Autobiography of Seventy Years, Vol. 1-2Hoar, George Frisbie
History
Autobiography of Seventy Years, Vol. 1-2
Hoar, George Frisbie
United States -- History -- 1865-1921; United States -- Politics and government -- 1865-1900
There was an entertaining custom of giving out what were called
mock parts when the real parts for the exhibitions or Commencement
were announced. They were read out from a second-story window
to an assemblage of students in the yard, and after the real
parts had been given some mock parts were read. Usually some
peculiarity of the person to whom they were assigned was made
the object of good-natured ridicule in the selection of the
subject. For example, one boy, who was rather famous for
smoking other fellows' cigars and never having any of his
own, had assigned to him as a subject, "The Friendships of
this Life all Smoke."
When the parts were assigned for the Commencement, which
were given usually to the first half of the class, there was a
procession of what was called the Navy Club and an assignment
of honors which were in the reverse order of excellence to
that observed in the regular parts. The Lord High Admiral
was supposed to be the worst scholar in the class,--if possible,
one who had been rusticated twice during the college course.
The laziest man in the class was Rear Admiral. Then there
was a Powder Monkey and a Coxswain, and other naval officers,
who were generally famous for what used to be called demerits.
The members of the class to whom parts were assigned were
called "digs" and marched in the procession, each with a spade
on his shoulder, the first scholar, who in our class was Child,
as the "dig of digs," having a spade of huge dimensions.
I believe James Russell Lowell was the Lord High Admiral in
his class. The Rear Admiral in mine was borne about on a
couch or litter, supported by four men, having another one
marching by his side to carry his pipe, which he was supposed
to be too lazy to put into his mouth or take out of his mouth
himself. The procession had banners bearing various devices
and went around to take leave of the President and the different
professors, giving them cheers at their houses. President
Everett, who was a serious-minded person, was much offended
by the whole proceeding. He sent for some members of the
class and remonstrated; told them he had been obliged to apologize
to his English servant-girl for such an exhibition. I believe
our class was the last one which performed this harmless and
highly entertaining ceremony.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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