Word: retainer
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...world is never intolerant. To use an old definition of mine, he is never surprised and never shocked. At the same time, while he recognizes the existence of all sorts of evils, great and small, there is no reason why he should take part in them. He ought to retain as firmly as ever the principles which guide his-own conduct; but he ought so far to conquer his aversion to any particular vices that whenever he meets a new man he can gauge his character, he can set off his good points against his bad ones...
...hobnailed shoe to his person, and send him flying down stairs into the oubliette. Then, after the noise of his fall is over, you rearrange your dress, ring for the butler, order a bottle of your best Old Madeira, - a wine somewhat out of fashion, but for which you retain your taste, - and indulge in the delightful reflection that Swiddle - or whoever it may have happened to be - will never bother you again...
...Class Day or any other day, as it would be for them to appear at a ball in reefers. The dress of the undergraduate upon occasions is a black gown and a college-cap, profanely called a "mortar-board." This costume was formerly worn here, and as we retain foolish customs because they are old, I should like to hear some logician explain the chain of reasoning which leads us to reject a custom both old and sensible...
...entirely unknown to the undergraduate world. There is a delightful vein of half-concealed, often completely hidden humor running through the work and coming into view only to the observing eye of those whose souls are attuned to the spirit of the composition, and whose memories yet retain the exhilarating tone of the Dean's afternoon receptions. The delightful little essay on Censure Marks becomes almost poetical in its phraseology, and but for a few slight trips in metre and a superfluous line we might be deceived into reading it as a sonnet. The directness and conciseness of the writing...
...have had our attention called to the fact that some few Juniors intend to give spreads in their rooms next Class Day. There is no question but that every man has the right to retain the use of his room on Class Day, and give a spread, too, for that matter; but it has always been customary for the lower classmen to do all in their power to oblige Seniors on that day and to make it a pleasant one for them. Class Day, by its name, would seem to point out the impropriety, to say the least...