Again, another humane order was read out one day in the Mess Hall, to the effect that in that place of supposed relaxation plebs need not "brace," but might sit and stand "at will." But the minute the reader's back was turned Cadet Prank drawled out:
"Boys, hadn't you all a great deal rather brace up?"
And so many hurriedly answered, "Yes, sir!" that the contrary noes were never counted.
That was the way of it; and by dint of being laughed at and pointed at; drilled, straightened, pulled into shape, and called "beasts," the fourth classmen began to feel as if in truth the name fitted. They huddled together in corners, talked in whispers, and told endless stories of home.
IX
CAMP HARD
Marcus Antonius. Cæsar dear, is there no way this troubling my dear little plebeian sentinels can be stopped?
Cæsar. There probably is, but we have not found it yet.
—Colour Line Tragedy of 1890.
Nor yet. And so, year by year, for a time, the new fourth classmen worked out pretty fairly Lowell's lines:
"Mis'ble as roosters in a rain,
Heads down, and tails half-mast."