Chapter 40

Referring to Cambridge, Bristed remarks: "The private tutor at an English university corresponds, as has been already observed, in many respects, to the _professor_ at a German. The German professor is not _necessarily_ attached to any specific chair; he receives no _fixed_ stipend, and has not public lecture-rooms; he teaches at his own house, and the number of his pupils depends on his reputation. The Cambridge private tutor is also a graduate, who takes pupils at his rooms in numbers proportionate to his reputation and ability. And although while the German professor is regularly licensed as such by his university, and the existence of the private tutor _as such_ is not even officially recognized by his, still this difference is more apparent than real; for the English university has _virtually_ licensed the tutor to instruct in a particular branch by the standing she has given him in her examinations." "Students come up to the University with all degrees of preparation.... To make up for former deficiences, and to direct study so that it may not be wasted, are two _desiderata_ which probably led to the introduction of private tutors, once a partial, now a general appliance."--_Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, pp. 146-148.

TUTORSHIP. The office of a tutor.--_Hooker_.

In the following passage, this word is used as a titulary compellation, like the word _lordship_.

One morning, as the story goes, Before his _tutorship_ arose.--_Rebelliad_, p. 73.

TUTORS' PASTURE. In 1645, John Bulkley, the "first Master of Arts in Harvard College," by a deed, gave to Mr. Dunster, the President of that institution, two acres of land in Cambridge, during his life. The deed then proceeds: "If at any time he shall leave the Presidency, or shall decease, I then desire the College to appropriate the same to itself for ever, as a small gift from an alumnus, bearing towards it the greatest good-will." "After President Dunster's resignation," says Quincy, "the Corporation gave the income of Bulkley's donation to the tutors, who received it for many years, and hence the enclosure obtained the name of '_Tutors' Pasture_,' or '_Fellows' Orchard_.'" In the Donation Book of the College, the deed is introduced as "Extractum Doni Pomarii Sociorum per Johannem Bulkleium."--_Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ._, Vol. I. pp. 269, 270.

For further remarks on this subject, see Peirce's "History of Harvard University," pp. 15, 81, 113, also Chap. XIII., and "Memorial of John S. Popkin, D.D.," pp. 390, 391.

TWITCH A TWELVE. At Middlebury College, to make a perfect recitation; twelve being the maximum mark for scholarship.

_U_.

UGLY KNIFE. See JACK-KNIFE.

UNDERGRADUATE. A student, or member of a university or college, who has not taken his first degree.--_Webster_.

UNDERGRADUATE. Noting or pertaining to a student of a college who has not taken his first degree.

The _undergraduate_ students shall be divided into four distinct classes.--_Laws Yale Coll._, 1837, p. 11.

With these the _undergraduate_ course is not intended to interfere.--_Yale Coll. Cat._, 1850-51, p. 33.

UNDERGRADUATESHIP. The state of being an undergraduate.--_Life of Paley_.

UNIVERSITY. An assemblage of colleges established in any place, with professors for instructing students in the sciences and other branches of learning, and where degrees are conferred. A _university_ is properly a universal school, in which are taught all branches of learning, or the four faculties of theology, medicine, law, and the sciences and arts.--_Cyclopædia_.

2. At some American colleges, a name given to a university student. The regulation in reference to this class at Union College is as follows:--"Students, not regular members of college, are allowed, as university students, to prosecute any branches for which they are qualified, provided they attend three recitations daily, and conform in all other respects to the laws of College. On leaving College, they receive certificates of character and scholarship."--_Union Coll. Cat._, 1850.

The eyes of several Freshmen and _Universities_ shone with a watery lustre.--_The Parthenon_, Vol. I. p. 20.

UP. To be _up_ in a subject, is to be informed in regard to it. _Posted_ expresses a similar idea. The use of this word, although common among collegians, is by no means confined to them.

In our past history, short as it is, we would hardly expect them to be well _up_.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 28.

He is well _up_ in metaphysics.--_Ibid._, p. 53.

UPPER HOUSE. See SENATE.

_V_.

VACATION. The intermission of the regular studies and exercises of a college or other seminary, when the students have a recess.--_Webster_.

