APPENDIX C The College Prison

It seems that the student may break a good many of the public laws without having to answer to the public authorities.  His case must come before the University for trial and punishment.  If a policeman catches him in an unlawful act and proceeds to arrest him, the offender proclaims that he is a student, and perhaps shows his matriculation card, whereupon the officer asks for his address, then goes his way, and reports the matter at headquarters.  If the offense is one over which the city has no jurisdiction, the authorities report the case officially to the University, and give themselves no further concern about it.  The University court send for the student, listen to the evidence, and pronounce judgment.  The punishment usually inflicted is imprisonment in the University prison.  As I understand it, a student’s case is often tried without his being present at all.  Then something like this happens:  A constable in the service of the University visits the lodgings of the said student, knocks, is invited to come in, does so, and says politely—­

“If you please, I am here to conduct you to prison.”

“Ah,” says the student, “I was not expecting it.  What have I been doing?”

“Two weeks ago the public peace had the honor to be disturbed by you.”

“It is true; I had forgotten it.  Very well:  I have been complained of, tried, and found guilty—­is that it?”

“Exactly.  You are sentenced to two days’ solitary confinement in the College prison, and I am sent to fetch you.”

Student.  “O, I can’t go today.”

Officer.  “If you please—­why?”

Student.  “Because I’ve got an engagement.”

Officer.  “Tomorrow, then, perhaps?”

Student.  “No, I am going to the opera, tomorrow.”

Officer.  “Could you come Friday?”

Student. (Reflectively.) “Let me see—­Friday—­Friday. 
I don’t seem to have anything on hand Friday.”

Officer.  “Then, if you please, I will expect you on Friday.”

Student.  “All right, I’ll come around Friday.”

Officer.  “Thank you.  Good day, sir.”

Student.  “Good day.”

So on Friday the student goes to the prison of his
own accord, and is admitted.

It is questionable if the world’s criminal history can show a custom more odd than this.  Nobody knows, now, how it originated.  There have always been many noblemen among the students, and it is presumed that all students are gentlemen; in the old times it was usual to mar the convenience of such folk as little as possible; perhaps this indulgent custom owes its origin to this.

One day I was listening to some conversation upon this subject when an American student said that for some time he had been under sentence for a slight breach of the peace and had promised the constable that he would presently find an unoccupied day and betake himself to prison.  I asked the young gentleman to do me the kindness to go to jail as soon as he conveniently could, so that I might try to get in there and visit him, and see what college captivity was like.  He said he would appoint the very first day he could spare.