Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-11-20

Victoryn said Charles Ruthven, as he
buckled on his cartouch box, seized his
musket, and rushed from his room into
the passage way. In few minutes
confusion and rebellion, showed them
selves in stern array throughout the in
stitution.
\ Ruthven was member of the military
school, at -, into which place his
parents had entered him about year be-
fore this occurrence. He was a lad of
ardent temperament; amiabe disposition;
and Of engaging manners, but exceed
ingly impatient under restraint. Unior-
tunately he had contracted false idea
Of independence of spirit, and, like too
many other misjudging youths, supposed
that a proper way to make it manifest,
/ that he was truly lad Of spirit, was to
set up a direct opposition to any injunc-
: tion or command of his superiors, which
might come in collision with his precon-
ceved opinions, or leading inclinations
!, And to this error, is to be attributed the
, rash deed Of this night, more than to any
wish ioully to transgress.
!, A customary holiday had been allow
. ed all the students, and to prevent the
$ unhappy consequences which too fire.
quently result from the introduction oI
d ardent spirits into institutions, the proies-
!. . sors wisely determined to forbid any stu
: dent carrying any kind of xicating
liquor into his room, or any part OF the
institution. Peremptory orders to this
effect, were accordingly given. Nc
sooner was Ruthven informed Of the
steps taken by the professors, than he
determined to show his spirit, and t'
make breach Of this order. Withou
difficulty, he succeeded in finding seve
raj other kindred spirits; and in the hea
of excitement, it was resolved that I
quantity of liquor should be introduced
= and that Ruthven's room should be th'
s. theatre of the frolic. A despatch. wa
accordingly sent off, and under cover
|. the evening, quantity Of spirits wer'
. conveyed into the apartment, togethe
o. with such other accompaniments as wer'
j, deemed necessary to make up goo'
C. "spree"-as such performances are tech
l. nicalIy termed. The unthinking grou
IN had already assembled; and long befor
'e the sentry had sounded "nine' o'clock,
the fumes of brandy had half turned tn
,s brains of these novices in the "school {
ruin" As the hours passed round, s
ar went round the cup. AT first, there wa
L. the stihed laugh, and the low-sung song
But the cup continued to pass around
and every time it was put to the lip, les
" of reason remained with him who drank
m Long and deeper draughts were quatiee
which added to the consciousness Of tn
al approach of midnight, made "assuranc
I'd doubly sure" of their security.
The represscd laugh now broke o,
nj into startling, echoing peal, which re
3 verberated through the silent halls
the institution. The lively anecdot
lat was repeated; the song rose to loude
r. strain; and the mimic soon had the pc
-s, culiarites and ioibles of each prolesso
"r displayed before his comrades. In III
nd midst Of one of the loudest roars OF laugh
gh ter, a rap was heard at the door. In
moment all was silent as death, IN tn
apartment, and the flckering lamp wa
extingushed. Again the rap was hear'
but no voice answered from within.
crash succeeded, and the commandin
v officer of the institution, stood before tn
W young transgressors.
rd "Who is the orderly ofthis room'" il
iss quired stern voice.
op No answer was given, and the que
nd ton was firmly repeated.
Is alt is all over with me now" thoug
- y Ruthven, whose scattered senses begs
M aIl to return at the sound Of tho well know
6, voice that addressed him. And he d.
i5 terminsd that if disgrace awaited him,
'y should be for full measure.