Word: pyre
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Dates: during 1880-1889
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...custom of cremating Analytical Geometry has been revived by the sophomores at Amherst. The whole class, attired in fantastic costumes, assembled last Monday evening, and held a trial at which the Geometry was pronounced guilty. It was then seized, carried to the class tree, and placed upon a funeral pyre, and the sophomores joined in a war dance while the book was being cremated. Nearly ninetenths of the class were conditioned at the examination...
...college grounds to the solemn strains of the dead march. Torches were carried, red light, and other fire-works displayed. Arrived at the campus, the coffin was placed upon a tall funeral pile which had been prepared, the match applied, and while the flames were consuming the pyre, a funeral oration was pronounced over the dead. A bright man was always chosen for funeral orator, and the speeches delivered were frequently extremely witty. Following the oration there was singing and general rejoicing; after which the company dispersed...
...formed, which marched up Fifth avenue and thence to the grounds of the college. In their midst was carried an effigy representing Legendre, the mathematician. Every now and then when the spirit moved them they groaned dismally until their destination was reached. Then they gathered round the funeral pyre and listened to a gag poem which was recited by the Harnspex of the class. He was followed by the Carnifex who offered up the burnt sacrifice and then the figure of Legendre itself. As the last semblance of the hated mathematical Gend was lost and the effigy was only...
...other doom, and he preferred death to Harvard. Then the executioner fell upon him savagely with a heavy baton. He was beaten to death, and being disemboweled, was found to have fed himself on "pony leaves" like any other student. Then the body was cast upon the funeral pyre and cremated, while the victors sang an exultant song...