A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 27

No artful _dodge_ to leave my school could I just then prepare.

_Poem before Iadma, Harv. Coll._, 1850.

Agreed; but I have another _dodge_ as good as yours.--_Collegian's Guide_, p. 240.

We may well admire the cleverness displayed by this would-be Chatterton, in his attempt to sell the unwary with an Ossian _dodge_.--_Lit. World_, Vol. XII. p. 191.

DOMINUS. A t.i.tle bestowed on Bachelors of Arts, in England.

_Dominus_ Nokes; _Dominus_ Stiles.--_Gradus ad Cantab._

DON. In the English universities, a short generic term for a Fellow or any college authority.

He had already told a lie to the _Dons_, by protesting against the justice of his sentence.--_Collegian's Guide_, p. 169.

Never to order in any wine from an Oxford merchant, at least not till I am a _Don_.--_The Etonian_, Vol. II. p. 288.

Nor hint how _Dons_, their untasked hours to pa.s.s, Like Cato, warm their virtues with the gla.s.s.[21]

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

DONKEY. At Was.h.i.+ngton College, Penn., students of a religious character are vulgarly called _donkeys_.

See LAP-EAR.

DORMIAT. Latin; literally, _let him sleep_. To take out a _dormiat_, i.e. a license to sleep. The licensed person is excused from attending early prayers in the Chapel, from a plea of being indisposed. Used in the English universities.--_Gradus ad Cantab._

DOUBLE FIRST. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., a student who attains high honors in both the cla.s.sical and the mathematical tripos.

The Calendar does not show an average of two "_Double Firsts_"

annually for the last ten years out of one hundred and thirty-eight graduates in Honors.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 91.

The reported saying of a distinguished judge,... "that the standard of a _Double First_ was getting to be something beyond human ability," seems hardly an exaggeration.--_Ibid._, p. 224.

DOUBLE MAN. In the English universities, a student who is a proficient in both cla.s.sics and mathematics.

"_Double men_," as proficients in both cla.s.sics and mathematics are termed, are very rare.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng.

Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 91.

It not unfrequently happens that he now drops the intention of being a "_double man_," and concentrates himself upon mathematics.

--_Ibid._, p. 104.

To one danger mathematicians are more exposed than either cla.s.sical or _double men_,--disgust and satiety arising from exclusive devotion to their unattractive studies.--_Ibid._, p.

225.

DOUBLE MARKS. It was formerly the custom in Harvard College with the Professors in Rhetoric, when they had examined and corrected the _themes_ of the students, to draw a straight line on the back of each one of them, under the name of the writer. Under the names of those whose themes were of more than ordinary correctness or elegance, _two_ lines were drawn, which were called _double marks_.

They would take particular pains for securing the _double mark_ of the English Professor to their poetical compositions.--_Monthly Anthology_, Boston, 1804, Vol. I. p. 104.

Many, if not the greater part of Paine's themes, were written in verse; and his vanity was gratified, and his emulation roused, by the honor of constant _double marks_.--_Works of R.T. Paine, Biography_, p. xxii., Ed. 1812.

See THEME.

DOUBLE SECOND. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., one who obtains a high place in the second rank, in both mathematical and cla.s.sical honors.

A good _double second_ will make, by his college scholars.h.i.+p, two fifths or three fifths of his expenses during two thirds of the time he pa.s.ses at the University.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 427.

DOUGH-BALL. At the Anderson Collegiate Inst.i.tute, Indiana, a name given by the town's people to a student.

DRESS. A uniformity in dress has never been so prevalent in American colleges as in the English and other universities. About the middle of the last century, however, the habit among the students of Harvard College of wearing gold lace attracted the attention of the Overseers, and a law was pa.s.sed "requiring that on no occasion any of the scholars wear any gold or silver lace, or any gold or silver brocades, in the College or town of Cambridge," and "that no one wear any silk night-gowns." "In 1786," says Quincy, "in order to lessen the expense of dress, a uniform was prescribed, the color and form of which were minutely set forth, with a distinction of the cla.s.ses by means of frogs on the cuffs and b.u.t.ton-holes; silk was prohibited, and home manufactures were recommended." This system of uniform is fully described in the laws of 1790, and is as follows:--

