History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 47

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 47

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In 1865, however, the advocates of the Elective Sys- tem were once more in the majority. The Faculty, although still small in number, and overworked through the custom of dividing classes into small sec- tions, voted "that botany be made an elective study in the Junior year, that Greek in that year be an elective instead of a required study, and that Juniors be allowed two elective studies instead of one; that German should be introduced as a required study into the second term of the Sophomore year, and that Roman history, Greek history and philosophy, and German should be added to the elective studies of the Junior year. Subsequently, Greek poetry was added." In 1867 a new scheme was drawn up, according to which all the work of the Freshman year was re- quired ; the Sophomores had seven hours a week re- quired, and six hours elective ; the Juniors and Seniors had six hours required, and six or nine hours elective. But slight changes occurred until 1870, when, by raising the tuition fee from $104 to $150 per annum, the increase of income enabled the employment of a larger force of instructors and the consequent exten- sion of the Elective System. Year by year the num- .ber of required studies was lessened. In 1872 the Seniors were free to choose all their courses ; in 1879 this privilege reached the Juniors ; in 1884 it was ex- tended to the Sophomores. In the latter year the Freshmen had nine hours a week of electives and seven hours of required studies. But for all the classes a certain number of themes and forensics was prescribed.

In 1885 the Elective System was brought to its

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logical conclusion by being extended to Freshmen. At the present time (1890) the only prescribed work is: Freshmen, Rhetoric and English Composition, three hours a week ; Chemistry, lectures once a week, first half-year; Physics, once a week, second half- year ; German, or French, three hours a week, for those who do not present themselves for examination on the study at entrance. Sophomores, twelve Themes, Juniors and Seniors a forensic, a thesis, and an exam- ination in argumentative composition in each year.

The two leading objections to the Elective System- first, that students (particularly Freshmen) cannot be trusted to select the studies best fitted for their devel- opment; and second, that some students will begin too early to specialize, and so fail to derive a liberal education from their College training-have been equally disproved by the experiment at Harvard up to the present time. The number of those who, through idleness or injudicious choice, have failed, has been very small, and is constantly kept down by the checks which the Faculty has provided-frequent examinations, and the appointment of a member of the Faculty to consult with and overlook each stu- dent. In 1889 the Overseers, fearing that too many of the students might abuse the privilege of volun- tary attendance at lectures, suggested that a more strict method of marking absences and of registration should be adopted ; and this has been done. But even such restrictions as these must sooner or later be abandoned, when the idea of what a University should be triumphs-not a reform school, nor a semi- nary, nor a substitute for paternal superintendence, but a treasury of learning from which every properly qualified person may draw in proportion to his ability. Our American public and most of our educators are still too tightly bound by the traditions dating from a time when colleges were but higher boarding-schools, to realize as yet the significance and the superiority of the University ideal towards which we have seen, in this brief review, Harvard steadily approaching.

With the growth of the Elective System there has grown up a class of special students, not candidates for a degree, and of graduate students who either desire to take a higher degree or to pursue for a time some special branch of advanced study. Of the for- mer, the average annual number between 1828 and 1847 inclusive was only three, and little attention was paid to them. In the latter year the Scientific School was opened, and for three years all its mem- bers were designated "special students." In 1850 the School was put on a better basis, examinations for admission were required, and the "specials " no longer attended. It was not until 1876 that the Col- lege was again officially opened "to persons not less than twenty-one years old, who shall satisfy the fac- ulty of their fitness to pursue the particular courses they elect, although they have not passed the usual examinations for admission to College, and do not propose to be candidates for the degree of Bachelor of

Arts." In 1881 the restriction as to age was annulled, and prescribed as well as elective courses were offered to these students, then called "unmatriculated " and (since 1882) " special."

