A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 9

BURNING OF CONIC SECTIONS. "This is a ceremony," writes a correspondent, "observed by the Soph.o.m.ore Cla.s.s of Trinity College, on the Monday evening of Commencement week. The incremation of this text-book is made by the entire cla.s.s, who appear in fantastic rig and in torch-light procession. The ceremonies are held in the College grove, and are graced with an oration and poem. The exercises are usually closed by a cla.s.s supper."

BURNING OF CONVIVIUM. Convivium is a Greek book which is studied at Hamilton College during the last term of the Freshman year, and is considered somewhat difficult. Upon entering Soph.o.m.ore it is customary to burn it, with exercises appropriate to the occasion.

The time being appointed, the cla.s.s hold a meeting and elect the marshals of the night. A large pyre is built during the evening, of rails and pine wood, on the middle of which is placed a barrel of tar, surrounded by straw saturated with turpentine. Notice is then given to the upper cla.s.ses that Convivium will be burnt that night at twelve o'clock. Their company is requested at the exercises, which consist of two poems, a tragedy, and a funeral oration. A coffin is laid out with the "remains" of the book, and the literary exercises are performed. These concluded, the cla.s.s form a procession, preceded by a bra.s.s band playing a dirge, and march to the pyre, around which, with uncovered heads, they solemnly form. The four bearers with their torches then advance silently, and place the coffin upon the funeral pile. The cla.s.s, each member bearing a torch, form a circle around the pyre. At a given signal they all bend forward together, and touch their torches to the heap of combustibles. In an instant "a lurid flame arises, licks around the coffin, and shakes its tongue to heaven."

To these ceremonies succeed festivities, which are usually continued until daylight.

BURNING OF ZUMPT'S LATIN GRAMMAR. The funeral rites over the body of this book are performed by the students in the University of New York. The place of turning and burial is usually at Hoboken.

Scenes of this nature often occur in American colleges, having their origin, it is supposed, in the custom at Yale of burying Euclid.

BURNT FOX. A student during his second half-year, in the German universities, is called a _burnt fox_.

BURSAR, _pl._ BURSARII. A treasurer or cash-keeper; as, the _bursar_ of a college or of a monastery. The said College in Cambridge shall be a corporation consisting of seven persons, to wit, a President, five Fellows, and a Treasurer or _Bursar_.--_Peirce's Hist. Harv. Univ._, App., p. 11.

Every student is required on his arrival, at the commencement of each session, to deliver to the _Bursar_ the moneys and drafts for money which he has brought with him. It is the duty of the _Bursar_ to attend to the settlement of the demands for board, &c.; to pay into the hands of the student such sums as are required for other necessary expenses, and to render a statement of the same to the parent or guardian at the close of the session.

--_Catalogue of Univ. of North Carolina_, 1848-49, p. 27.

2. A student to whom a stipend is paid out of a burse or fund appropriated for that purpose, as the exhibitioners sent to the universities in Scotland, by each presbytery.--_Webster_.

See a full account in _Brande's Dict. Science, Lit., and Art_.

BURSARY. The treasury of a college or monastery.--_Webster_.

2. In Scotland, an exhibition.--_Encyc._

BURSCH (bursh), _pl._ BURSCHEN. German. A youth; especially a student in a German university.

"By _bursche_," says Howitt, "we understand one who has already spent a certain time at the university,--and who, to a certain degree, has taken part in the social practices of the students."--_Student Life of Germany_, Am. Ed., p. 27.

Und hat der _Bursch_ kein Geld im Beutel, So pumpt er die Philister an, Und denkt: es ist doch Alles eitel Vom _Burschen_ bis zum Bettleman.

_Crambambuli Song_.

Student life! _Burschen_ life! What a magic sound have these words for him who has learnt for himself their real meaning.--_Howitt's Student Life of Germany_.

BURSCHENSCHAFT. A league or secret a.s.sociation of students, formed in 1815, for the purpose, as was a.s.serted, of the political regeneration of Germany, and suppressed, at least in name, by the exertions of the government.--_Brandt_.

