The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-31
A OALLOR NESTLING.

HAVE any OF our readers ever seen the pltllul
exhibition made by a callow nesting in attempt
ing to fly from the maternal nest before his pin
feathers are grown? Flop upon the ground he
comes, and cries and squawks in very agony of
pain, despair and mpotent rage. Such eX-
hibtion was given on Friday at the University
of Pennsylvania, when young man by the
name of George K. Receive would gladly re-
frain from mentioning him for the sake of his
friends-gave an exhibition OF genuine sopho-
moric blackguardism under the title of the
t'Class History of 1869" which must have made
the faces of his classmates and every decent
person in the audience tingle with shame.
full report of this remarkable performance was
given in the Press on Saturday, and if we had
not been assured that it was actually delivered
on the occasion referred to, in the presence of
an audience of decent men and women, we would
not have believed that the University could have
been so disgraced in its own halls by one of its
own graduates, but would have thought it mere
ly q mean, low, and disgusting exhibition of
malice by disappointed candidate for academic
honors We have hitherto warmly advocated
the cause of the University of Pennsylvania,
and have given what aid was in our power to
furthering its project for obtaining portion of
the Almshouse property for the purpose of
erecting new buildings which would enable 1t
to enter upon an enlarged sphere of usefulness.
The citizens of Philadelphia, the members of
Councils, and decent men and women every
where will hesitate now about extending any
assistance to an institution of learning that
sends out upon society such a specimen of
university training as this young man Reed
is. by his own showing. We have al
ready too many such as he now infesting the
community, turning everything sacred and vir-
rooinpr tafxy and
themselves by their ribaldry. 1t is to such in
stitutions of learning the University Of Penn
sylvana that we look to give our young men
the culture refined taste, and mental and moral
discipline that win enable them to take up the
great work of civilization and progress, and to
carry it on in manner becoming Christian gen.
tlemen. 1t would be gratifying to believe that
Mr. Reed is but single and exceptional
specimen of an unhedged youngling, started out
TO battle with the world before he has learned
discretion; and it is sincerely to be hoped, for
his own sake, that the disgusting exhibition,
spread over four columns of the Press, is but a
rather more than ordinary virulent specimen
of nastiness, and that the spirit of blackguard-
ism which it manfests is not inherent or else
the young mans future is not very promising
either for himself or the country.
Weare inclined to make the largest allowances
for the proverbial frolicksomness OF college
youths, and not to judge college wit or college
rhetoric by too high standard, but there is a
point which no young man with the slightest
feelings of a gentleman will pass, and this case
is one that calls for stern and decided rebuke,
if only to deter others from following the exam
pie that has been set.
Mr.. Reeds discourse was simply low, vulgar
and utterly disgusting diatribe against the college
its professors and his fellowstudents its attempts
at wit are pointess, and the whole performance
is one that will bring discredt upon the institu
ton, and which, in future years. if the young
man is not wholly depraved, and if he has any
sense of shame left in him, will make his cheeks
burn with modification whenever he thinks of 1t
If the University of Pennsylvania was a schoo
for Predetermined children, we could account
for and excuse such an exhibition as this. /
claims however, to be an institution OF learning
second to none in the country, and 1t is nov
facilities, Before such assistance is granted thu
University owes il to itself to clear It's skirts
ali respOnsibility for Mr.. George X. Reed, for
he is a specimen brick, the present building
NAV as well be razed 10 the ground ana tn
property sold to the highest bidder wlthou
nrtber DELAY: for. as an institution of learning
and classic culture, it isDworse than worthless
Tuv New York World of this morning con
toins the following paragraph in one OF its col
rmns. headed ''political item ST.
ga sericns OF savage attacks In the Phlladelphl
nvI eaRAPH upon Governor Geary, VINO ls anXiOu
Tor denomination, attributed 10 the pen o. Ooio
IL ~ Ncc1nre the man who did not persuade Grant.
Nobody but an idiot would seriously attrt6ut
che articles in question to Colonel Mcclure
pen. and that is all we have tosay seriously upol