University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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In many instances, names, expressions, or traditions remain with reasons sometimes forgotten. Hawk, punt, calathump, dyke - Why and how did these expressions come into being? These expressions and traditions are a part of our present at UVa. It's the same with corking and curling, although the tale of this terminology can be found in our 1899 chronicle, the first edition of the Corks 8: Curls. uOh! guileless reader, let not our title lead thy imagination astray, to roam through banquet halls brilliantly lit and gayly bedecked, amid the sounds of the popping of champagne corks and of students, the rippling laughter of beauteous damsels, and the scandal of chaperones, where, as the poet hath it, tAnd bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men.' and then proceeds to make certain statements with regard to the private feelings of some of the company, which we feel a delicacy in repeating. Far otherwise is it, oh! reader. Instead of champagne you should see the real agony of the unprepared student, who when called upon to recite some simple matter, such as the Saturnian Metre or Hegelis System, sitteth and openeth not his mouth, even as a bottle that is corked up, so that our gracious founder, the sage of Monticello, in his wisdom and foresight, did bestow upon such like the name of tCorkI We should like to omit any explanations of lCurl'; but, as we must, we will give the most reliable account; and thereby hangs a tale e a dog's tail at that. The origin of this term is well-nigh lost in the mists of the past. However, the following account of it is found in the celebrated antiquarian work, iDe Slangi Historiaf by Mr. Micks and Judge Twiddler: 'Dame Rumuor sayeth that in ye earlie days of ye University of Virginia. Go. lVash. did mmv unhw ve mllege. And happeneth upon a day that he goeth in to hear ye students recite; and his allgusle prwwm- mm enhwi h Jingle, ye most ambitious of ye students, that he maketh a most wonderfully exhausting recitation, wlirreill Ho. lhsh. expressed his approval, which did soe delight Jingle that, in yo chaste and HM wonlc of l 'm Waxh. lihv uenmmh as pleased as a dog when he is patted on his head. and curleth his tail for delight Lhon-at. And ll is SJlltlll!1ll,CVPn Hnlm' this day, when a student reciteth passing well, he is called a Curl .' uWhy donit we put iCurls' in front, instead of iCorks'? you ask. For modestyls sweet sake; for otherwise we would seem to assert beforehand our work would be a success.

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m UNIVIRSITY 0F VIRGINIA lle 55

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Though times and people are different, the pride in attending THE University and the good of H00 spirit remain virtually unchanged and as firmly entrenched in our lives as they ever have been. 0E last time' sing Q ti v that old gqu b'k. ;