"All the Undergraduates shall be clothed in coats of blue-gray, and with waistcoats and breeches of the same color, or of a black, a nankeen, or an olive color. The coats of the Freshmen shall have plain b.u.t.ton-holes. The cuffs shall be without b.u.t.tons. The coats of the Soph.o.m.ores shall have plain b.u.t.ton-holes like those of the Freshmen, but the cuffs shall have b.u.t.tons. The coats of the Juniors shall have cheap frogs to the b.u.t.ton-holes, except the b.u.t.ton-holes of the cuffs. The coats of the Seniors shall have frogs to the b.u.t.ton-holes of the cuffs. The b.u.t.tons upon the coats of all the cla.s.ses shall be as near the color of the coats as they can be procured, or of a black color. And no student shall appear within the limits of the College, or town of Cambridge, in any other dress than in the uniform belonging to his respective cla.s.s, unless he shall have on a night-gown or such an outside garment as may be necessary over a coat, except only that the Seniors and Juniors are permitted to wear black gowns, and it is recommended that they appear in them on all public occasions. Nor shall any part of their garments be of silk; nor shall they wear gold or silver lace, cord, or edging upon their hats, waistcoats, or any other parts of their clothing. And whosoever shall violate these regulations shall be fined a sum not exceeding ten s.h.i.+llings for each offence."--_Laws of Harv. Coll._, 1790, pp. 36, 37.

It is to this dress that the poet alludes in these lines:--

"In blue-gray coat, with b.u.t.tons on the cuffs, First Modern Pride your ear with fustian stuffs; 'Welcome, blest age, by holy seers foretold, By ancient bards proclaimed the age of gold,'" &c.[22]

But it was by the would-be reformers of that day alone that such sentiments were held, and it was only by the severity of the punishment attending non-conformity with these regulations that they were ever enforced. In 1796, "the sumptuary law relative to dress had fallen into neglect," and in the next year "it was found so obnoxious and difficult to enforce," says Quincy, "that a law was pa.s.sed abrogating the whole system of distinction by 'frogs on the cuffs and b.u.t.ton-holes,' and the law respecting dress was limited to prescribing a blue-gray or dark-blue coat, with permission to wear a black gown, and a prohibition of wearing gold or silver lace, cord, or edging."--_Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ._, Vol. II. p. 277.

A writer in the New England Magazine, in an article relating to the customs of Harvard College at the close of the last century, gives the following description of the uniform ordered by the Corporation to be worn by the students:--

"Each head supported a three-cornered c.o.c.ket hat. Yes, gentle reader, no man or boy was considered in full dress, in those days, unless his pericranium was thus surmounted, with the forward peak directly over the right eye. Had a clergyman, especially, appeared with a hat of any other form, it would have been deemed as great a heresy as Unitarianism is at the present day. Whether or not the three-cornered hat was considered as an emblem of Trinitarianism, I am not able to determine. Our hair was worn in a _queue_, bound with black ribbon, and reached to the small of the back, in the shape of the tail of that motherly animal which furnishes ungrateful bipeds of the human race with milk, b.u.t.ter, and cheese.

Where nature had not bestowed a sufficiency of this ornamental appendage, the living and the dead contributed of their superfluity to supply the deficiency. Our ear-locks,--_horresco referens_!--my ears tingle and my countenance is distorted at the recollection of the tortures inflicted on them by the heated curling-tongs and crimping-irons.

"The bosoms of our s.h.i.+rts were ruffled with lawn or cambric, and 'Our fingers' ends were seen to peep From ruffles, full five inches deep.'

Our coats were double-breasted, and of a black or priest-gray color. The directions were not so particular respecting our waistcoats, breeches,--I beg pardon,--small clothes, and stockings. Our shoes ran to a point at the distance of two or three inches from the extremity of the foot, and turned upward, like the curve of a skate. Our dress was ornamented with s.h.i.+ning stock, knee, and shoe buckles, the last embracing at least one half of the foot of ordinary dimensions. If any wore boots, they were made to set as closely to the leg as its skin; for a handsome calf and ankle were esteemed as great beauties as any portion of the frame, or point in the physiognomy."--Vol. III. pp. 238, 239.

