worst scholar in the class,--if possible,
one who had been rusticated twice during the college course.
The laziest man in the class was Rear Admiral. Then there
was a Powder Monkey and a Coxswain, and other naval officers,
who were generally famous for what used to be called demerits.
The members of the class to whom parts were assigned were
called "digs" and marched in the procession, each with a spade
on his shoulder, the first scholar, who in our class was Child,
as the "dig of digs," having a spade of huge dimensions.
I believe James Russell Lowell was the Lord High Admiral in
his class. The Rear Admiral in mine was borne about on a
couch or litter, supported by four men, having another one
marching by his side to carry his pipe, which he was supposed
to be too lazy to put into his mouth or take out of his mouth
himself. The procession had banners bearing various devices
and went around to take leave of the President and the different
professors, giving them cheers at their houses. President
Everett, who was a serious-minded person, was much offended
by the whole proceeding. He sent for some members of the
class and remonstrated; told them he had been obliged to apologize
to his English servant-girl for such an exhibition. I believe
our class was the last one which performed this harmless and
highly entertaining ceremony.

One of my classmates, afterward a worthy physician, was a
tall man, older considerably than the rest of the class. He
used to wear an old-fashioned blue, straight-bodied coat
with brass buttons, a buff vest, and nankeen pantaloons which
were said to have come down as an heirloom in his family from
a remote generation. He was addicted to rather a pompous
style of speech. He was very fond of playing the bass-viol,
of which he was by no means a very skilful master. He had,
as a subject for his mock part, "The Base Violation of all
Rules of Harmony." One Sunday evening he had a few friends
with him who were singing psalm tunes to the accompaniment
of his bass-viol. They made a prodigious noise, not at all
to the liking of the proctor who had the care of the discipline
of that entry, which was in Holworthy. He went to the room
from which the noise issued. It was locked and he had some
difficulty in getting in. The persons assembled, instead
of maintaining their place, betook themselves to hiding places
in the inner rooms. My classmate, however, stood his ground
like a Roman and to