The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-22
The Practice Of Hdzin@
By F. ID.

'NiN AdLAAS lao
secretly practiced custom has
been dragged from it's campus
sequestration, transfxed by the
spotlight Of publicity, and ele-
waited from an undergraduate
misdemeanor to a high crime. 1t
has been denounced, decried and
assailed by many men, some Of
whom were in a position to know
and understand the subject, and
some Of whom were not. On all
sides the cry has been caught
up, and the cry is Down with
haZing."
/ do not propose a defense Of
haZing, because | firmly believe
that the custom has reached a
point where it car be no longer
1ustifiable as an unwritten part
Of the curriculum. 1t should be
abolished in it's most fragrant
forms, in all it's secret forms and
suppressed as a nightly function.
This article is based on Obser-
vationS made and experiences
undergone during my four years
at college, and upon reflections
made during the nine years that
have passed since | received my
degree. | will frankly state that
| received my share Of hazing,
perhaps more than my share,
and SO was in a position to learn
considerable about the practice.
Mere unintelligent opposition
TO a thing, opposition based on
hearsay, and expressed in vigor-
Gus and general abuse is less apt
~ "a .0 ~ Wish n otip0 rnCI1lt0
than q careful treatment based
on a thorough knowledge.
Granting this to be true, it's ap-
plication follows in the further
statement that the majority Of
those leading the sentiment
against hazing today are really
uniformed on the subject and
are predicating their pronounced
hostility upon exaggerated as
sumptions. Now. as l have
stated, / do not propose a justi-
fication Of hazing, l only expect
to show the existence of cOndi-
tons, under which, boys who
are not at all had, generally
speaking, practice the unfOrtu-
nate custom. When these con
ditions are understood, when in
side information is laid before
the public. a large portion OF
whom V attended college and
so are unable to form a correct
idea Of college hazing, it will be
easier for the public to bring a
proper sort Of persuasion to
bear upon the students which will
lead to the abandonment Of the
practice. l say students, be-
cause the practice a be more
effectually stopped and more
speedily stopped through them
than through the faculty.
Ancientness OF Hazing.
We are referring now to col
lege hazing.
The encyclopedias being mute
on the subject. I have been un-
able to ascertain anything Of the
origin and history Of college
haZing, but We can safely as
sumo that the custom, in some
form Or another, Is very ancient.
Certainly it existed at Oxford
during the early part of the last
century, and, during the last cen
fury was practiced in colleges
and universities in many differ
ent countries.
Tagging.
Back in the sixteenth century.
Tagging, a custom somewhat
analogous to hazing, was in
vogue both at Winchester and at
Elton. 1t was permitted by the
school authorities under the be-
lief that it worked a benefit to
the flags.
At these schools. but particu-
larry at Elton, when a student
attained the Sixth form he was
permitted to select one, and
sometimes more Of the lower
form boys for his Tags. These
Tags were compelled to run er-
rands, care for his rooms and
even black his boots for him.
In return for these rather men,
ial services the Sixth former ex-
tended his protection to his Tags,
guarded them from impOsit ion on
the part Of other students, and
maintained a kind of general
oversight of them. Under this
system a scion Of the nobility
was frequently found tagging for
a gentleman commOner.
Tagging was regarded with
favor by the English people. and,
the Tags themselves, except in
rare cases, did not object to it.
That the American student, the
american parent or the Ameri-