One of the unsuccessful candidates migrated.—­Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng.  Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 100.

MIGRATION.  In the English universities, a removal from one college to another.

“A migration,” remarks Bristed, “is generally tantamount to a confession of inferiority, and an acknowledgment that the migrator is not likely to become a Fellow in his own College, and therefore takes refuge in another, where a more moderate Degree will insure him a Fellowship.  A great deal of this migration goes on from John’s to the Small Colleges.”—­Five Years in an Eng.  Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 100.

MIGRATOR.  In the English universities, one who removes from one college to another.

MILD.  A student epithet of depreciation, answering nearly to the phrases, “no great shakes,” and “small potatoes.”—­Bristed.

Some of us were very heavy men to all appearance, and our first attempts mild enough.—­Bristed’s Five Years in an Eng.  Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 169.

MINGO.  Latin.  At Harvard College, this word was formerly used to designate a chamber-pot.

  To him that occupies my study,
  I give for use of making toddy,
  A bottle full of white-face Stingo,
  Another, handy, called a mingo.
    Will of Charles Prentiss, in Rural Repository, 1795.

Many years ago, some of the students of Harvard College wishing to make a present to their Tutor, Mr. Flynt, called on him, informed him of their intention, and requested him to select a gift which would be acceptable to him.  He replied that he was a single man, that he already had a well-filled library, and in reality wanted nothing.  The students, not all satisfied with this answer, determined to present him with a silver chamber-pot.  One was accordingly made, of the appropriate dimensions, and inscribed with these words:  “Mingere cum bombis
  Res est saluberrima lumbis.”

On the morning of Commencement Day, this was borne in procession, in a morocco case, and presented to the Tutor.  Tradition does not say with what feelings he received it, but it remained for many years at a room in Quincy, where he was accustomed to spend his Saturdays and Sundays, and finally disappeared, about the beginning of the Revolutionary War.  It is supposed to have been carried to England.

MINOR.  A privy.  From the Latin minor, smaller; the word house being understood.  Other derivations are given, but this seems to be the most classical.  This word is peculiar to Harvard College.

MISS.  An omission of a recitation, or any college exercise.  An instructor is said to give a miss, when he omits a recitation.

A quaint Professor of Harvard College, being once asked by his class to omit the recitation for that day, is said to have replied in the words of Scripture:  “Ye ask and receive not, for ye ask a-miss.”