A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 40

GOVERNMENT. In American colleges, the general government is usually vested in a corporation or a board of trustees, whose powers, rights, and duties are established by the respective charters of the colleges over which they are placed. The immediate government of the undergraduates is in the hands of the president, professors, and tutors, who are styled _the Government_, or _the College Government_, and more frequently _the Faculty_, or _the College Faculty_.--_Laws of Univ. at Cam., Ma.s.s._, 1848, pp. 7, 8.

_Laws of Yale Coll._, 1837, p. 5.

For many years he was the most conspicuous figure among those who const.i.tuted what was formerly called "the _Government_."--_Memorial of John S. Popkin, D.D._, p. vii.

[Greek: Kudiste], mighty President!!!

[Greek: Kalomen nun] the _Government_.--_Rebelliad_, p. 27.

Did I not jaw the _Government_, For cheating more than ten per cent?--_Ibid._, p. 32.

They shall receive due punishment From Harvard College _Government_.--_Ibid._, p. 44.

The annexed production, printed from a MS. in the author's handwriting, and in the possession of the editor of this work, is now, it is believed, for the first time presented to the public.

The time is 1787; the scene, Harvard College. The poem was "written by John Q. Adams, son of the President, when an undergraduate."

"A DESCRIPTION OF A GOVERNMENT MEETING.

"The Government of College met, And _Willard_[31] rul'd the stern debate.

The witty _Jennison_[32] declar'd As how, he'd been completely scar'd; Last night, quoth he, as I came home, I heard a noise in _Prescott's_[33] room.

I went and listen'd at the door, As I had often done before; I found the Juniors in a high rant, They call'd the President a tyrant; And said as how I was a fool, A long ear'd a.s.s, a sottish mule, Without the smallest grain of s.p.u.n.k; So I concluded they were drunk.

At length I knock'd, and Prescott came: I told him 't was a burning shame, That he should give his cla.s.smates wine; And he should pay a heavy fine.

Meanwhile the rest grew so outragious, Altho' I boast of being couragious, I could not help being in a fright, For one of them put out the light.

I thought 't was best to come away, And wait for vengeance 'till this day; And he's a fool at any rate Who'll fight, when he can RUSTICATE.

When they [had] found that I was gone, They ran through College up and down; And I could hear them very plain Take the Lord's holy name in vain.

To Wier's[34] chamber they then repair'd, And there the wine they freely shar'd; They drank and sung till they were tir'd.

And then they peacefully retir'd.

When this Homeric speech was said, With drolling tongue and hanging head, The learned Doctor took his seat, Thinking he'd done a n.o.ble feat.

Quoth Joe,[35] the crime is great I own, Send for the Juniors one by one.

By this almighty wig I swear, Which with such majesty I wear, Which in its...o...b..t vast contains My dignity, my power and brains, That Wier and Prescott both shall see, That College boys must not be free.

He spake, and gave the awful nod Like Homer's Didonean G.o.d, The College from its centre shook, And every pipe and wine-gla.s.s broke.

"_Williams_,[36] with countenance humane, While scarce from laughter could refrain, Thought that such youthful scenes of mirth To punishment could not give birth; Nor could he easily divine What was the harm of drinking wine.

"But _Pearson_,[37] with an awful frown, Full of his article and noun, Spake thus: by all the parts of speech Which I so elegantly teach, By mercy I will never stain The character which I sustain.

Pray tell me why the laws were made, If they're not to be obey'd; Besides, _that Wier_ I can't endure, For he's a wicked rake, I'm sure.

But whether I am right or not, I'll not recede a single jot.

"_James_[38] saw 'twould be in vain t' oppose, And therefore to be silent chose.

"_Burr_,[39] who had little wit or pride, Preferr'd to take the strongest side.

And Willard soon receiv'd commission To give a publick admonition.

With pedant strut to prayers he came, Call'd out the criminals by name; Obedient to his dire command, Prescott and Wier before him stand.

The rulers merciful and kind, With equal grief and wonder find, That you do drink, and play, and sing, And make with noise the College ring.

I therefore warn you to beware Of drinking more than you can bear.

Wine an incentive is to riot, Disturbance of the publick quiet.

Full well your Tutors know the truth, For sad experience taught their youth.

Take then this friendly exhortation; The next offence is RUSTICATION."

GOWN. A long, loose upper garment or robe, worn by professional men, as divines, lawyers, students, &c., who are called _men of the gown_, or _gownmen_. It is made of any kind of cloth, worn over ordinary clothes, and hangs down to the ankles, or nearly so.

--_Encyc._

From a letter written in the year 1766, by Mr. Holyoke, then President of Harvard College, it would appear that gowns were first worn by the members of that inst.i.tution about the year 1760.

The gown, although worn by the students in the English universities, is now seldom worn in American colleges except on Commencement, Exhibition, or other days of a similar public character.

The students are permitted to wear black _gowns_, in which they may appear on all public occasions.--_Laws Harv. Coll._, 1798, p.

37.

Every candidate for a first degree shall wear a black dress and the usual black _gown_.--_Laws Univ. at Cam., Ma.s.s._, 1848, p. 20.

The performers all wore black _gowns_ with sleeves large enough to hold me in, and shouted and swung their arms, till they looked like so many Methodist ministers just ordained.--_Harvardiana_, Vol. III. p. 111.

Saw them ... clothed in _gowns_ of satin, Or silk or cotton, black as souls benighted.-- All, save the _gowns_, was startling, splendid, tragic, But gowns on men have lost their wonted magic.

_Childe Harvard_, p. 26.

The door swings open--and--he comes! behold him Wrapt in his mantling _gown_, that round him flows Waving, as Caesar's toga did enfold him.--_Ibid._, p. 36.

On Sat.u.r.day evenings, Sundays, and Saints' days, the students wear surplices instead of their _gowns_, and very innocent and exemplary they look in them.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng.

Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 21.

2. One who wears a gown.

And here, I think, I may properly introduce a very singular gallant, a sort of mongrel between town and _gown_,--I mean a bibliopola, or (as the vulgar have it) a bookseller.--_The Student_, Oxf. and Cam., Vol. II. p. 226.

GOWNMAN, GOWNSMAN. One whose professional habit is a gown, as a divine or lawyer, and particularly a member of an English university.--_Webster_.

The _gownman_ learned.--_Pope_.

Oft has some fair inquirer bid me say, What tasks, what sports beguile the _gownsman's_ day.

_The College_, in _Blackwood's Mag._, May, 1849.

For if townsmen by our influence are so enlightened, what must we _gownsmen_ be ourselves?--_The Student_, Oxf. and Cam., Vol. I. p.

56.

Nor must it be supposed that the _gownsmen_ are thin, study-worn, consumptive-looking individuals.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng.

Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 5.

See CAP.

GRACE. In English universities, an act, vote, or decree of the government of the inst.i.tution.--_Webster_.

"All _Graces_ (as the legislative measures proposed by the Senate are termed) have to be submitted first to the Caput, each member of which has an absolute veto on the grace. If it pa.s.ses the Caput, it is then publicly recited in both houses, [the regent and non-regent,] and at a subsequent meeting voted on, first in the Non-Regent House, and then in the other. If it pa.s.ses both, it becomes valid."--_Literary World_, Vol. XII. p. 283.

See CAPUT SENATUS.

GRADUATE. To honor with a degree or diploma, in a college or university; to confer a degree on; as, to _graduate_ a master of arts.--_Wotton_.