In his late work, ent.i.tled, "Memories of Youth and Manhood,"

Professor Sidney Willard has given an entertaining description of the style of dress which was in vogue at Harvard College near the close of the last century, in the following words:--

"Except on special occasions, which required more than ordinary attention to dress, the students, when I was an undergraduate, were generally very careless in this particular. They were obliged by the College laws to wear coats of blue-gray; but as a subst.i.tute in warm weather, they were allowed to wear gowns, except on public occasions; and on these occasions they were permitted to wear black gowns. Seldom, however, did any one avail himself of this permission. In summer long gowns of calico or gingham were the covering that distinguished the collegian, not only about the College grounds, but in all parts of the village.

Still worse, when the season no longer tolerated this thin outer garment, many adopted one much in the same shape, made of colorless woollen stuff called lambskin. These were worn by many without any under-coat in temperate weather, and in some cases for a length of time in which they had become sadly soiled. In other respects there was nothing peculiar in the common dress of the young men and boys of College to distinguish it from that of others of the same age. Breeches were generally worn, b.u.t.toned at the knees, and tied or buckled a little below; not so convenient a garment for a person dressing in haste as trousers or pantaloons.

Often did I see a fellow-student hurrying to the Chapel to escape tardiness at morning prayers, with this garment unb.u.t.toned at the knees, the ribbons dangling over his legs, the hose refusing to keep their elevation, and the calico or woollen gown wrapped about him, ill concealing his dishabille.

"Not all at once did pantaloons gain the supremacy as the nether garment. About the beginning of the present century they grew rapidly in favor with the young; but men past middle age were more slow to adopt the change. Then, last, the aged very gradually were converted to the fas.h.i.+on by the plea of convenience and comfort; so that about the close of the first quarter of the present century it became almost universal. In another particular, more than half a century ago, the sons adopted a custom of their wiser fathers. The young men had for several years worn shoes and boots shaped in the toe part to a point, called peaked toes, while the aged adhered to the shape similar to the present fas.h.i.+on; so that the shoemaker, in a doubtful case, would ask his customer whether he would have square-toed or peaked-toed. The distinction between young and old in this fas.h.i.+on was so general, that sometimes a graceless youth, who had been crossed by his father or guardian in some of his unreasonable humors, would speak of him with the t.i.tle of _Old Square-toes_.

"Boots with yellow tops inverted, and coming up to the knee-band, were commonly worn by men somewhat advanced in years; but the younger portion more generally wore half-boots, as they were called, made of elastic leather, cordovan. These, when worn, left a s.p.a.ce of two or three inches between the top of the boot and the knee-band. The great beauty of this fas.h.i.+on, as it was deemed by many, consisted in restoring the boots, which were stretched by drawing them on, to shape, and bringing them as nearly as possible into contact with the legs; and he who prided himself most on the form of his lower limbs would work the hardest in pressure on the leather from the ankle upward in order to do this most effectually."--Vol. I. pp. 318-320.

In 1822 was pa.s.sed the "Law of Harvard University, regulating the dress of the students." The established uniform was as follows.

"The coat of black-mixed, single-breasted, with a rolling cape, square at the end, and with pocket flaps; waist reaching to the natural waist, with lapels of the same length; skirts reaching to the bend of the knee; three crow's-feet, made of black-silk cord, on the lower part of the sleeve of a Senior, two on that of a Junior, and one on that of a Soph.o.m.ore. The waistcoat of black-mixed or of black; or when of cotton or linen fabric, of white, single-breasted, with a standing collar. The pantaloons of black-mixed or of black bombazette, or when of cotton or linen fabric, of white. The surtout or great coat of black-mixed, with not more than two capes. The b.u.t.tons of the above dress must be flat, covered with the same cloth as that of the garments, not more than eight nor less than six on the front of the coat, and four behind. A surtout or outside garment is not to be subst.i.tuted for the coat. But the students are permitted to wear black gowns, in which they may appear on all public occasions. Night-gowns, of cotton or linen or silk fabric, made in the usual form, or in that of a frock coat, may be worn, except on the Sabbath, on exhibition and other occasions when an undress would be improper. The neckcloths must be plain black or plain white."

No student, while in the State of Ma.s.sachusetts, was allowed, either in vacation or term time, to wear any different dress or ornament from those above named, except in case of mourning, when he could wear the customary badges. Although dismission was the punishment for persisting in the violation of these regulations, they do not appear to have been very well observed, and gradually, like the other laws of an earlier date on this subject, fell into disuse. The night-gowns or dressing-gowns continued to be worn at prayers and in public until within a few years. The black-mixed, otherwise called OXFORD MIXED cloth, is explained under the latter t.i.tle.