The Graduate Department has likewise grown very rapidly. It is attended not only by Harvard gradu- ates, but also by those from other colleges, who come here to complete their training. The work done by them is, in fact, the kind of work which belongs to a University, and to this department the best efforts of the professors will inevitably be more and more de- voted as the general standard of learning is raised. The higher degrees (Master of Arts, Doctor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy) are conferred after one or two years of successful graduate study. In early times candidates for the Master's degree were re- quired to spend a year in the College after their grad- uation, and to pass a satisfactory examination. In 1844 this custom was abandoned, and for nearly thirty years any one who had taken the Bachelor's degree was entitled to the Master's degree on the payment of five dollars three years after graduation. This, of course, deprived the degree of A.M. of all scholastic value; but since 1872 no person has received it at Harvard unless he has fulfilled the requirements above stated, and the Master's degree is now a certificate that one year of graduate work has been well performed. During the academic year 1888-89 there were ninety- nine graduate students connected with the University, of whom ten were non-residents. Of the latter, nine were holders of fellowships, by the terms of which the incumbents are allowed to pursue their studies abroad under the direction of the Academic Council.

Thus have the methods and courses of instruction been slowly liberalized and improved. The Classics and Mathematics, before which, as before Gog and Magog, educators fell down and worshipped, declaring them to be the only true agents of culture, have grad- ually been placed in their proper position-not de- graded nor laid on the shelf, but prohibited from ex- cluding proper reverence for Science, History and the Modern Languages, which are now recognized as be- ing important means to culture. And the work done in Greek and Latin and Mathematics, being no longer obligatory, is more earnest than iu the days of com- pulsion, and productive of more good. The old su- perstition that the degree of A.B, will be unintelli- gible, unless all who receive it have taken the same courses, still befogs the eyes of some conservatives; but experience will certainly dissipate this, together with other ancient delusions, and the deliberations now (1890) in progress to shorten the academic course from four to three years, by entitling a student to his degree whenever he shall have passed satisfactorily the required number of studies, prove that the last stronghold of the conservatives will soon fall.

The raising of the standard of admission to Har- vard has naturally wrought a complete change in the teaching of the preparatory schools. In 1827 .the

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candidate for the Freshman Class must be thoroughly acquainted with Latin and Greek Grammar, including prosody ; he must be able to construe and parse Ja- cob's Greek Reader, the Gospels in the Greek Testa- ment, Vergil, Sallust and Cicero's Select Orations, and to translate English into Latin; he must be well versed in Ancient and Modern Geography, in the fun- damental rules of Arithmetic, in vulgar and decimal fractions, in proportion, simple and compound, in single and double fellowship, in alligation, medial and alternate, and in algebra to the end of simple equations, comprehending also the doctrine of roots and powers, and in arithmetical and geometrical pro- gression. Now, however, many of the studies for- merly taken up in College are embraced in the ordi- nary preparatory school curriculum. Seventy years ago boys entered Harvard at the age of fourteen; now the average at entrance is nearly nineteen. There are two classes of studies-elementary and advanced- on one of which the candidate for admission is exam- ined. The former class (in 1889) comprised, 1, a short composition on some classic English author, and the correction of specimens of bad English. 2, Greek. The translation at sight of simple Attic prose, with questions on the usual forms and constructions. 3, Latin. As in Greek. 4, German, and 5, French. Translation at sight of ordinary prose. 6, History, including Historical Geography. Either the History of Greece and Rome, or the History of the United States and England. 7, Mathematics. Algebra, through quadratic equations, and Plane Geometry. 8, Physical Science. Either Astronomy or Physics, or a course of experiments in mechanics, sound, light, heat and electricity, not less than forty in number, actually performed at school by the pupil. The ex- aminations in Advanced Studies comprise, 1, Greek. Translation at sight of average passages from Homer, or of ten difficult passages from Homer and Herod- otus, with questions on construction and prosody. 2, Latin. Translation of average passages from Cicero and Vergil. 3, Greek and Latin Composition. 4, German. One work of Lessing, Schiller, Goethe, Chamisso and Freytag, with Grammar and Composi- tion. 6, French. One work of George Sand, San- deau, Scribe and Legouvé, Henri Gréville, La Fon- taine, Molière, Racine and Corneille, with grammar and composition. 6, Mathematics. Logarithms ; Plane Geometry, with its application to Surveying and Nav- igation ; either Solid Geometry or the Elements of Analytic Geometry. 8, Physics. A course of at least sixty experiments in addition to those of the ele- mentary physics. 9, Chemistry. Sixty experiments performed by the pupil. The candidate is also per- mitted to take optional examinations, and thus to qualify himself to pursue more advanced courses. He may, for example, be examined in the prescribed · Freshinan work or in any elective open to Freshmen.