In the University of Cambridge, Eng., there are three vacations during each year. Christmas vacation begins on the 16th of December, and ends on the 13th of January. Easter vacation begins on the Friday before Palm Sunday, and ends on the eleventh day after Easter-day. The Long vacation begins on the Friday succeeding the first Tuesday in July, and ends on the 10th of October. At the University of Oxford there are four vacations in each year. At Dublin University there are also four vacations, which correspond nearly with the vacations of Oxford.

See TERM.

VALEDICTION. A farewell; a bidding farewell. Used sometimes with the meaning of _valedictory_ or _valedictory oration_.

Two publick Orations, by the Candidates: the one to give a specimen of their Knowledge, &c., and the other to give a grateful and pathetick _Valediction_ to all the Officers and Members of the Society.--_Clap's Hist. Yale Coll._, p. 87.

VALEDICTORIAN. The student of a college who pronounces the valedictory oration at the annual Commencement.--_Webster_.

VALEDICTORY. In American colleges, a farewell oration or address spoken at Commencement, by a member of the class which receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and take their leave of college and of each other.

VARMINT. At Cambridge, England, and also among the whip gentry, this word signifies natty, spruce, dashing; e.g. he is quite _varmint_; he sports a _varmint_ hat, coat, &c.

A _varmint_ man spurns a scholarship, would consider it a degradation to be a fellow.--_Gradus ad Cantab._, p. 122.

The handsome man, my friend and pupil, was naturally enough a bit of a swell, or _varmint_ man.--_Alma Mater_, Vol. II. p. 118.

VERGER. At the University of Oxford, an officer who walks first in processions, and carries a silver rod.

VICE-CHANCELLOR. An officer in a university, in England, a distinguished member, who is annually elected to manage the affairs in the absence of the Chancellor. He must be the head of a college, and during his continuance in office he acts as a magistrate for the university, town, and county.--_Cam. Cal._

At Oxford, the Vice-Chancellor holds a court, in which suits may be brought against any member of the University. He never walks out, without being preceded by a Yeoman-Bedel with his silver staff. At Cambridge, the Mayor and Bailiffs of the town are obliged, at their election, to take certain oaths before the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor has the sole right of licensing wine and ale-houses in Cambridge, and of _discommuning_ any tradesman or inhabitant who has violated the University privileges or regulations. In both universities, the Vice-Chancellor is nominated by the Heads of Houses, from among themselves.

VICE-MASTER. An officer of a college in the English universities who performs the duties of the Master in his absence.

VISITATION. The act of a superior or superintending officer, who visits a corporation, college, church, or other house, to examine into the manner in which it is conducted, and see that its laws and regulations are duly observed and executed.--_Cyc._

In July, 1766, a law was formally enacted, "that twice in the year, viz. at the semiannual _visitation_ of the committee of the Overseers, some of the scholars, at the direction of the President and Tutors, shall publicly exhibit specimens of their proficiency," &c.--_Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ._, Vol. II. p. 132.

VIVA VOCE. Latin; literally, _with the living voice_. In the English universities, that part of an examination which is carried on orally.

The examination involves a little _viva voce_, and it was said, that, if a man did his _viva voce_ well, none of his papers were looked at but the Paley.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 92.

In Combination Room, where once I sat at _viva voce_, wretched, ignorant, the wine goes round, and wit, and pleasant talk.--_Household Words_, Am. ed., Vol. XI. p. 521.

_W_.

WALLING. At the University of Oxford, the punishment of _walling_, as it is popularly denominated, consists in confining a student to the walls of his college for a certain period.

WARDEN. The master or president of a college.--_England_.

WARNING. In many colleges, when it is ascertained that a student is not living in accordance with the laws of the institution, he is usually informed of the fact by a _warning_, as it is called, from one of the faculty, which consists merely of friendly caution and advice, thus giving him an opportunity, by correcting his faults, to escape punishment.

Sadly I feel I should have been saved by numerous _warnings_. _Harvardiana_, Vol. III. p. 98.

No more shall "_warnings_" in their hearing ring, Nor "admonitions" haunt their aching head. _Yale Lit. Mag._, Vol. XV. p. 210.

WEDGE. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., the man whose name is the last on the list of honors in the voluntary classical examination, which follows the last examination required by statute, is called the _wedge_. "The last man is called the _wedge_" says Bristed, "corresponding to the Spoon in Mathematics. This name originated in that of the man who was last on the first Tripos list (in 1824), _Wedgewood_. Some one suggested that the _wooden wedge_ was a good counterpart to the _wooden spoon_, and the appellation stuck."--_Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 253.

