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Page 16
The rules and regulations of Harvard in early times are interesting to
us of later generations. The following are specimens:--
"When any scholar is able to read Tully, or such like classical Latin
author EXTEMPORE, and make and speak true Latin in verse and prose suo
(ut aiunt) Marte, and decline perfectly the paradigms of nouns and verbs
in the Greek tongue, then may he be admitted into the College, nor shall
any claim admission before such qualifications."
"Every one shall consider the main end of his life and studies, to know
God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life."
"Every one shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a
day, that they be ready to give an account of their proficiency therein,
both in theoretical observations of language and logic, and in practical
and spiritual truths, as their Tutor shall require."
"They shall honor as their parents, magistrates, elders, tutors, and
aged persons, by being silent in their presence (except they be called
on to answer)."
"None shall pragmatically intrude or inter meddle in other men's
affairs."
"No scholar shall buy, sell, or exchange any thing, to the value of
sixpence, without the allowance of his parents, guardians or tutors."
"The scholars shall never use their mother tongue, except that in public
exercise of oratory, or such like, they be called to make them in
English."
"Every scholar, that on proof is found able to read the original of the
Old and New Testament into the Latin tongue, and to resolve them
logically, withal being of honest life and conversation, and at any
public act hath the approbation of the Overseers and Master of the
College, may be invested with his first degree."
"No scholar whatever, without the fore-acquaintance and leave of the
President and his Tutor, or, in the absence of either of them, two of
the Fellows shall be present at or in any of the public civil meetings,
or concourse of people, as courts of justice, elections, fairs, or at
military exercise, in the time or hours of the College exercise, public
or private. Neither shall any scholar exercise himself in any military
band, unless of known gravity, and of approved sober and virtuous
conversation, and that with the leave of the President and his Tutor."
"No scholar shall take tobacco, unless permitted by the President, with
the consent of their parents or guardians, and on good reason first
given by a physician, and then in a sober and private mariner."
"No Freshman shall wear his hat in the College yard, unless it rains,
hails, or snows, provided he be on foot and have not both hands full."
"Freshmen are to consider all the other classes as their Seniors."
"No Freshman shall speak to a Senior with his hat on; or have it on in a
Senior's chamber, or in his own if a Senior be there."
"All Freshmen shall be obliged to go on any errand, for any of his
Seniors, Graduates or Undergraduates, at any time, except in studying
hours, or after nine o'clock in the evening."
The faculty, if they were knowing to it, could stop the performance of
an improper errand. They would have been likely to know little about
them.
Pages might be quoted of these curious and interesting rules and
customs. But these must suffice. Enough has been given to show the
immense progress which has been made from the time of the cruel Eaton to
that of the dignified, able, and judicious President Eliot, under whose
fortunate administration, the University has wonderfully increased,
materially and in every way.
The first President was Henry Dunster, a man of learning and
cultivation. He entered upon his office, August 27, 1640, and left it,
October 24, 1654. It was during his administration that most of those
unique rules were established which I have quoted. We can see in them
the evident origin or occasion of hazing the Freshmen, which would
naturally follow such rules. At the present day, be it known, the custom
has entirely ceased. The Freshmen of to-day are treated like gentlemen
by all classes. All the students are placed on their honor, in every
way, save only in some necessary particulars. Hazing has passed into
history as a barbarous custom of the past, and the deportment of the
students to-day is that of gentlemen, with very rare exceptions, such as
might be expected among so large a number. In the great Memorial Hall,
where they eat, the best of deportment is always to be seen, and
everywhere there is now a pride, in all departments of the University,
in observing the proprieties of good conduct. Indeed this has always
been the rule. The hazing has never been so extensively practised as
many have supposed; and no body of men can anywhere be found, in
Congress, legislatures, schools, academies, or colleges, whose
deportment excels in excellence that of the students of Harvard
University. This observation is demanded from the fact that many
parents, some of whom are known the writer, have decided to send sons
to other institutions, on the very ground of the influence of college
customs and habits.
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