This account of the progress of education cannot be more appropriately concluded than by appending the

following table, in which is shown the number of Elective courses provided by the College for the year 1888-89:

Semitic .

Romance Philology 41/2

Sanskrit and Zend .

Philosophy

1112

Greek .

Political Economy

Latin . 12

History . 1716

Greek and Latin.

Roman Law

English .

Fine Arts .

31/6

German .

Music . .

316

Germanic Philology

Mathematics

French

Physics .

Italian

Chemistry

121%

Spanish

Natural History 191/2

182

There were besides four and a half prescribed courses.

A word should also be said concerning the con- stantly increasing usefulness of the College Library In 1860 the system of "card catalogues" was intro- duced, and since the completion of the new wing, in 1876, the books have been wholly re-arranged. Mr. Justin Winsor, who succeeded Mr. John L. Sibley as Librarian in 1877, has initiated many improvements. The plan of reserving the works needed by students in the various courses has proved so satisfactory that the Reading Room is no longer large enough to ac- commodate all the students who would use it. In special cases permission is also granted to go directly to the stacks and alcoves. For several years past the Library has issued an occasional Bulletin. One of the assistants prepares the University Catalogue, which has been published annually in pamphlet form since 1819. Before that, from 1803, the list of students was printed on a broadside. The Catalogue of Alumni, issued triennially1 from 1700 to 1880, and quinquen- nially since the latter date, is edited by another as- sistant at the Library. This year (1890) it will ap- pear for the first time in English instead of Latin. Two interesting facts may be recorded here : Ko Kun Hua, a mandarin, was instructor of Chinese in the College from 1879 to 1882, and in 1881 members of the Greek department gave a satisfactory perform- ance of the Œdipus Tyrannus of Sophocles in the original language at Sanders Theatre, the music be- ing composed by Professor J. K. Paine.

III. STUDENT LIFE.

COMMONS .- An adequate account of the life of the students at Harvard, from generation to generation, would be very interesting, but sufficient material is lacking. I shall attempt to present, however, as briefly yet satisfactorily as possible, the records I have found, and I shall present them chronologically and topic- ally, so that the reader who so desires can trace the growth of undergraduate conditions, and compare

1 Tho earliest known catalogne of graduates is dated 1674 ; the next, 1682. Down to the Revolution Masters of Arts wero called " Sirs, " and so appear in the curly catalognes. The terms Senior and Junior Sophis- ters were oropped in 1850.

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those of one period with those of another. The de- velopment of the College, as we have seen, has been from a state of subservience to civil and religious authority to a state of independence; a similar process is illustrated in the development of student life. Students were originally treated like school-boys ; they are now treated like men, hampered as little as is practicable by academic police regulations ; and one of the most valuable lessons they now learn at the University is that of self-dependence, whereby they build up their character and fit themselves for their battle with the world.

But the designers of the "schools at Newtowne" had no such ideal in view. They were themselves members of an austere community, and undertook collectively to admonish, correct and punish any individual member who might be deemed delinquent ; and they imposed on their seminary a system similar to that by which adult lives were guided. If we bear in mind that Harvard was, for many years after its founding, a theological seminary, in which the scholars were mere boys, we shall understand the principles by which its discipline was framed. In the great European universities of the Middle Age, at Bologna, Padua and Paris, the students were often the masters, and the Faculty were the servants ; but at Harvard the relations were reversed; the Faculty stood in loco parentis to the undergraduate, and brooked no question of their authority. The Faculty provided not only lodging and board for the student, but directed his worship and his recreation with the same severity as his studies; he was a member of a large family, in which the President or Tutor assumed the role of father, and believed, like most fathers at that time, that the child should not be spoiled from too sparing an application of the rod.