WET. To christen a new garment by treating one's friends when one first appears in it; e.g.:--A. "Have you _wet_ that new coat yet?" B. "No." A. "Well, then, I should recommend to you the propriety of so doing." B. "What will you drink?" This word, although much used among students, is by no means confined to them.

WHINNICK. At Hamilton College, to refuse to fulfil a promise or engagement; to retreat from a difficulty; to back out.

WHITE-HOOD HOUSE. See SENATE.

WIGS. The custom of wearing wigs was, perhaps, observed nowhere in America during the last century with so much particularity as at the older colleges. Of this the following incident is illustrative. Mr. Joseph Palmer, who graduated at Harvard in the year 1747, entered college at the age of fourteen; but, although so young, was required immediately after admission to cut off his long, flowing hair, and to cover his head with an unsightly bag-wig. At the beginning of the present century, wigs were not wholly discarded, although the fashion of wearing the hair in a queue was more in vogue. From a record of curious facts, it appears that the last wig which appeared at Commencement in Harvard College was worn by Mr. John Marsh, in the year 1819.

See DRESS.

WILL. At Harvard College, it was at one time the mode for the student to whom had been given the JACK-KNIFE in consequence of his ugliness, to transmit the inheritance, when he left, to some one of equal pretensions in the class next below him. At one period, this transmission was effected by a _will_, in which not only the knife, but other articles, were bequeathed. As the 21st of June was, till of late years, the day on which the members of the Senior Class closed their collegiate studies, and retired to make preparations for the ensuing Commencement, Wills were usually dated at that time. The first will of this nature of which mention is made is that of Mr. William Biglow, a member of the class of 1794, and the recipient for that year of the knife. It appeared in the department entitled "Omnium Gatherum" of the Federal Orrery, published at Boston, April 27, 1795, in these words:--

"A WILL:

BEING THE LAST WORDS OF CHARLES CHATTERBOX, ESQ., LATE WORTHY AND MUCH LAMENTED MEMBER OF THE LAUGHING CLUB OF HARVARD UNIVERSITT, WHO DEPARTED COLLEGE LIFE, JUNE 21, 1794, IN THE TWENTY-FIRST YEAR OF HIS AGE.

"I, CHARLEY CHATTER, sound of mind, To making fun am much inclined; So, having cause to apprehend My college life is near its end, All future quarrels to prevent, I seal this will and testament.

"My soul and body, while together, I send the storms of life to weather; To steer as safely as they can, To honor GOD, and profit man.

"_Imprimis_, then, my bed and bedding, My only chattels worth the sledding, Consisting of a maple stead, A counterpane, and coverlet, Two cases with the pillows in, A blanket, cord, a winch and pin, Two sheets, a feather bed and hay-tick, I order sledded up to _Natick_, And that with care the sledder save them For those kind parents, first who gave them.

"_Item_. The Laughing Club, so blest, Who think this life what 't is,--a jest,-- Collect its flowers from every spray, And laugh its goading thorns away; From whom to-morrow I dissever, Take one sweet grin, and leave for ever; My chest, and all that in it is, I give and I bequeath them, viz.: Westminster grammar, old and poor, Another one, compiled by Moor; A bunch of pamphlets pro and con The doctrine of salva-ti-on; The college laws, I'm freed from minding, A Hebrew psalter, stripped from binding. A Hebrew Bible, too, lies nigh it, Unsold--because no one would buy it.

"My manuscripts, in prose and verse, They take for better and for worse; Their minds enlighten with the best, And pipes and candles with the rest; Provided that from them they cull My college exercises dull, On threadbare theme, with mind unwilling, Strained out through fear of fine one shilling, To teachers paid t' avert an evil, Like Indian worship to the Devil. The above-named manuscripts, I say. To club aforesaid I convey, Provided that said themes, so given, Full proofs that _genius won't be driven_, To our physicians be presented, As the best opiates yet invented.

"_Item_. The government of college, Those liberal _helluos_ of knowledge, Who, e'en in these degenerate days, Deserve the world's unceasing praise; Who, friends of science and of men, Stand forth Gomorrah's righteous ten; On them I naught but thanks bestow, For, like my cash, my credit's low; So I can give nor clothes nor wines, But bid them welcome to my fines.

