The greater part of the students congratulated themselves that they thus escaped the work of thinking and understanding the subject.

"One goes to college, not to learn and study, but to gain credit for the course, so if the book can be memorized, what more can be asked--the year is thus gained." [16] Basilio passed the examinations by answering the solitary question asked him, like a machine, without stopping or breathing, and in the amusement of the examiners won the passing certificate.

His nine companions--they were examined in batches of ten in order to save time--did not have such good luck, but were condemned to repeat the year of brutalization.
In the second year the game-cock that he tended won a large sum and he received from Capitan Tiago a big tip, which he immediately invested in the purchase of shoes and a felt hat.

With these and the clothes given him by his employer, which he made over to fit his person, his appearance became more decent, but did not get beyond that.

In such a large class a great deal was needed to attract the professor's attention, and the student who in the first year did not make himself known by some special quality, or did not capture the good-will of the professors, could with difficulty make himself known in the rest of his school-days.