First in importance in an account of student life, excepting of course, education, which has already beeu sketched, is the history of Commons. And from the very beginning of Harvard College, com- plaints of bad fare reach us. When Eaton and his wife were examined in regard to their conduct at this Seminary (1637-39) the latter confessed that she had provided very scantily for the students. Their break- fast, she deposed, " was not so well ordered, the flower not so fine as it might, nor so well boiled or stirred." Beef was allowed them, but she never gave it, and she was stingier in her husband's absence than in his presence. She denied them cheese when they sent for it, and although she had it in the house; "for which," she said, "I shall humbly beg pardon of them, and own the shame, and confess my sin. . . And for bad fish, that they had it brought to table, I am sorry that there was that cause of offence given them. I acknowledge my sin in it. And for their mackerel, brought to them with their guts in them, and goat's dung in their hasty pudding, it's utterly unknown to me; but I am much ashamed it should be in the family, and not prevented by myself or

servants. . . . And that they made their beds at any time, were my straits never so great, I am sorry they were ever put to it. For the Moor his lying in Sam Hough's sheet and pillow-bier, it hath a truth in it; he did so one time, and it gave Sam Hough just cause of offence. . . And that they eat the Moor's crusts, and the swine and they had share and share alike, and the Moor to have beer, and they denied it, aud if they had not enough, for my maid to answer, they should not, I am an utter stranger to these things, and know not the least footsteps for them so to charge me. . . And for bread made of heated sour meal, although I know of but once that it was so, since I kept house, yet John Wilson affirms it was twice ; and I am truly sorry that any of it was spent amongst them .. For beer and bread, that it was denied them by me betwixt meals, truly I do not remember that ever I did deny it unto them ; and John Wilson will affirm, that generally, the bread and beer was free for the boarders to go unto. And that money was demanded of them for washing the linen, it's true it was propounded to them, but never imposed upon them. And for their pudding being given the last day of the week without butter or suet, and that I said it was miln of Manchester in Old England, it's true that I did say so, and am sorry they had any cause of offence given them by having it so. And for their wanting beer betwixt brewings, a week or half a week together, I am sorry that it was so at any time, and should tremble to have it so, were it in my hands to do so again." 1

Eaton and his wife were discharged and heavily fined, but the students still continued to live at Com- mons, where the fare improved. Parents paid for their sons' schooling in produce and kind, whereby the larder was better stored. On the Steward's book we have entries of " a barrel of pork," "a old cow," " turkey henes," " two wether goatts," "a bush. of parsnapes," " a ferkinge of butter," "a red ox," " ap- pelles," " a ferking of soap," "rose watter," "three pecks of peasse," " beaffe," "fouer shotes from the farm," "tobacko," etc .; which were doubtless applied to the use of the students.

The Laws, Liberties and Orders of Harvard College (1642-46), adopted under President Dunster, state that no scholar shall " be absent from his studies or appointed exercises above an hour at morning bever, half an hour at afternoon bever, an hour and a half at dinner, and so long at supper." The "morning bever " was eaten in the battery, or in the student's chamber ; the "afternoon bever " came at about four o'clock, betweeu dinner and supper, which were served in the hall. Dunster also drew up (1650) a series of jules for the regulation of the students' diet. The Steward was required to give notice to the Pres- ident when any student was indebted for more than £2 for his board, in order that the youth might be

1 Harvard Book, ii, 78, 79.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

sent to his friends, "if not above a day's journey dis- tant." The Steward was also forbidden " to take any pay that is useless, hazardful or imparting detriment to the college, as lean cattle to feed." It was decreed further that " WHEREAS young scholars, to the dis- honor of God, hindrance of their studies and damage of their friends' estate, inconsiderately and intemper- ately are ready to abuse their liberty of sizing [extra food or drink ordered from the buttery] besides their commons; therefore the Steward shall in no case permit any Students whatever, under the degree of Masters of Art, or Fellows, to expend or be provided for themselves or any townsmen any extraordinary commons, unless by the allowance of the President, or two of the Fellows, whereof their Tutor always to be one, or in case of manifest sickness, pre-signified also unto the President, or in case of a license, of course granted by the President to some persons whose condition he seeth justly requires it."