"The Burschenschaft," says the Yale Literary Magazine, "was a society formed in opposition to the vices and follies of the Landsmannschaft, with the motto, 'G.o.d, Honor, Freedom, Fatherland.' Its object was 'to develop and perfect every mental and bodily power for the service of the Fatherland.' It exerted a mighty and salutary influence, was almost supreme in its power, but was finally suppressed by the government, on account of its alleged dangerous political tendencies."--Vol. XV. p. 3.

BURSE. In France, a fund or foundation for the maintenance of poor scholars in their studies. In the Middle Ages, it signified a little college, or a hall in a university.--_Webster_.

BURST. To fail in reciting; to make a bad recitation. This word is used in some of the Southern colleges.

BURT. At Union College, a privy is called _the Burt_, from a person of that name, who many years ago was employed as the architect and builder of the _latrinae_ of that inst.i.tution.

BUSY. An answer often given by a student, when he does not wish to see visitors.

Poor Croak was almost annihilated by this summons, and, clinging to the bed-clothes in all the agony of despair, forgot to _busy_ his midnight visitor.--_Harv. Reg._, p. 84.

Whenever, during that sacred season, a knock salutes my door, I respond with a _busy_.--_Collegian_, p. 25.

"_Busy_" is a hard word to utter, often, though heart and conscience and the college clock require it.--_Scenes and Characters in College_, p. 58.

BUTLER. Anciently written BOTILER. A servant or officer whose princ.i.p.al business is to take charge of the liquors, food, plate, &c. In the old laws of Harvard College we find an enumeration of the duties of the college butler. Some of them were as follows.

He was to keep the rooms and utensils belonging to his office sweet and clean, fit for use; his drinking-vessels were to be scoured once a week. The fines imposed by the President and other officers were to be fairly recorded by him in a book, kept for that purpose. He was to attend upon the ringing of the bell for prayer in the hall, and for lectures and commons. Providing candles for the hall was a part of his duty. He was obliged to keep the b.u.t.tery supplied, at his own expense, with beer, cider, tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, biscuit, b.u.t.ter, cheese, pens, ink, paper, and such other articles as the President or Corporation ordered or permitted; "but no permission," it is added in the laws, "shall be given for selling wine, distilled spirits, or foreign fruits, on credit or for ready money." He was allowed to advance twenty per cent. on the net cost of the articles sold by him, excepting beer and cider, which were stated quarterly by the President and Tutors. The Butler was allowed a Freshman to a.s.sist him, for an account of whom see under FRESHMAN, BUTLER'S.--_Peirce's Hist. Harv. Univ._, App., pp. 138, 139. _Laws Harv. Coll._, 1798, pp. 60-62.

President Woolsey, in his Historical Discourse p.r.o.nounced before the Graduates of Yale College, August 14th, 1850, remarks as follows concerning the Butler, in connection with that inst.i.tution:--

"The cla.s.ses since 1817, when the office of Butler was, abolished, are probably but little aware of the meaning of that singular appendage to the College, which had been in existence a hundred years. To older graduates, the lower front corner room of the old middle college in the south entry must even now suggest many amusing recollections. The Butler was a graduate of recent standing, and, being invested with rather delicate functions, was required to be one in whom confidence might be reposed. Several of the elder graduates who have filled this office are here to-day, and can explain, better than I can, its duties and its bearings upon the interests of College. The chief prerogative of the Butler was to have the monopoly of certain eatables, drinkables, and other articles desired by students. The Latin laws of 1748 give him leave to sell in the b.u.t.tery, cider, metheglin, strong beer to the amount of not more than twelve barrels annually,--which amount as the College grew was increased to twenty,--together with loaf-sugar ('saccharum rigidum'), pipes, tobacco, and such necessaries of scholars as were not furnished in the commons hall.

