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"bloody Monday."

"bloody Monday." image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
October
Year
1891
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In describing the time-honored "Bloody Monday" of Harvard tho New York World says: There is llttle blood let in tho serimmage now-a-days, of course, but what Is saved in gore is spent on battered hats and tattei cd coats. The custom is al most old enough to be called traditional. The modern simple "rush" lued to be a wrcstling match, and a gonuine one, too. The sophomores challenged the ineoming freshmen. If thcsophs" wero tlirown, the juniors gave a similar challenge IÍ these were conquered, the seniors either eniered tho lists or treated the victors to as much wine, punch, etc,, as thoy chose to drink. Those were the days whon they had evening prayers; and, at tho conclusión of the service, the eompeting classes assomlilcd on the playground and fomied in extended circie, f rom which a stf'.pliní "f the bophomore class advanced into tho area, and dofied his adversnries, in the name of bis fellow clu3si!icn. to enter the lists. Ho was mate icd by an 6quai in stature, from the newcomors. Bezinning willi these puny athlules, as one and anoilier was prdsiratéd on either side. the coniest advanood tliroutr'i the intermediatG ffradalions of jtiangth and skill. irith increascd ext;ilement of the pai-ties and spectauapSi un-tiJ il roaohed its lieight by t!io sU'üggle of iho cnampions in reserve on i:tcü of iho oppoite siiles. This iorm of initiation into college life was aftgrward supoi'scded by the football rush on tlie old ■delta" where Momoi-iul. Hall now stands. Bul. even this w;is at last tliouglit lo bo loo age, and the facully (Ín 18íiU) oted to prohibil theoncounler. The students. however, docided to have a closing service. In the early evening a, proeession appoared. al fue head of wbich asa y rand marehal with a huge bearsUio cap :ind batou, accompunied hy aasisUintó with craped staffs aod loic! ;-. and fullowed by two base arummers studeuts beatíng muilled drums), the eloffist or chaplain, witli his Oxford cap and black gowh, and brows and ehooks crocked so as to áppear as if woaring huge frojra-les; four spade bearers, sixfoot cOUiú on t.heir shoulders, and then the sophoniote class in full ranks. They looked poverty-stricken, their hals. with the rims torn off and turned in, bortí liie fisures '63 in frout. tbat beinsr the year of tfaeir ciass. theii' apparel aach as is suited to the tearing foot ball liffht und theh' left lays liavinpr crape on tliem. The processioa moved on in perleetly good order to the ■ Delta," and haltud under the trees toward the ' upper end, where a eirele was formad. and the co' n passed around tot the friends to take a last look at the contents - simply a íootball with pamtod iriü fastened iulo the head of the cotïin, while the spade bearers plied their spades industrionsly in digging tl) e grave. The elegist thon in the most ively mock saaotiiuonioüs itiaoner, amid sighs ind subs and groaus and lanientatioiis, rcad by torchlight a funeral address. The co'lin was then lowered into the grave, whicli the sextous lilled, and at the bead was plac-od aa appi-opriate epitaph in white letters on a black board. On tho foot piece the words -In Memoriam" were inscribed over a winged skull. VVhile they were the grave the class sang the air of "Auld Lang Syne." Cheers for the various classes and groans fOr the faculty were thoii given and the students dispersed, hav'ng' gone througli all the ceremonie hith a Iau7hable incck gravity, good humor and good order.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier