to unpleasant conflict.  A Senior having a claim to the service of a Freshman prior to that of the classes below them, it had become a practice not uncommon, for a Freshman to obtain a Senior, to whom, as a patron and friend, he acknowledged and avowed a permanent service due, and whom he called his Senior by way of eminence, thus escaping the demands that might otherwise be made upon him for trivial or unpleasant errands.  The ancient custom was never abolished by authority, but died with the change of feeling; so that what might be demanded as a right came to be asked as a favor, and the right was resorted to only as a sort of defensive weapon, as a rebuke of a supposed impertinence, or resentment of a real injury.”—­Memories of Youth and Manhood, Vol.  I. pp. 258, 259.

The following account of this system, as it formerly obtained at Yale College, is from President Woolsey’s Historical Discourse before the Graduates of that Institution, Aug. 14, 1850:—­

“Another remarkable particular in the old system here was the servitude of Freshmen,—­for such it really deserved to be called.  The new-comers—­as if it had been to try their patience and endurance in a novitiate before being received into some monastic order—­were put into the hands of Seniors, to be reproved and instructed in manners, and were obliged to run upon errands for the members of all the upper classes.  And all this was very gravely meant, and continued long in use.  The Seniors considered it as a part of the system to initiate the ignorant striplings into the college system, and performed it with the decorum of dancing-masters.  And, if the Freshmen felt the burden, the upper classes who had outlived it, and were now reaping the advantages of it, were not willing that the custom should die in their time.

“The following paper, printed I cannot tell when, but as early as the year 1764, gives information to the Freshmen in regard to their duty of respect towards the officers, and towards the older students.  It is entitled ‘FRESHMAN LAWS,’ and is perhaps part of a book of customs which was annually read for the instruction of new-comers.

“’It being the duty of the Seniors to teach Freshmen the laws, usages, and customs of the College, to this end they are empowered to order the whole Freshman Class, or any particular member of it, to appear, in order to be instructed or reproved, at such time and place as they shall appoint; when and where every Freshman shall attend, answer all proper questions, and behave decently.  The Seniors, however, are not to detain a Freshman more than five minutes after study bell, without special order from the President, Professor, or Tutor.

“’The Freshmen, as well as all other Undergraduates, are to be uncovered, and are forbidden to wear their hats (unless in stormy weather) in the front door-yard of the President’s or Professor’s house, or within ten rods of the person of the President, eight rods of the Professor, and five rods of a Tutor.