FACT and RUMOUR

"Fact and Rumour" is composed of excerpts from a column by that name published in the "Daily Crimson" 50 years ago. The items are here reproduced as they were printed then. The dates in parentheses indicate the dates of the issues in which the excerpts appeared.

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Smoking in dying out at Yale. Only fourteen per cent of the freshmen use the weed. - Columbia Spectator (Nov. 22, 1888).

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Princeton has a student seventy-two years of age. He is studying for the ministry, and expects to graduate next year. (Dec. 5, 1888).

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It has been the custom heretofore for the college marshals in torchlight processions to go on horseback but as only one of the nine marshals of the upperclasses has ever ridden a horse, this part of the ceremony will be omitted this fall. (Oct. 12, 1888).

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Professor Norton has again requested all freshmen who are taking Fine Arts III to drop out of the course. (Oct. 15, 1888).

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The freshman crew has stopped rowing on the river and will take long walks instead. The atmosphere of the river at this time of year has made many of them unwell. (Nov. 5, 1888).

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A number of lady members of the Riverside Tennis Club of Hoboken, N. J., have organized a foot-ball (spelled or mis-spelled "foot-boll") team to be composed entirely of ladies, (Nov. 14, 1888).

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President Eliot has just been made the subject of a very undignified practical joke by some unknown person. Engraved cards of invitation to his house for today were sent out in his name. The style of the cards is unlike any he ever had, and the date is written in ink. In addition to this an advertisement stating that he desired to engage a servant girl was inserted in several Boston papers. The result of this is that he had forty or fifty applicants. He sent to the Boston newspapers on Saturday the following statement: President Eliot desires to have it known that the cards of invitation to his house for December 10, lately sent out, are not genuine. (Dec. 10, 1888).

The Sophomore Class of Boston University instead of "rushing" the freshmen give them a reception in one of the buildings. After everyone has shaken hands with everyone else all partake amicably of a carefully prepared collation. (Oct. 1, 1888).

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Yale '92 has adopted the following euphonious yell: "Bric-a-kex-kex, coax, coax, bric-a-kex-kex, coax, coax, whu-op, whu-op, whu-up, parabalco-'92." (Sept. 28, 1888.)

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The article in the "North American Review" of this month entitled "The Fast Set at Harvard" is only the first of a number of articles intended to set before the faculty of the University a true statement of the inner life of Harvard's undergraduates. The author is working for the best interests of that institution.--Ex. (Nov. 15, 1888).