The Washington times., 1901-12-08
HARVARD STUDENTS
In 0LDEN DAYS.
An Open Rebellion Against Board
ing-House Fare.
BUTTER CAUSES TROUBLE
An Eighteenth Century undcrgrndu-
nte,s Notebook Tells the Quaint
story of "BcIcher. Otherwise Beei-
zebub,,-Test Case and the Result.

An actual rebellion of college students
against constituted authority Is, in these
days, difficult to imagine, but there has
been recently added 10 the Harvard IL
brary little volume in manuscript
the pocket notebook of one Clement
Weeks, an eighteenth century student
giving an account Of rebellion at Har-
ward all the more interesting in that 1t
is from the students own point Of view.
Some idea. however, Of the possibilities
of such movement may still be gathered
from the general excitement and letting
off of steam that followed the recent
football game in Cambridge,-an the
theory has been more than once put for
ward that the college Celebrations" of
the present time are virtually a safety
valve for youthful spirits and energy.
and therefore have a more useful pur-
pose than the temporary one of empha-
sizing an athletic victory.
SIR. weeks Notebook.
Mr.. Weeks notebook, now Harvard
property describes, among other things,
the rebellion OF 1866, with which 1t
is contemporary. The occurrence Is
quantity treated efter the manner OF
Biblical narrative while the students side
of the case is worked out more seriously
in the form OF an argument, finishing
With copy of the confession with which
the rebellious undergraduates finally made
peace with the governing powers. OF
this confession, however, some pages are
missing
The rest of the 5ixty-one pages Of old
fashioned writing IN which the young man
recorded his own and his fellows ideas
contains, among ether matter abstracts
and extracts from Augustine on Here
sies"-a subject that shows incidentally
the religious tendencies OF student thought
in the eighteenth century-and Latin
Grafton which proves the author to have
been something OF wag in two languages,
the oration being largely composed of
contemporary college humor.
The Point mt Issue.
The rebellion grew out OF the rela-
tions existing between the students and
the management of the college commons,
the point at issue being the butter serv-
ed TO students by "Beicher the Ruler
(surnamed Bowl alias BeeIzebub)," as he
is described in the notebook. There was
involved also the question OF attendance
at prayers. the students and the faculty
falling apparently to agree as to what
constituted proper excuse for absence
from that ceremony. The butter, how
ever, was made the test case and the
students under the leadership Of one Asa
Dunbar made formal protest, apparently
in the commons itself.
he 4
marked favor. "And belike," says the
narrative, "the butler Eaid trouble me
rot, but begOne unto thine own place
advice that was followed as the butler
and other officials left the hall. by an out
burst that reads strangely enough to any
one familiar with the attitude of the mod
ern student toward his college superiors.
The Sons Of Harvard clapped their hands
and hissed and cried. ahal ahal''
The Authorities Confer
Naturally this outburst was followed by
a consultation on the part of the authori-
ties, Edward. the Chief Ruler, and John
and another Edward mot the ChieO and
Stephen and Belcher and Simeon and
Thomas and Andrew and Joseph'-the
| names may be easily guessed at by con-
sulting the college records of the period.
The result OF this consultation was a
determination to punish Mr.. Dunbar for
| his insubordination and he was immedi-
ately commanded to confess himself in
error. Meantime the undergraduates
again got together and agreed that ''if
bad and unwholesOme Butter should be
served out unto them on the morrow they
would depart and leave the Rulers to the
Meditation OF their own Hearts. So on
hp mn haH Nd urrt tnIn H,,E+
was served unto them and they rose up
and departed"
This action, from the student point Of
view. greatly affrighted' the authorities
who, after much debate. decided TO ap-
pease the student body by redressing their
| grievances and promising that no more
bad butter should ENTER within their
walls" This. however they followed with
renewed demand for an apology from
the two students who had hrst left the
ball, threatening them otherwise with ex-
| pulsiOn.
The students in Arms.
The student body was again Immediate
" in arms and declared that the expulsion
OF one student meant the retirement of
all. But the situation. was saved. as usu-
ally happens. by the determined attitude
of the authorities. now fully aroused to
! the necessity OF maintaining their posi-
/ tion.
The Rulers" says the narrative had
| m-ny consultations and determined to call
| together the great Sanhedrim OF Harvard
to consult with them.
80 on the 10th Month and the 11th
| Day Of the Month the great Sanhedrim
/ Of Harvard met and caused Daniel to con-
! fess and after Daniel many more were
| prevailed upon by the Threa;enings of
| the members OF the Great Sanhedrim &
| confessed also.
80 after this there were no more Muir
murings in Harvard but all was Peace
| and Quietness as il Is to this
! Day
| Cambridge
Nov 10, 1856"
Modern Methods.
/ Eunh a rahnlllrrh 10