Fines at Harvard.

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was the custom in almost all American colleges to punish students by fines; and indeed it was not until this century that fines were abolished at Harvard. Some colleges were said to derive quite a revenue from this source, and were not, therefore, prone to abolish a system so profitable to themselves. The worse the students behaved, the better it was for the college. At Harvard there was a schedule of fifty-five offences punishable by penalties varying from two pence, for absence from prayers, to two pounds ten shillings, for absence from town for a month. If a man was absent from recitation, it cost him 1s. 6d.; if he got drunk, the penalty was no greater. Going to meeting before the ringing of the bell was an offence, and the over-prompt student was fined 6d. The penalty for playing cards was 5s. for graduates, 2s. 6d. for undergraduates. And so on down the list.

The following amusing incident is related in an old book on "College Customs," published in Cambridge some time ago: "Dr.-called upon a Southern student one morning in the recitation room to define logic. The question was in this form. 'Mr.-, what is logic?' Ans. 'Logic, sir, is the art of reasoning.' 'Ay; but I wish you to give the definition in the exact words of the learned author.' 'O, sir, he gives a long, intricate, confused definition, with which I did not think proper to burden my memory.' 'Are you aware who the learned author is?' 'Oh, yes! Your honor, sir.'

??????'Well, then, I fine you one dollar for disrespect.' Taking out a two dollar note, the student said, with the utmost sang froid, If you will change this, I will pay you on the spot.' 'I fine you another dollar,' said the professor, emphatically, 'for repeated disrespect.' 'Then 'tis just the change, sir,' said the student, coolly."