II.

Though we to Pluto deadicate,
No god to take him deigns,
So, one short year from now will Fate
Bring back his sad re-manes: 
For at Biennial his ghost
Will prompt the tutor blue,
And every fizzling Soph will cry,
“[Greek:  Pheu pheu, oi moi, pheu pheu.]”

III.

Though here we now his corpus burn,
And flames about him roar,
The future Fresh shall say, that he’s
“Not dead, but gone before”: 
We close around the dusky bier,
And pall of sable hue,
And silently we drop the tear;
“[Greek:  Pheu pheu, oi moi, pheu pheu.]”

BURLESQUE BILL.  At Princeton College, it is customary for the members of the Sophomore Class to hold annually a Sophomore Commencement, caricaturing that of the Senior Class.  The Sophomore Commencement is in turn travestied by the Junior Class, who prepare and publish Burlesque Bills, as they are called, in which, in a long and formal programme, such subjects and speeches are attributed to the members of the Sophomore Class as are calculated to expose their weak points.

See SOPHOMORE COMMENCEMENT.

BURLINGTON.  At Middlebury College, a water-closet, privy.  So called on account of the good-natured rivalry between that institution and the University of Vermont at Burlington.

BURNING OF CONIC SECTIONS.  “This is a ceremony,” writes a correspondent, “observed by the Sophomore Class of Trinity College, on the Monday evening of Commencement week.  The incremation of this text-book is made by the entire class, who appear in fantastic rig and in torch-light procession.  The ceremonies are held in the College grove, and are graced with an oration and poem.  The exercises are usually closed by a class supper.”

BURNING OF CONVIVIUM.  Convivium is a Greek book which is studied at Hamilton College during the last term of the Freshman year, and is considered somewhat difficult.  Upon entering Sophomore it is customary to burn it, with exercises appropriate to the occasion.  The time being appointed, the class hold a meeting and elect the marshals of the night.  A large pyre is built during the evening, of rails and pine wood, on the middle of which is placed a barrel of tar, surrounded by straw saturated with turpentine.  Notice is then given to the upper classes that Convivium will be burnt that night at twelve o’clock.  Their company is requested at the exercises, which consist of two poems, a tragedy, and a funeral oration.  A coffin is laid out with the “remains” of the book, and the literary exercises are performed.  These concluded, the class form a procession, preceded by a brass band playing a dirge, and march to the pyre, around which, with uncovered heads, they solemnly form.  The four bearers with their torches then advance silently, and place the coffin upon the funeral pile.  The class, each member bearing a torch, form a circle around the pyre.  At a given signal they all bend forward together, and touch their torches to the heap of combustibles.  In an instant “a lurid flame arises, licks around the coffin, and shakes its tongue to heaven.”  To these ceremonies succeed festivities, which are usually continued until daylight.