"_Item_. My study desk of pine, That work-bench, sacred to the nine, Which oft hath groaned beneath my metre, I give to pay my debts to PETER.

"_Item_. Two penknives with white handles, A bunch of quills, and pound of candles, A lexicon compiled by COLE, A pewter spoon, and earthen bowl, A hammer, and two homespun towels, For which I yearn with tender bowels, Since I no longer can control them, I leave to those sly lads who stole them.

"_Item_. A gown much greased in Commons, A hat between a man's and woman's, A tattered coat of college blue, A fustian waistcoat torn in two, With all my rust, through college carried, I give to classmate O----,[67] who's _married_.

"_Item_. C------ P------s[68] has my knife, During his natural college life,-- That knife, which ugliness inherits, And due to his superior merits; And when from Harvard he shall steer, I order him to leave it here, That 't may from class to class descend, Till time and ugliness shall end.

"The said C------ P------s, humor's son, Who long shall stay when I am gone, The Muses' most successful suitor, I constitute my executor; And for his trouble to requite him, Member of Laughing Club I write him.

"Myself on life's broad sea I throw, Sail with its joy, or stem its woe, No other friend to take my part, Than careless head and honest heart. My purse is drained, my debts are paid, My glass is run, my will is made, To beauteous Cam. I bid adieu, And with the world begin anew."

Following the example of his friend Biglow, Mr. Prentiss, on leaving college, prepared a will, which afterwards appeared in one of the earliest numbers of the Rural Repository, a literary paper, the publication of which he commenced at Leominster, Mass., in the autumn of 1795. Thomas Paine, afterwards Robert Treat Paine, Jr., immediately transferred it to the columns of the Federal Orrery, which paper he edited, with these introductory remarks: "Having, in the second number of 'Omnium Gatherum' presented to our readers the last will and testament of Charles Chatterbox, Esq., of witty memory, wherein the said Charles, now deceased, did lawfully bequeath to Ch----s Pr----s the celebrated 'Ugly Knife,' to be by him transmitted, at his collegiate demise, to the next succeeding candidate;... and whereas the said Ch-----s Pr-----s, on the 21st of June last, departed his aforesaid '_college life_,' thereby leaving to the inheritance of his successor the valuable legacy, which his illustrious friend had bequeathed, as an _entailed estate_, to the poets of the university,--we have thought proper to insert a full, true, and attested copy of the will of the last deceased heir, in order that the world may be furnished with a correct genealogy of this renowned _jack-knife_, whose pedigree will become as illustrious in after time as the family of the 'ROLLES,' and which will be celebrated by future wits as the most formidable _weapon_ of modern genius."

"A WILL;

BEING THE LAST WORDS OP CH----S PR----S, LATE WORTHY AND MUCH LAMENTED MEMBER OF THE LAUGHING CLUB OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WHO DEPARTED COLLEGE LIFE ON THE 21ST OF JUNE, 1795.

"I, Pr-----s Ch----s, of judgment sound, In soul, in limb and wind, now found; I, since my head is full of wit, And must be emptied, or must split, In name of _president_ APOLLO, And other gentle folks, that follow: Such as URANIA and CLIO, To whom my fame poetic I owe; With the whole drove of rhyming sisters, For whom my heart with rapture blisters; Who swim in HELICON uncertain Whether a petticoat or shirt on, From vulgar ken their charms do cover, From every eye but _Muses' lover_; In name of every ugly GOD; Whose beauty scarce outshines a toad; In name of PROSERPINE and PLUTO, Who board in hell's sublimest grotto; In name of CERBERUS and FURIES, Those damned _aristocrats_ and tories; In presence of two witnesses, Who are as homely as you please, Who are in truth, I'd not belie 'em, Ten times as ugly, faith, as I am; But being, as most people tell us, A pair of jolly clever fellows, And classmates likewise, at this time, They sha'n't be honored in my rhyme. I--I say I, now make this will; Let those whom I assign fulfil. I give, grant, render, and convey My goods and chattels thus away: That _honor of a college life_, _That celebrated_ UGLY KNIFE, Which predecessor SAWNEY[69] orders, Descending to time's utmost borders, To _noblest bard of homeliest phiz_, To have and hold and use as his; I now present C----s P----y S----r,[70] To keep with his poetic lumber, To scrape his quid, and make a split, To point his pen for sharpening wit; And order that he ne'er abuse Said Ugly Knife, in dirtier use, And let said CHARLES, that best of writers, In prose satiric skilled to bite us, And equally in verse delight us, Take special care to keep it clean From unpoetic hands,--I ween. And when those walls, the Muses' seat, Said S----r is obliged to quit, Let some one of APOLLO'S firing, To such heroic joys aspiring, Who long has borne a poet's name, With said knife cut his way to fame.

