Word: understand
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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DOUBTLESS the marking system will long remain, as now, the mystery of mysteries of college life, - one of those things which, as Lord Dundreary would say, "no fellow can understand." In vain we seek of the Faculty, of proctors and instructors, of graduates and undergraduates, for an exposition of the principles of this mysterious institutions, which hear without argument, judges in secret, and from whose decision there is no appeal; an institution unmoved by entreaty, callous to criticism, and stoically indifferent amidst the ruin it has wrought. It is not my present intention to censure this system...
...good songs sung in the College societies, and we occasionally hear spasmodic attempts at part-singing in the Yard. No later than last Saturday night, it was our good fortune to hear "Johnny Morgan" sung by a capital tenor voice and a very gruff bass. I am given to understand, however, that such performances are not always occasioned by a love of music. The attention that we devote to sacred music is too well known to need any comment...
...easy to understand that persons who are careful never to express disapprobation at foolish or vicious acts or speeches should imagine that it cannot be done in a gentlemanly way. They assume that it is necessary to "blurt out" abusive censure, forgetting that censure is often clearly expressed simply by silence. Their argument seems to be that in any case they would give offence, and no gentleman should give offence, - a principle the folly of which is exceeded only by its harmfulness. For, when principle is at stake, as in buying fraudulent examination-papers or talking ridiculously about getting drunk...
...Ossip" thinks that our sketch of true independence shows that we are an example of the kind of independence he opposes. This we fully understand; but we beg to decline to meet him on his own ground of personalities. He says, further, that we twisted his words from their meaning and misconceived his aim. This we endeavored to avoid, and we believe, as regards the general spirit of his remarks, with success. Those errors which we may have committed were generally due to the obscurity of his meaning. None of them vitiated our defence of true independence. For example...
...very well for him, because his father is rich enough to let him study as long as he likes, and to give him a good place afterwards. Now I don't care particularly about studying forever, and besides, my father has given me distinctly to understand that it is about time I began to make my own bread-and-butter...