A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 51

World_, Vol. XII. p. 245.

See HUMANITY.

LITERARY CONTESTS. At Jefferson College, in Pennsylvania, "there is," says a correspondent, "an unusual interest taken in the two literary societies, and once a year a challenge is pa.s.sed between them, to meet in an open literary contest upon an appointed evening, usually that preceding the close of the second session.

The _contestors_ are a Debater, an Orator, an Essayist, and a Declaimer, elected from each society by the majority, some time previous to their public appearance. An umpire and two a.s.sociate judges, selected either by the societies or by the _contestors_ themselves, preside over the performances, and award the honors to those whom they deem most worthy of them. The greatest excitement prevails upon this occasion, and an honor thus conferred is preferable to any given in the inst.i.tution."

At Was.h.i.+ngton College, in Pennsylvania, the contest performances are conducted upon the same principle as at Jefferson.

LITTLE-GO. In the English universities, a cant name for a public examination about the middle of the course, which, being less strict and less important in its consequences than the final one, has received this appellation.--_Lyell_.

Whether a regular attendance on the lecture of the college would secure me a qualification against my first public examination; which is here called _the Little-go_.--_The Etonian_, Vol. II. p.

283.

Also called at Oxford _Smalls_, or _Small-go_.

You must be prepared with your list of books, your testamur for Responsions (by Undergraduates called "_Little-go_" or "_Smalls_"), and also your certificate of matriculation.--_Collegian's Guide_, p. 241.

See RESPONSION.

LL.B. An abbreviation for _Legum Baccalaureus_, Bachelor of Laws.

In American colleges, this degree is conferred on students who fulfil the conditions of the statutes of the law school to which they belong. The law schools in the different colleges are regulated on this point by different rules, but in many the degree of LL.B. is given to a B.A. who has been a member of a law school for a year and a half.

See B.C.L.

LL.D. An abbreviation for _Legum Doctor_, Doctor of Laws.

In American colleges, an honorary degree, conferred _pro meritis_ on those who are distinguished as lawyers, statesmen, &c.

See D.C.L.

L.M. An abbreviation for the words _Licentiate in Medicine_. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., an L.M. must be an M.A. or M.B.

of two years' standing. No exercise, but examination by the Professor and another Doctor in the Faculty.

LOAF. At Princeton College, to borrow anything, whether returning it or not; usually in the latter sense.

LODGE. At the University of Cambridge, England, the technical name given to the house occupied by the master of a college.--_Bristed_.

When Undergraduates were invited to the _conversaziones_ at the _Lodge_, they were expected never to sit down in the Master's presence.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 90.

LONG. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., the long vacation, or, as it is more familiarly called, "The Long," commences according to statute in July, at the close of the Easter term, but practically early in June, and ends October 20th, at the beginning of the Michaelmas term.

For a month or six weeks in the "_Long_," they rambled off to see the sights of Paris.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed.

2d, p. 37.

In the vacations, particularly the _Long_, there is every facility for reading.--_Ibid._, p. 78.

So attractive is the Vacation-College-life that the great trouble of the Dons is to keep the men from staying up during the _Long_.

--_Ibid._, p. 79.

Some were going on reading parties, some taking a holiday before settling down to their work in the "_Long_."--_Ibid._, p. 104.

See VACATION.

LONG-EAR. At Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, a student of a sober or religious character is denominated a _long-ear_. The opposite is _short-ear_.

LOTTERY. The method of obtaining money by lottery has at different times been adopted in several of our American colleges. In 1747, a new building being wanted at Yale College, the "Liberty of a Lottery" was obtained from the General a.s.sembly, "by which," says Clap, "Five Hundred Pounds Sterling was raised, clear of all Charge and Deductions."--_Hist. of Yale Coll._, p. 55.

This sum defrayed one third of the expense of building what was then called Connecticut Hall, and is known now by the name of "the South Middle College."

In 1772, Harvard College being in an embarra.s.sed condition, the Legislature granted it the benefit of a lottery; in 1794 this grant was renewed, and for the purpose of enabling the College to erect an additional building. The proceeds of the lottery amounted to $18,400, which, with $5,300 from the general funds of the College, were applied to the erection of Stoughton Hall, which was completed in 1805. In 1806 the Legislature again authorized a lottery, which enabled the Corporation in 1813 to erect a new building, called Holworthy Hall, at an expense of about $24,500, the lottery having produced about $29,000.--_Quincy's Hist. of Harv. Univ._, Vol. II. pp. 162, 273, 292.

LOUNGE. A treat, a comfort. A word introduced into the vocabulary of the English Cantabs, from Eton.--_Bristed_.

LOW. The term applied to the questions, subjects, papers, &c., pertaining to a LOW MAN.

The "_low_" questions were chiefly confined to the first day's papers.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 205.

The "_low_ subjects," as got up to pa.s.s men among the Junior Optimes, comprise, etc.--_Ibid._, p. 205.

The _low_ papers were longer.--_Ibid._, p. 206.

LOWER HOUSE. See SENATE.

LOW MAN. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., the name given to a Junior Optime as compared with a Senior Optime or with a Wrangler.

I was fortunate enough to find a place in the team of a capital tutor,... who had but six pupils, all going out this time, and five of them "_low men_."--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng.

Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 204.

_M_.

M.A. An abbreviation of _Magister Artium_, Master of Arts. The second degree given by universities and colleges. Sometimes written A.M., which, is in accordance with the proper Latin arrangement.