowds of car
riages and other vehicles, all striving toward
the same point, thousands of people assembled
and kept assembling and it was long past dark
on that event.ul day before Mount Vernon
street enjoyed the aristocratic quiet Of its nor
NAL condition.
By some it was thought to be ruse Of pick
pockets and thieves to draw a crowd that they
might have grand opportunity to ply their
nefarious occupation. reward Of $1,000 was
offered for the discovery of the perpetrators of
the severe practical joke, and tho detectives
went to work.
In few days a magnificent basket of cut
flowers was sent to Mrs. OTIS, with a note ex-
pressive of great regret for the trouble she had
incurred. assuring her that there was no per-
sonal spite in the affair, that it had been simply
Intended as a harmless practical joke, and that
she had been chosen as medium solely on ac-
count of her highly deserved prominence This
pote tooether wsth the floral offering of peace