HARVARD IN THE SEVENTIES.

The last of the series of lectures under the auspices of the Memorial Society was delivered in Sanders Theatre last evening by Judge Robert Grant '73. Judge Grant spoke in a pleasantly reminiscent vein of the period between 1870 and 1880. He characterized the entire period as a time of "breaking ground" all over the country. We, many of us, said the speaker, envied the lot of those to whose memory Memorial Hall was erected in 1870. We felt that the time of greatness was past.

In those early days there was no Hemenway gymnasium, and few of the present dormitories existed. Holworthy was the much-desired residence of all. The students' rooms were meagrely furnished with all that was cast off at home. Freshmen were looked upon as "the scum of the earth." When Judge Grant entered in 1869 he received a letter informing him that if he "treated" the upper-classmen, he would not be molested. On Bloody Monday the freshmen and sophomores had assembled for the regular "rush" in the gymnasium, and hostilities were about to begin, when one of the professors appeared and put a stop to the proceedings. Hazing received its final quietus in 1863.

The expenses of a student were rather large. Judge Grant estimated that he spent $1,000 each of his first two years, and somewhat more during the last two. As the regulation board was very poor, most of the students preferred club tables, where they paid $8 a week for board.

The day was opened by prayers, which before Thanksgiving began at quarter of seven, and at quarter of eight during the rest of the year. The first bell rang sometime during the night. Abolition of compulsory attendance at chapel was one of the first reforms which President Eliot introduced.

In the winter of 1870 the office of Dean was established. From the time on the Dean was the means of communication between faculty and student.

From the beginning the academic year to November 1st recitations lasted from eight to one; during the rest of the year, an hour later. Judge Grant's class was one of the first to get the benefits of the elective system. At first it was merely an experiment; but, when its great advantages were recognized, it was permanently introduced. In those days relations between student and instructor were very distant; recitations were the only mediums of contact. There was little of the cooperation that distinguishes the University today.

There were no class officers except the captains of the baseball team and the crew, who were chosen at chapel the first of each year. The athletic spirit during the early seventies was dormant. Judge Grant was one of the first to revive the game of football. The rules were radically different from those of today. A player could run only when chased, and must stop as soon as pursued. In the first game with Yale at New Haven in 1875, Harvard was victorious, preventing Yale from scoring.

Baseball and rowing were also active during these years. In the former sport Harvard repeatedly won; in the latter, defeated in the first six years the crews of '77, '78 and '79 made one of the brightest records in the annals of rowing.

In closing Judge Grant said: "We have entered on a new era. The work today is just as intelligent as that of former years. When I compare the Harvard of today with the Harvard of the seventies, I cannot but feel that the young man of the present day has a grand opportunity offered him to battle for the truth. Harvard has advanced, and never offered such chances to a worthy young man as she does today."

At the close of the lecture a reception was tendered Judge Grant in 18 Little's Block by the members of the society.