In 1769 Only President and Professors Were Allowed to Strike Freshmen--Gold Braid and Theatricals Forbidden

Volumes in Widener marked H. U. in the card index are kept in a mysterious place known as the Archives; from which it is very difficult to get them.

Somewhere in the Archives there is an old book entitled "Humorous Verses and Sketches Relating to Harvard College." Upon investigation, however, the reader discovers that the Laws of Harvard College solemnly affixed to the over-flowery 'humorous verses,' are by far and away the most interesting part of the book.

We learn, for instance that "every Scholar shall on the Lord's Day carefully apply himself to the Duties of Religion and Piety; and whoever shall profane said Day by unnecessary Business or visiting, walking on the Common, or in the Streets or Fields in the Town of Cambridge, or shall use any Diversions there-on or otherwise Behave himself Disorderly or Unbecoming the Season, shall be fin'd not exceeding three Shillings."

Not only, however, was the student forbidden to put his nose outside the door on Sunday to take a walk, he was not even allowed to dress up on occasions, even if these occasions were not on the Sabbath. In fact elegant dressing seems to have been one of the worst crimes on the Puritan Harvard calendar, as may be seen from the following law:

"No scholar belonging to the college shall wear any Gold or Silver Lace, cord or Edging upon their Hats, Jackets or any other Parts of their Cloathing, nor any Gold or Silver Brocades in the College or Town of Cambridge. Whoever shall offend against this law shall be fin'd not exceeding twenty Shillings."

The College authorities also evidently kept an eye on charge accounts, as evidenced by the decree that "no Undergraduate shall go or send to any Inn holder or Retailor within three miles of ye College for any strong Beer, Brandy, Rum. Wine or other spirituous Liquors, without paying immediately for ye same."

The penalty for the first offense against temperance was less than that for wearing gold braid. The law about drunkenness was that "if any Scholar should be guilty of Drunkenness, he shall be fin'd one shilling and sixpence or he shall make a publick confession or be degraded, according to the Aggravation of the Offence. And if any Scholar persist in a course of Intemperance, he shall be Rusticated or Expelled."

From a perusal of this list of fines, the causal student of early Harvardian might assume that fiscal punishment was the only kind meted out to the unruly undergraduate. This was not the case, however, as evidently from the following law the President and Tutors were allowed to chastise the sinner.

"None belonging to the College, except the President, Professors and Tutors, shall by threats or blows compel a Freshman or any Undergraduate to any Duty or Obedience."

Further statement of the physical powers of the authorities appears in the statement that "notwithstanding ye pecuniary Mulcts, it shall be lawful for ye President, Tutors or Professors to punish Undergraduates by Boxing, when they shall judge ye nature or circumstances of ye offence call for it.

High among the foremost prejudices of our academic forbears, however, was that which led them to look upon the theatre with particular horror and loathing, as the breeder of corruptness and the instrument of the devil.

Imagine the surprise and horror of the old Puritan who designed that law should he return today to find the sinful elegance of the University Theatre, settled securely within a stone's throw of the Yard. Ah, what evil times have befallen Ye Town of Cambridge!