Some of these necessaries were books and stationery, but certain fresh fruits also figured largely in the Butler's supply. No student might buy cider or beer elsewhere. The Butler, too, had the care of the bell, and was bound to wait upon the President or a Tutor, and notify him of the time for prayers. He kept the book of fines, which, as we shall see, was no small task. He distributed the bread and beer provided by the Steward in the Hall into equal portions, and had the lost commons, for which privilege he paid a small annual sum. He was bound, in consideration of the profits of his monopoly, to provide candles at college prayers and for a time to pay also fifty shillings sterling into the treasury.

The more menial part of these duties he performed by his waiter."--pp. 43, 44.

At both Harvard and Yale the students were restricted in expending money at the b.u.t.tery, being allowed at the former "to contract a debt" of five dollars a quarter; at the latter, of one dollar and twenty-five cents per month.

b.u.t.tER. A size or small portion of b.u.t.ter. "Send me a roll and two b.u.t.ters."--_Grad. ad Cantab._

Six cheeses, three _b.u.t.ters_, and two beers.--_The Collegian's Guide_.

Pertinent to this singular use of the word, is the following curious statement. At Cambridge, Eng., "there is a market every day in the week, except Monday, for vegetables, poultry, eggs, and b.u.t.ter. The sale of the last article is attended with the peculiarity of every pound designed for the market being rolled out to the length of a yard; each pound being in that state about the thickness of a walking-cane. This practice, which is confined to Cambridge, is particularly convenient, as it renders the b.u.t.ter extremely easy of division into small portions, called _sizes_, as used in the Colleges."--_Camb. Guide_, Ed. 1845, p. 213.

b.u.t.tERY. An apartment in a house where b.u.t.ter, milk, provisions, and utensils are kept. In some colleges, a room where liquors, fruit, and refreshments are kept for sale to the students.--_Webster_.

Of the b.u.t.tery, Mr. Peirce, in his History of Harvard University, speaks as follows: "As the Commons rendered the College independent of private boarding-houses, so the _b.u.t.tery_ removed all just occasion for resorting to the different marts of luxury, intemperance, and ruin. This was a kind of supplement to the Commons, and offered for sale to the students, at a moderate advance on the cost, wines, liquors, groceries, stationery, and, in general, such articles as it was proper and necessary for them to have occasionally, and which for the most part were not included in the Commons' fare. The b.u.t.tery was also an office, where, among other things, records were kept of the times when the scholars were present and absent. At their admission and subsequent returns they entered their names in the b.u.t.tery, and took them out whenever they had leave of absence. The Butler, who was a graduate, had various other duties to perform, either by himself or by his _Freshman_, as ringing the bell, seeing that the Hall was kept clean, &c., and was allowed a salary, which, after 1765, was 60 per annum."--_Hist. Harv. Univ._, p. 220.

With particular reference to the condition of Harvard College a few years prior to the Revolution, Professor Sidney Willard observes: "The b.u.t.tery was in part a sort of appendage to Commons, where the scholars could eke out their short commons with sizings of gingerbread and pastry, or needlessly or injuriously cram themselves to satiety, as they had been accustomed to be crammed at home by their fond mothers. Besides eatables, everything necessary for a student was there sold, and articles used in the play-grounds, as bats, b.a.l.l.s, &c.; and, in general, a petty trade with small profits was carried on in stationery and other matters, --in things innocent or suitable for the young customers, and in some things, perhaps, which were not. The Butler had a small salary, and was allowed the service of a Freshman in the b.u.t.tery, who was also employed to ring the college bell for prayers, lectures, and recitations, and take some oversight of the public rooms under the Butler's directions. The b.u.t.tery was also the office of record of the names of undergraduates, and of the rooms a.s.signed to them in the college buildings; of the dates of temporary leave of absence given to individuals, and of their return; and of fines inflicted by the immediate government for negligence or minor offences. The office was dropped or abolished in the first year of the present century, I believe, long after it ceased to be of use for most of its primary purposes. The area before the entry doors of the b.u.t.tery had become a sort of students' exchange for idle gossip, if nothing worse. The rooms were now redeemed from traffic, and devoted to places of study, and other provision was made for the records which had there been kept. The last person who held the office of Butler was Joseph Chickering, a graduate of 1799."--_Memories of Youth and Manhood_, 1855, Vol. I. pp. 31, 32.

