Word: humbug
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...lived ever since, though I never grow old. I am a sort of Phoenix. My occupations are various, but at present I am stumping the State for Butler. You have never heard of me, I dare say! Pity! pity! time you did! Let me introduce myself. My name is Humbug; and this old fellow here is an old boxing-teacher of mine, who taught me so well that I used him up long ago. His name is Class Feeling...
...Elective System came, bringing with it a chilling atmosphere which I am too weak to bear; and so I am dying, - yes, freezing - freezing to death! Sometimes the Freshmen take pity on me, and try to warm me. I heard that you were likely to do it, and so Humbug and I have come to warn you not to take the trouble. You would only prolong a wretched life, and every one would hate you, because, alas! every one hates me. I long...
...Freshman," said Humbug, "you'd better let him alone. He has outlived his usefulness. Besides, everybody would laugh at you if you should try to help...
Popularity, did you say? Humbug! Spider is not unpopular because he gets high marks, but because he talks about them. Low marks do not hurt a fellow much, but high marks will do him good, if he is modest about them. But it is unkind to accuse me of truckling for popularity. I was talking about the system. Any system that breeds such fellows as Spider is an unmitigated evil...
...practical knowledge of men and the world, and working with enthusiasm upon your chosen profession, - this time you spend in a life every law of which is unpractical, in studies which are of doubtful use, and in recreations which are absurd, all for an object which is simply that humbug called general culture...