A few years after this, two more exhibitions were added, and were so arranged as to fall one in each quarter of the College year.  The last year in which there were four exhibitions was 1789.  After this time there were three exhibitions during the year until 1849, when one was omitted, since which time the original plan has been adopted.

In the journal of a member of the class which graduated at Harvard College in the year 1793, under the date of December 23d, 1789, Exhibition, is the following memorandum:  “Music was intermingled with elocution, which (we read) has charms to soothe even a savage breast.”  Again, on a similar occasion, April 13th, 1790, an account of the exercises of the day closes with this note:  “Tender music being interspersed to enliven the audience.”  Vocal music was sometimes introduced.  In the same Journal, date October 1st, 1790, Exhibition, the writer says:  “The performances were enlivened with an excellent piece of music, sung by Harvard Singing Club, accompanied with a band of music.”  From this time to the present day, music, either vocal or instrumental, has formed a very entertaining part of the Exhibition performances.[24]

The exercises for exhibitions are assigned by the Faculty to meritorious students, usually of the two higher classes.  The exhibitions are held under the direction of the President, and a refusal to perform the part assigned is regarded as a high offence.—­Laws of Univ. at Cam., Mass., 1848, p. 19. Laws Yale Coll., 1837, p. 16.

2.  Allowance of meat and drink; pension; benefaction settled for the maintenance of scholars in the English Universities, not depending on the foundation.—­Encyc.

  What maintenance he from his friends receives,
  Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
    Two Gent.  Verona, Act.  I. Sc. 3.

This word was formerly used in American colleges.

I order and appoint ... ten pounds a year for one exhibition, to assist one pious young man.—­Quincy’s Hist.  Harv.  Univ., Vol.  I. p. 530.

As to the extending the time of his exhibitions, we agree to it. —­Ibid., Vol.  I. p. 532.

In the yearly “Statement of the Treasurer” of Harvard College, the word is still retained.

“A school exhibition,” says a writer in the Literary World, with reference to England, “is a stipend given to the head boys of a school, conditional on their proceeding to some particular college in one of the universities.”—­Vol.  XII. p. 285.

EXHIBITIONER.  One who has a pension or allowance, granted for the encouragement of learning; one who enjoys an exhibition.  Used principally in the English universities.

2.  One who performs a part at an exhibition in American colleges is sometimes called an exhibitioner.

EXPEL.  In college government, to command to leave; to dissolve the connection of a student; to interdict him from further connection. —­Webster.