tions were as sharply defined as in the king's colleges. Students
were seated in classes and in chapel according to the rank of the.
family, and the struggle for a high seat was often more. ardent
than is now the struggle for scholastic honors. The Freshmen
were, by college laws, compelled to take subordinate positions
and were made to act as villains to the barons of the upper classes,.
At Yale college it was enacted in 1760 that:—" It being the.
duty of the Seniors to teach the Freshmen the laws, usages and
customs of the college, to this end they are empowered to order•
the whole Freshman class, or any particular member of it to ap
pear, in order to be instructed and reproved, at such time and
place as they shall appoint; when and where every Freshman
shall answer all questions and behave decently." By another
ruling " The Freshmen are forbidden to wear their hats in the
college yard until May vacation, and whenever a Freshman speaks
to a superior or is spoken to by one, he shall keep his hat off until
he is bidden to put it on." Also such rulings as these were
rigidly enforced. " Freshmen are obliged to perform all reasonable
errands for any superior." " Freshmen shall not run in the col
lege yard, nor up and down stairs, nor call to anyone through a
college window."
The same condition of' affairs existed at Harvard. " No Fresh
man shall wear his hat in the college yard unless it rains, hails or
snows; provided he be on foot and have not both hands full."
" Freshmen are to consider all classes as their seniors." " All
Freshmen shall be obliged to go on any errand " deemed proper
by some one of the college authorities—" for any of his seniors,
graduates, or undergraduates at any time except in studying hours
or after nine o'clock in the evening."
It is not surprising, then, to learn that the lads occasionally re
belled against such rulings, but •it is somewhat surprising that
such invidious distinctions should continue to exist through the
revolution. But nevertheless they did and it was not until about
one hundred years ago that a revulsion took place. A, Freshman
at Harvard threatened to knock down a Senior who ordered him
to take off his hat unless the Senior removed his. The case was
referred to President Willard who sustained the Freshman. The
" hat law " had received its death blow and from that time official
recognition of caste at college declined.
The peculiar distinctions between the Freshman of to-day and his
ItDITORIAI,S