"I give to those that fish for parts, Long sleepless nights, and aching hearts, A little soul, a fawning spirit, With half a grain of plodding merit, Which is, as Heaven I hope will say, Giving what's not my own away.

"Those _oven baked_ or _goose egg folded_, Who, though so often I have told it, With all my documents to show it, Will scarce believe that I'm a poet, I give of criticism the lens With half an ounce of common sense.

"And 't would a breach be of humanity, Not to bequeath D---n[71] my vanity; For 'tis a rule direct from Heaven, _To him that hath, more shall be given_.

"_Item_. Tom M----n,[72] COLLEGE LION, Who'd ne'er spend cash enough to buy one, The BOANERGES of a pun, A man of science and of fun, That quite uncommon witty elf, Who darts his bolts and shoots himself, Who oft hath bled beneath my jokes, I give my old _tobacco-box_.

"My _Centinels_[73] for some years past, So neatly bound with thread and paste, Exposing Jacobinic tricks, I give my chum _for politics_.

"My neckcloth, dirty, old, yet _strong_, That round my neck has lasted long, I give BIG BOY, for deed of pith, Namely, to hang himself therewith.

"To those who've parts at exhibition Obtained by long, unwearied fishing, I say, to such unlucky wretches, I give, for wear, a brace of breeches; Then used; as they're but little tore, I hope they'll show their tails no more.

"And ere it quite has gone to rot, I, B---- give my blue great-coat, With all its rags, and dirt, and tallow, Because he's such a dirty fellow.

"Now for my books; first, _Bunyan's Pilgrim_, (As he with thankful pleasure will grin,) Though dog-leaved, torn, in bad type set in, 'T will do quite well for classmate B----, And thus, with complaisance to treat her, 'T will answer for another Detur.

"To him that occupies my study, I give, for use of making toddy, A bottle full of _white-face_ STINGO, Another, handy, called a _mingo_. My wit, as I've enough to spare, And many much in want there are, I ne'er intend to keep at _home_, But give to those that handiest come, Having due caution, _where_ and _when_, Never to spatter _gentlemen_. The world's loud call I can't refuse, The fine productions of my muse; If _impudence_ to _fame_ shall waft her, I'll give the public all, hereafter. My love-songs, sorrowful, complaining, (The recollection puts me pain in,) The last sad groans of deep despair, That once could all my entrails tear; My farewell sermon to the ladies; My satire on a woman's head-dress; My epigram so full of glee, Pointed as epigrams should be; My sonnets soft, and sweet as lasses, My GEOGRAPHY of MOUNT PARNASSUS; With all the bards that round it gather, And variations of the weather; Containing more true humorous satire, Than's oft the lot of human nature; ('O dear, what can the matter be!' I've given away my _vanity_; The vessel can't so much contain, It runs o'er and comes back again.) My blank verse, poems so majestic, My rhymes heroic, tales agrestic; The whole, I say, I'll overhaul 'em, Collect and publish in a volume.

"My heart, which thousand ladies crave, That I intend my wife shall have. I'd give my foibles to the wind, And leave my vices all behind; But much I fear they'll to me stick, Where'er I go, through thin and thick. On WISDOM'S _horse_, oh, might I ride, Whose steps let PRUDENCE' bridle guide. Thy loudest voice, O REASON, lend, And thou, PHILOSOPHY, befriend. May candor all my actions guide, And o'er my every thought preside, And in thy ear, O FORTUNE, one word, Let thy swelled canvas bear me onward, Thy favors let me ever see, And I'll be much obliged to thee; And come with blooming visage meek, Come, HEALTH, and ever flush my cheek; O bid me in the morning rise, When tinges Sol the eastern skies; At breakfast, supper-time, or dinner, Let me against thee be no sinner.