New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
LIMITATION SEASON AT HARVARD

course. he must be businesslike; IF he is seen
10 go about his work at a pace slower than Jog
trot his commissions for the succeeding day
doubled
There always happen to be some members OF the
club who find IL difficult in the morning in
time for the early lectures. For the special benefit
of these unfortunates a neophyte is appointed to
cali at their at fixed times wake them
He must rap at JoneS's door in Claverly at 6:15
O'Clock. and promptly at $50 he must wake law
school man who lives quarter of a mile away in
Walter Hastings. Then he must hurry back across
the yard to keep 6:25 a. m. engagement at West
Morley Court. and is likely to find his men
already up at all these places waiting for him with
a bucket Of water or Il collection OF old shoes.5
Through the day the neophytes are allowed to
attend these lectures but they must never presume
TO walk on the paths. even II snow covers the
ground, and they must never assume so dIgniied
a pace walk. Wherever they go they must
travel at the stipulated Jog trot without word to
any one. but respectful. silent salute for any
high and mighty member OF the club they may
meet.
Obedience TO orders is the first requisite No
matter what the cost, any and all commands OF
the initiation committee must be obeyed One day
about the initiates of the Institute 1T70'
had assembled for orders at the Mount Auburn
street rendezvous. and The usual crowd Of street
''muckers'' had collected about the temporary
victims \ load of hay came up the street. and as
1t passed an authoritative order given to set
it affre. In a moment the dry pile was ablaze
Luckily the driver was on the ground leading Ills
horse. and able TO unhitch the animal and
also dump the load before the cart took fire. OF
course there We're arrests and appearance in
court But those are frequent accornpaninlents to
initiation ceremonies. and the fines considered
small payment for such rare amusement.
A great many Of the schemes for taking it OUT
OF new men are OF vigorous and sometimes dan
gerous sort The Institute men are always led
out OF their rooms bndfolded. turned loose in the
middle OF Mount Auburn street. and there made TO
proceed at full speed by order only. They told
when 20 start and when TO stop. when TO turn to
the right or left. when TO step high for q coping
stone. and often when there is no coping Some
times an initiate IS down to the banks of the
Charles River He is marched 20 the very edge
Of the river and told to halt. Suddenly the COM
mand comes. "Jump!' and after a desperate leap
he finds himself IN the cold muddy water
But this treatment is Usually there Is no
water in sight A fake doctor feels the mans
pulse and examines his heart and concludes that
the fellow probably strong enough TO stand the
shock Another man thinks-in an audible whisper
that the water is too cold; any rate It Is
his head.
Can you swtm?" they ask
NO. replies the victim
"Oh. that's all right: We'll pull you out"
"JumDF' comes the command and the trusting
neophyte. with a despairing leap. filings himself
in-Only TO land all fours on hard. dry turf or
perhaps in a pile OF sawdust. But had he not made
the leap he would have been put into the river.
When he has proved his pluck and his confidence
in the who have him in hand he is released
IN the welcome light Of the clubhouse. where the
performance continues with change Of plan. On
the appointed evening all the new men appear az
headquarters to be quizzed and criticised by the
members. Each mans peculiarities are picked out
and Ievelled II fellow is known to have some
pride IN his voice he is made TO sing all the songs
he knows over and over again for hours: If he is
anything OF orator he is required TO "orate all
evening. Then they are set to do things ''en-
semble''-a reproduction of the latest comic opera
a varsity boat race.
This last performance is an interesting "stunt
and one that always finds place In Harvard inftia-
tions The crews sit in two rows on the hard
noOr and row with toothpicks matches But they
row with will Their coxswain keeps then, IN
stroke from start to finish through the excitement
OF two-mile race. They hold the stroke az
thirty through the first mile raise it to thirty
five forty for winning finish Meanwhile
the gallery applauds or derides according % tts
whim. They are told to. work the slides more
especially II the floor Is full OF spnters and r ,be
show signs OF giving out they are refreshed with
buckets of cold water. Having lived through the
strain OF rowing contest OF this nature they have
the more domestic sport OF running races from ona
side Of the room 20 the other and rolling peanuts
along the floor with their noses
Such stunts fill the time for six DAYS NJ a tr,I
week. but on Saturday. when the club members ar,
tFee 10 witness ana enjoy the sport each neophyte
mas a special assignment as supreme test and it
10 "S'onishihg what outlandish performances are
concocted IN the fertile brains of the initiating
cohliittee- On one occasion the of a prominent
Boston banker was required 10 array himself as an
Alpine dairy maid. TO obtain Il COW and a milk pail
ana proceed through the most aristocratic thor
oushrares OF tho Hub to the corner OF Common
wealth avenue and Exeter street There In obedi-
ence to orders. the 'nilkmaid'' tied the cow To
'AhppoSt ana MIXED the animal. the delight Of
an ever increasing number of spectators oven tb
Inoinsrenr commonwealth aysnue COPS xars At