A Collection of College Words and Customs Part 53

MASTER. The head of a college. This word is used in the English Universities, and was formerly in use in this country, in this sense.

The _Master_ of the College, or "Head of the House," is a D.D., who has been a Fellow. He is the supreme ruler within the college Trails, and moves about like an Undergraduate's deity, keeping at an awful distance from the students, and not letting himself be seen too frequently even at chapel. Besides his fat salary and house, he enjoys many perquisites and privileges, not the least of which is that of committing matrimony.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 16.

Every schollar, that on proofe is found able to read the originals of the Old and New Testament into the Latine tongue, &c. and at any publick act hath the approbation of the Overseers and _Master_ of the Colledge, is fit to be dignified with his first degree.--_New England's First Fruits_, in _Ma.s.s. Hist. Coll._, Vol. I. pp. 245, 246.

2. A t.i.tle of dignity in colleges and universities; as, _Master_ of Arts.--_Webster_.

They, likewise, which peruse the questiones published by the _Masters_.--_Mather's Magnalia_, B. IV. pp. 131, 132.

MASTER OF THE KITCHEN. In Harvard College, a person who formerly made all the contracts, and performed all the duties necessary for the providing of commons, under the direction of the Steward. He was required to be "discreet and capable."--_Laws of Harv. Coll._, 1814, p. 42.

MASTER'S QUESTION. A proposition advanced by a candidate for the degree of Master of Arts.

In the older American colleges it seems to have been the established custom, at a very early period, for those who proceeded Masters, to maintain in public _questions_ or propositions on scientific or moral topics. Dr. Cotton Mather, in his _Magnalia_, p. 132, referring to Harvard College, speaks of "the _questiones_ published by the Masters," and remarks that they "now and then presume to fly as high as divinity." These questions were in Latin, and the discussions upon them were carried on in the same language. The earliest list of Masters' questions extant was published at Harvard College in the year 1655. It was ent.i.tled, "Quaestiones in Philosophia Discutiendae ... in comitiis per Inceptores in artib[us]." In 1669 the t.i.tle was changed to "Quaestiones pro Modulo Discutiendae ... per Inceptores." The last Masters' questions were presented at the Commencement in 1789. The next year Masters' exercises were subst.i.tuted, which usually consisted of an English Oration, a Poem, and a Valedictory Latin Oration, delivered by three out of the number of candidates for the second degree. A few years after, the Poem was omitted. The last Masters' exercises were performed in the year 1843. At Yale College, from 1787 onwards, there were no Masters' valedictories, nor syllogistic disputes in Latin, and in 1793 there were no Master's exercises at all.

MATHEMATICAL SLATE. At Harvard College, the best mathematician received in former times a large slate, which, on leaving college, he gave to the best mathematician in the next cla.s.s, and thus transmitted it from cla.s.s to cla.s.s. The slate disappeared a few years since, and the custom is no longer observed.

MATRICULA. A roll or register, from _matrix_. In _colleges_ the register or record which contains the names of the students, times of entering into college, remarks on their character, &c.

The remarks made in the _Matricula_ of the College respecting those who entered the Freshman Cla.s.s together with him are, of one, that he "in his third year went to Philadelphia College."--_Hist. Sketch of Columbia College_, p. 42.

Similar brief remarks are found throughout the _Matricula_ of King's College.--_Ibid._, p. 42.

We find in its _Matricula_ the names of William Walton, &c.--_Ibid._, p. 64.

MATRICULATE. Latin, _Matricula_, a roll or register, from _matrix_. To enter or admit to members.h.i.+p in a body or society, particularly in a college or university, by enrolling the name in a register.--_Wotton_.

In July, 1778, he was examined at that university, and _matriculated_.--_Works of R.T. Paine, Biography_, p. xviii.

In 1787, he _matriculated_ at St. John's College, Cambridge.--_Household Words_, Vol. I. p. 210.

MATRICULATE. One enrolled in a register, and thus admitted to members.h.i.+p in a society.--_Arbuthnot_.

The number of _Matriculates_ has in every instance been greater than that stated in the table.--_Cat. Univ. of North Carolina_, 1848-49.

MATRICULATION. The act of registering a name and admitting to members.h.i.+p.--_Ayliffe_.

