Word: flower
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Dates: during 1890-1899
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...following plan has been suggested for the exercises about the Class Tree. It has been proposed that instead of the scrimmage, to which there seems to be so much objection, there should be a shower of flowers from the Tree upon the heads of the Seniors as they stand grouped about it. This would seem to be a pretty certain cheek upon all combinations and unnecessary disorder; and, on the other hand, the old flower tradition would be retained and the mementos prized as highly as ever...
...effect of flowers raining from the branches-carrying out somewhat the idea of a "flower carnival"- would be very attractive from the point of view of the spectator. This proposal is put forth merely tentatively, as a means of helping along the discussion...
...scrimmage the very essence of the custom? Is it not the tradition itself, around which the cheering and other details have grown up? A moment's examination will show this to be the case. Ever since the year 1815, and probably from a much earlier date, the flower exercises have been established at the Liberty or Farewell Tree, which, it must be remembered, is the successor of the old Liberty Tree which formerly stood between Harvard and Massachusetts Halls and which was blown down toward the close of the last century. For eighty years or more, the Senior class...
...clear then that the flower exercises are an old and unbroken tradition, and that they have existed in their present form for upwards of thirty years. To substitute artificial ceremonies for the living custom-the scramble for the flowers, is hardly a reasonable proposition. A tradition is the slow product of time and tendencies, and is only susceptible of very gradual change or modification. Once rudely disturbed from without and its very essence is gone. Briefly, you can not take away the flowers and the scrimmage on Class Day without destroying the tradition. You may still have exercises there...
...with the changes suggested, inappropriate for cultivated gentlemen; unless indeed a manly good natured scramble, without unnecessary roughness, be unworthy of gentlemen, and only such a dainty sweet-scented farce be worthy of cultivated gentlemen as that in which, taking his turn, he may most valiantly pluck a flower from the tree with a well-gloved hand and carry it triumphantly away...