Strange But Too True!

Fresh. No. 1, (running up to F. No, 2.) "Say, Smith, I've just heard the strangest thing! I can't really believe it!"

No 2. "Well, Jones, what's the matter now?"

No. 1. "I have heard that we have only one day for a Thanksgiving recess; don't even have the Friday and Saturday following! Why, it just breaks me all up! I was going home, and supposed of course we'd have till the next Monday anyway.

No. 2. "The dickens! You don't say! Never mind. I'm going home any way. Not go home Thanksgiving! Never! You don't see me back here in these 'classic shades' until the Monday after Thanksgiving."

No. 1. "Shake hands on it old fellow," and with that the two separated.

This scene is doubtless repeated every year. Every Freshman class has to be awakened to the sad truth, is at first surprised, then indignant, and perhaps at last, in many cases, rebellious. The upper classes after having made various attempts; with complaints and petitions, have become resigned. They recognize the fact that legally recitations cease the afternoon before, and begin the morning after Thanksgiving day, and suit their actions accordingly,- which means that most of them go home, stay over Sunday, and come back only to hear of small audiences in chapel, and of the numbers attending recitations being so reduced that they wonder at any attempt at all to hold recitations should be made.

This is all very strange, but "too true!" Men who live within one or two hundred miles of Cambridge are unable to go home for Thanksgiving without some pretty wholesale "cutting." The result is that about Thanksgiving time the "cutting" is pretty "wholesale." Friday and Saturday would be gratefully received as holidays, but at last are no longer hoped for. Who would not be willing to have the summer vacation a few days shorter, if thereby, a day or two could be gained for a genuine Thanksgiving recess? A day and a half at Thanksgiving time is worth, to the students more than two, three, or four days in September. Still, as matters go now, the students, or a large part of them, get both. The same reasoning that has been given concerning Washington's Birthday does not apply Thanksgiving. It has been argued that, because Harvard was born before ever Washington was, there is no occasion for Harvard's recognizing the great general's birthday. It is certainly a fact that Harvard doesn't recognize it in any outward way, Harvard students pass the day with their usual "Harvard Indifference" from all outside appearances. The flag on the Cambridge liberty pole and a few remarks in the newspapers are all that remind them that the day is a legal holiday. One year we did have some celebrations. In '83 there was a display in the yard of several patent fire escapes. whereby several ankles were sprained, one arm broken, and doubtless no end of bruises received. In the same year also many students witnessed two exciting dogfights in the Quadrangle. In '84 there was no such public celebration. May we hope that 1885 will at least do as well as did 1883.

But as regards Thanksgiving, it cannot be said that Harvard had her birth first. If it could, I don't wish to be thought to call the argument a good one. Thanksgiving day is one of the oldest institutions of the country, and is always looked upon as a time for home gatherings. The granting of only one day off at Thanksgiving to us Harvard students tends to defeat this custom, which is as old and settled almost as the country itself of "home-gatherings" as regards the majority of the students. Of course we all love our Alma Mater, but we can't help wishing for the one or two more "grains of corn."

NEMO.