In the old laws of Harvard College we find the following:  “None shall be admitted a Fellow-Commoner unless he first pay thirteen pounds six and eight pence to the college.  And every Fellow-Commoner shall pay double tuition money.  They shall have the privilege of dining and supping with the Fellows at their table in the hall; they shall be excused from going on errands, and shall have the title of Masters, and have the privilege of wearing their hats as the Masters do; but shall attend all duties and exercises with the rest of their class, and be alike subject to the laws and government of the College,” &c.  The Hon. Paine Wingate, a graduate of the class of 1759, says in reference to this subject:  “I never heard anything about Fellow-Commoners in college excepting in this paragraph.  I am satisfied there has been no such description of scholars at Cambridge since I have known anything about the place.”—­Peirce’s Hist.  Harv.  Coll., p. 314.

In the Appendix to “A Sketch of the History of Harvard College,” by Samuel A. Eliot, is a memorandum, in the list of donations to that institution, under the date 1683, to this effect.  “Mr. Joseph Brown, Mr. Edward Page, Mr. Francis Wainwright, fellow-commoners, gave each a silver goblet.”  Mr. Wainwright graduated in 1686.  The other two do not appear to have received a degree.  All things considered, it is probable that this order, although introduced from the University of Cambridge, England, into Harvard College, received but few members, on account of the evil influence which such distinctions usually exert.

FELLOW OF THE HOUSE.  See under HOUSE.

FELLOW, RESIDENT.  At Harvard College, the tutors were formerly called resident fellows.—­Quincy’s Hist.  Harv.  Univ., Vol.  I. p. 278.

The resident fellows were tutors to the classes, and instructed them in Hebrew, “and led them through all the liberal arts before the four years were expired.”—­Harv.  Reg., p. 249.

FELLOWSHIP.  An establishment in colleges, for the maintenance of a fellow.—­Webster.

In Harvard College, tutors were formerly called Fellows of the House or College, and their office, fellowships.  In this sense that word is used in the following passage.

Joseph Stevens was chosen “Fellow of the College, or House,” and as such was approved by that board [the Corporation], in the language of the records, “to supply a vacancy in one of the Fellowships of the House.”—­Quincy’s Hist.  Harv.  Univ., Vol.  I. p. 279.

FELLOWS’ ORCHARD.  See TUTORS’ PASTURE.

FEMUR.  Latin; a thigh-bone.  At Yale College, a femur was formerly the badge of a medical bully.

  When hand in hand all joined in band,
    With clubs, umbrellas, femurs,
  Declaring death and broken teeth
    ’Gainst blacksmiths, cobblers, seamers.
    The Crayon, Yale Coll., 1823, p. 14.