President Woolsey, in his Historical Discourse p.r.o.nounced before the Graduates of Yale College, August 14th, 1850, makes the following remarks on this subject: "The original motives for setting up a b.u.t.tery in colleges seem to have been, to put the trade in articles which appealed to the appet.i.te into safe hands; to ascertain how far students were expensive in their habits, and prevent them from running into debt; and finally, by providing a place where drinkables of not very stimulating qualities were sold, to remove the temptation of going abroad after spirituous liquors. Accordingly, laws were pa.s.sed limiting the sum for which the Butler might give credit to a student, authorizing the President to inspect his books, and forbidding him to sell anything except permitted articles for ready money. But the whole system, as viewed from our position as critics of the past, must be p.r.o.nounced a bad one. It rather tempted the student to self-indulgence by setting up a place for the sale of things to eat and drink within the College walls, than restrained him by bringing his habits under inspection. There was nothing to prevent his going abroad in quest of stronger drinks than could be bought at the b.u.t.tery, when once those which were there sold ceased to allay his thirst. And a monopoly, such as the Butler enjoyed of certain articles, did not tend to lower their price, or to remove suspicion that they were sold at a higher rate than free compet.i.tion would a.s.sign to them."--pp. 44, 45.

"When," says the Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, "the 'punishment obscene,' as Cowper, the poet, very properly terms it, of _flagellation_, was enforced at our University, it appears that the b.u.t.tery was the scene of action. In The Poor Scholar, a comedy, written by Robert Nevile, Fellow of King's College in Cambridge, London, 1662, one of the students having lost his gown, which is picked up by the President of the College, the tutor says, 'If we knew the owner, we 'd take him down to th' b.u.t.terie, and give him due correction.' To which the student, (_aside_,) 'Under correction, Sir; if you're for the b.u.t.teries with me, I'll lie as close as Diogenes in dolio. I'll creep in at the bunghole, before I'll _mount a barrel_,' &c. (Act II. Sc. 6.)--Again: 'Had I been once i' th' b.u.t.teries, they'd have their rods about me. But let us, for joy that I'm escaped, go to the Three Tuns and drink a pint of wine, and laugh away our cares.--'T is drinking at the Tuns that keeps us from ascending b.u.t.tery barrels,' &c." By a reference to the word PUNISHMENT, it will be seen that, in the older American colleges, corporal punishment was inflicted upon disobedient students in a manner much more solemn and imposing, the students and officers usually being present.

The effect of _crossing the name in the b.u.t.tery_ is thus stated in the Collegian's Guide. "To keep a term requires residence in the University for a certain number of days within a s.p.a.ce of time known by the calendar, and the books of the b.u.t.tery afford the appointed proof of residence; it being presumed that, if neither bread, b.u.t.ter, pastry, beer, or even toast and water (which is charged one farthing), are entered on the b.u.t.tery books in a given name, the party could not have been resident that day. Hence the phrase of 'eating one's way into the church or to a doctor's degree.' Supposing, for example, twenty-one days' residence is required between the first of May and the twenty-fourth inclusive, then there will be but three days to spare; consequently, should our names be crossed for more than three days in all in that term, --say for four days,--the other twenty days would not count, and the term would be irrecoverably lost. Having our names crossed in the b.u.t.tery, therefore, is a punishment which suspends our collegiate existence while the cross remains, besides putting an embargo on our pudding, beer, bread and cheese, milk, and b.u.t.ter; for these articles come out of the b.u.t.tery."--p. 157.

These remarks apply both to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; but in the latter the phrase _to be put out of commons_ is used instead of the one given above, yet with the same meaning.

See _Gradus ad Cantabrigiam_, p. 32.