The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-04-28

DISCIPLINE The little town of Ok,
ford, Ohio, enjoys a reputation as a sea
of learning of which it is justly proud
There flourish, side by side, Seminary
Tor the education of young ladies, and one
known os Miami University, in which
youth Of the opposite sex are instructed
in the ordinary branches of polite learn
ing. Naturally enough, within so limited
community the opportunities for the
young gentlemen ami fadles 10 meet are
not infrequent, and it would be strange,
indeed, if at their susceptible age some Of
the inevitable consequences of such meet
ings should not follow. College laws may
trown upon premature development OF
the tender passion, but they cannot re-
press it; and the reader Will therefore
not be surprised TO learn that within the
classic precincts of Oxford, a student of
the University dared to love q maiden of
the Seminary, and that his love was re,
turned. Matters went smoothly between
Tor while: but in an unlucky hour the
young man, previous to returning home
for brief vacation, ventured to the Sem
mary gate to take leave of his sweetheart
How long they fingered there in sweet
converse has not been revealed. but they
parted at last. and, dreadful to relate, the
ndlscreet pair sought to assuage the ago.
ny OF the parting hour by mutual kiss.
Niglant and cruel eyes, however, were
upon them, and this happy stolen inter-
view was destined to ha .l.oir Loot, Tl.O
young lady was Immediately arraigned
before the Seminary authorities, and rs
her offence had been henous, so was her
punishment swift and terrible. Expul>
sion was the sentence OF the outraged con-
clavc, and the very next train bore her
weeping TO her home But if in this
western Athens the rules of dccorum are
thus severely administered with respect
to the gentler sex, how does the reader
suppose it Jared with the young man p
He, too, was summoned before the COL
lego faculty to answer to the grave charge
of not only having kissed young and
probably pretty girl, but having permity
ted her to kiss him! We may suppose
that no ..solemnity beftting the occasion
was wanting, and that while the culprit
was in this awful presence made to real
ize how greatly his example would tend
to demoralze his fellow students, the
Judges were prepared to sink the man in
the stern and inhexible guardian of the
law. And yet did not these austere
sages, or some of them at least, 90 back
IN memory to a time when at garden
gates, or in shady lanes or woodland
walks, they had been guilty of indiscre>
tions not altogether unlike that upon
which they were now about to pass sen.
tence? If they did, it had no effect up-
on their decision, for the young man was
summarily expelled, and the academic
groves Of Miami will know him no more.
In an age so lax in morals, it is fortunate
that there is at least one seat of learning
to which parents and guardians can send
young men without fear OF contamination
Other colleges may place upon their stat
ute books stringent rules for the obser-
vance of a severe morality, but it has
been reserved for Miami University to af-
ford a practical illustration OF the proprie-
ties to be observed by young men, which
may well excite the admiration of her
sister institutions.