The steward and cook must keep their utensils " clean and sweet and fit for use;" but they were not " bound to keep or cleanse any particular scholar's spoons, cups or such like, but at their own discre- tion." A scholar who " detained " any vessel belong- ing to the College was fined three pence. No scholars were permitted to go into "the butteries or kitchen, save with their parents or guardians, or with some grave and sober strangers ; and if they shall presume to thrust in, they shall have three pence on their heads." At meals the scholars must sit orderly in their places, and none must rise or go out of the Hall without permission before thanksgiving be ended. Finally, the Butler should receive ten shillings on September 13th, and ten more on December 13th, "toward candles for the Hall for prayer time and supper, which, that it may not be burdensome, it shall be put proportionably upon every scholar who retaineth his seat in the buttery."

In early times the position of Steward and Butler were both filled by graduates; and some of the stu- dents waited on table, for which they were paid. William Thomson, for instance, of the Class of 1653, received quarterly one pound "for his services in the Hall;" Zechariah Brigden (Class of 1657) was given for "ringinge the bell and waytinge, £1 2s .; " and John Hale, of the same class, received for " waytinge and his monitor-work £2 11s."

Dunster's rules remained in vigor, with occasional modifications, down to 1734. Judge Sewall states that in 1674 a student was punished for "speaking blasphemous words," by being obliged "to sit alone by himself uncovered at meals during the pleasure of the President and Fellows;" from which we infer that it was then customary to have the head covered while eating. Order was maintained by the presence of the Tutors at Commons; and the Corporation, or Overseers, frequently fixed the price which the Stew- ard and Butter might charge for their food and liquors. Thus, in October, 1715, the latter was pro-

hibited from taking more than two pence a quart for cider until the 1st of February.

That students lodged outside of the College build- ings seems to have been an early practice, necessi- tated by the lack of sufficient accommodations in the Halls; and that some of those who lodged in the Halls boarded outside is evident from the order passed in 1724 to compel all such scholars, graduates and undergraduates to eat at Commons, unless the President and a majority of the Tutors granted them leave to do otherwise. This rule was the source of much trouble, and was long resisted. A visiting committee of the Overseers reported, in 1732, that this rule ought to be enforced; that students and graduates should be prevented "from using punch, flip and like intoxicating drinks," and "that Com- mons be of better quality, have more variety, clean table-cloths of convenient length and breadth twice a week, and that plates be allowed."

New laws, consonant with these recommendations, were passed in 1734. Students, in order to "furnish themselves with useful learning," must "keep in their respective chambers, and diligently follow their studies, except half an hour at breakfast, at dinner from 12 to 2, and after evening prayers till nine of the clock." Breakfast, or "morning bever," was still served at the buttery, and eaten usually in the stu- dent's chamber. No resident in the College might "make use of any distilled spirits or of any such mixed drinks as punch or flip in entertaining one another or strangers;" and no under-graduate might "keep by him brandy, rum or any other distilled spirituons liquors," or send for them without leave from the President or a Tutor. The clean linen cloths, of suitable length and breadth, and pewter plates were furnished by the College; but the plates were to be maintained at the charge of the scholars. Section 3, Chapter V, of these laws runs as follows : "The waiters, when the bell tolls at meal-times, shall receive the plates and victuals at the kitchen-hatch, and carry the same to the several tables for which they are designed. And none shall receive their commons out of the Hall, except in case of sickness or some weighty occasion. And the Senior Tutor or other Senior scholar in the Hall shall crave . blessing and return thanks. And all the scholars, while at their meals, shall sit in their places and behave themselves decently and orderly, and whosoever shall be rude or clamorous at such time, or shall go out of the Hall before thanks be returned, shall be pun- ished by one of the Tutors not exceeding five shil- lings.”

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 47

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034