In American colleges, students who are found qualified on examination to enter usually join the cla.s.s to which they are admitted, on probation, and are matriculated as members of the college in full standing, either at the close of their first or second term. The time of probation seldom exceeds one year; and if at the end of this time, or of a shorter, as the case may be, the conduct of a student has not been such as is deemed satisfactory by the Faculty, his connection with the college ceases. As a punishment, the _matriculation certificate_ of a student is sometimes taken from him, and during the time in which he is unmatriculated, he is under especial probation, and disobedience to college laws is then punished with more severity than at other times.--_Laws Univ. at Cam., Ma.s.s._, 1848, p. 12. _Laws Yale Coll._, 1837, p. 9.

MAUDLIN. The name by which Magdalen College, Cambridge, Eng., is always known and spoken of by Englishmen.

The "_Maudlin Men_" were at one time so famous for tea-drinking, that the Cam, which licks the very walls of the college, is said to have been absolutely rendered unnavigable with tea-leaves.--_Alma Mater_, Vol. II. p. 202.

MAX. Abbreviated for _maximum_, greatest. At Union College, he who receives the highest possible number of marks, which is one hundred, in each study, for a term, is said to _take Max_ (or maximum); to be a _Max scholar_. On the Merit Roll all the _Maxs_ are cl.u.s.tered at the top.

A writer remarks jocosely of this word. It is "that indication of perfect scholars.h.i.+p to which none but Freshmen aspire, and which is never attained except by accident."--_Soph.o.m.ore Independent_, Union College, Nov. 1854.

Probably not less than one third of all who enter each new cla.s.s confidently expect to "mark _max_," during their whole course, and to have the Valedictory at Commencement.--_Ibid._

See MERIT ROLL.

MAY. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., the college Easter term examination is familiarly spoken of as _the May_.

The "_May_" is one of the features which distinguishes Cambridge from Oxford; at the latter there are no public College examinations.--_Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ._, Ed. 2d, p. 64.

As the "_May_" approached, I began to feel nervous.--_Ibid._, p.

70.

MAY TRAINING. A correspondent from Bowdoin College where the farcical custom of May Training is observed writes as follows in reference to its origin: "In 1836, a law pa.s.sed the Legislature requiring students to perform military duty, and they were summoned to appear at muster equipped as the law directs, to be inspected and drilled with the common militia. Great excitement prevailed in consequence, but they finally concluded to _train_.

At the appointed time and place, they made their appearance armed _cap-a-pie_ for grotesque deeds, some on foot, some on horse, with banners and music appropriate, and altogether presenting as ludicrous a spectacle as could easily be conceived of. They paraded pretty much 'on their own hook,' threw the whole field into disorder by their evolutions, and were finally ordered off the ground by the commanding officer. They were never called upon again, but the day is still commemorated."

M.B. An abbreviation for _Medicinae Baccalaureus_, Bachelor of Physic. At Cambridge, Eng., the candidate for this degree must have had his name five years on the boards of some college, have resided three years, and attended medical lectures and hospital practice during the other two; also have attended the lectures of the Professors of Anatomy, Chemistry, and Botany, and the Downing Professor of Medicine, and pa.s.sed an examination to their satisfaction. At Oxford, Eng., the degree is given to an M.A. of one year's standing, who is also a regent of the same length of time. The exercises are disputations upon two distinct days before the Professors of the Faculty of Medicine. The degree was formerly given in American colleges before that of M.D., but has of late years been laid aside.

M.D. An abbreviation for _Medicines Doctor_, Doctor of Physic. At Cambridge, Eng., the candidate for this degree must be a Bachelor of Physic of five years' standing, must have attended hospital practice for three years, and pa.s.sed an examination satisfactory to the Medical Professors of the University,

At Oxford, an M.D. must be an M.B. of three years' standing. The exercises are three distinct lectures, to be read on three different days. In American colleges the degree is usually given to those who have pursued their studies in a medical school for three years; but the regulations differ in different inst.i.tutions.

MED, MEDIC. A name sometimes given to a student in medicine.

---- who sent The _Medic_ to our aid.

_The Crayon_, Yale Coll., 1823, p. 23.

"The Council are among ye, Yale!"

Some roaring _Medic_ cries.

_Ibid._, p. 24.

The slain, the _Medics_ stowed away.

_Ibid._, p. 24.

Seniors, Juniors, Freshmen blue, And _Medics_ sing the anthem too.

_Yale Banger_, Nov. 1850.

Take ...

Sixteen interesting "_Meds_,"

With dirty hands and towzeled heads.