The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946 Page: 60
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
of a teacher, and confined to articles of utility or necessity."32
The university participated directly in the war against ex-
travagance by requiring simplicity of dress and by prohibiting
personal adornment. The wearing of jewelry, including rings,
was forbidden. An exception to this rule was made in favor
of a breastpin for the ladies, which could "on account of utility
be worn." Boys over fifteen in good standing wore a "lone star"
as a badge of distinction and on special occasions might wear
a plume. Only plain styles in women's clothes were permitted;
flounces and tucks would not be tolerated, and "gay and expen-
sive ribbons" must not be worn. Headdress was limited to bonnets
of white straw "plainly trimmed with pink ribbon of solid
color"; there must be no flowers or other ornaments.33
The students of Baylor were too fond of pretty clothes to
please the faculty and too prone to discuss politics to suit the
trustees. When Senator Sam Houston opposed the Kansas-
Nebraska Bill in 1854, he aroused the wrath of many Texans.
The Texas Democratic Convention and the Texas Legislature
censured him,34 and to many persons the hero of San Jacinto
became the villain in the war over Kansas. Naturally Baylor
students were interested in the nation-wide controversy, and
their interest must have turned to excitement when Houston
joined the Independence Baptist Church and was baptized by
Dr. Burleson in November, 1854.,5 The students were accus-
tomed to expressing their views on current affairs in speeches
before the college literary societies. The trustees decided that
student discussion of political subjects was serving no good
purpose, and in December, 1855, they adopted a resolution "that
no question involving politics shall be discussed by the students,
either in original speeches or composition in Baylor University,
and the Faculty be requested to have the above resolution
enforced."30
Baylor made at least one attempt in the 1850's to provide, or
rather to require, student participation in the enforcement of
32Fifth Annual Catalogue . . . of Baylor University, 1857, pp. 18, 23;
Cataloque of ... Baylor University, Female Department, 1857, p. 16.
33Fifth Annual Catalogue ... of Baylor University, 1857, p. 18; Catalogue
of . . . Baylor University, Female Department, 1857, p. 17.
34Marrlis James, The Raven, A Biography of Sam Houston (Indiana-
polis. 1929), 384.
M3Ibid., 385.
3eMinutes of the Board of Trustees, December 21. 1855.60
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946, periodical, 1946; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146056/m1/69/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.