Indigestion and the Arts

A graffito (or 'sgraffito, as in 'sblood) is a rudely scratched inscription, figure or drawing found on rocks, walls, vases or other objects. It is derived from an Italian word for scratching (as in dogs with fleas). Some alumnus with a sense of humor thought that the fine new wall of the Quincy House dining room would look well with a rudely scratched inscription, and so he donated an undisclosed sum to purchase such a phenomenon.

Now graffitos (or 'sgraffitos) are fairly rare birds, even in this modern age of marvels, and it took quite a search to find a suitable artist. The hero was finally secured, however, as everyone knew he would be, and one fine summer day he and his 16-year-old son came to Quincy and perpetrated a graffito, all blue, yellow, and red.

Quincy House opened this fall, and people began eating in the new dining hall. Half of them faced the graffito, and half did not. There has been no record made of the diner's reaction, but recently several alumni without a sense of humor have expressed profound concern lest the digestive processes of Quincy pioneers be disturbed by the rudely scratched inscription on the wall.

One alumnus claimed that the graffito resembled the doodling of inmates in a mental institution. This charge is, of course, patently unfounded; many attractive designs have been produced by the insane.

Another alumnus has suggested that Quincy residents be allowed to vote whether the graffito should remain or be painted out. This is impossible, however, for one engaging feature of a rudely scratched inscription is that it sits there, rudely scratched, until a new wall is constructed. No, whitewashing is not the answer to Quincy's digestive problems. The graffito will have to remain untroubled, until another alumnus with a sense of humor donates a curtain to hang in front of it.