Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-02-20
College Prank of MoncuIe D. Con-
way.
Tie AuiAors Of the Practical JOKE on mr.
Jesse r. Peek.

son College, Carlisle, fennSyiNahia' !" 'Ni"'
and was made the victim Of a practical l"kr
about TIA, time. which was widely poolishei'
and REGARDED as the very essence Of college
mischief. The authors of the joke can, AT
this late day lie made known, Tor the u'''
time without subect;ng them TO ceusure. Dr.
Jesse T. Peek bishop Peek now was very
large man. Gisn,fed in his manner and bear
ing. and peculiar faculty for rolling Ms -
in conversation, which made his speech Ver!
impressive.
At Dickinson College, in that year. were
Moncnre d. Cpnway. now famous IN tins
country and in England for his high literary
a,t,nments. his vigorous, brillian, intellect,
and his s,ronr minded views on all religions
and scicntif. topics. His name is familiar I"
every lover Of literature, and hiS letters 10 the
Cincinnati Commercial are one of the most
interesting features of that paper. Mr.. Con-
WAY Tor as his fellow lI.n- styled HIN
then. None Conway was no: regarded aN "
brilliant. student, but was rather noted Tor his
literary predilsctinns. lie appreciate = d
humor. and enj,yed the practical jokes Ton
which college stulents have always had a
weakness.
In the s,mc junior class was Marcus )
Parrott, who ai,erwarl became a prominent
man in the e-Sil party Of " Bleeding Kan
! s,s" and whose name for years was cohuecte"
with the poli,ics of the West This was The
same Marcus J. Parrntt who some years ~"
while ar the Langham Hotel, in LONDON. q s
matched b. the Grand Hotel in Paris TO re
serve apartments for him. On bis "rr''''
there great was his astonishmeut 10 md thai
one Of the grandest suits of apartments M tn
hotel had been reserved flr hin willis he wa
greeted with the greatest display Of respect by
mine host and his staff
This extraordinary attention to simpl'
! American sovereign was cansed by a lndIcrou-
mi,conception of Mr. PArrptt's name. Tn
dispatch conveyed to the landlord the impres
sion that the grand apartments were tor th'
Marquis De Parrott distinguished iort'-r
nubleman. How Marcus j. PTru,t the prl'
v,te citizen. unlecsycl the landlord, AMI sr
lec,,d m IRE humble apartments, II Is not ne
cessary to relate.
Dickinson C,llege was sustained at the
time we referred 10 by the Methodist C'nIer-
ences of Pennsylvania, Virsinn, and Mary
land and tn. Annpal Cop'rr"ce WAS To To-
held at Stanton, Va, in March, 1913. ID,
Peck. as was customary male bis arrange
ments to attend the Conference, and also t
witness the Inauguration Of President Taylor
in Washington
The student, were aware Of the fact, AM
one evening M,ncure D Conway, Marcus }
Parrmt. AMI T.. A. Maginne'1, then fresh
man from New Albany now the porty mana
ger Of the Louisville InInstri Exp',itl"nl
sat down to play game of euchre. The Pee
ilents visit tD Stanton was commented np"
aud. in the mlschieyious spirit Of stndenih'ol
a practic, oke was projected, which aiic.
mutual Suggestions from each Of the three
assumed complete shape.
Conway coulI initiate DR.. Peck's hand.
writing, anl pen hnl ink heinz procured, h'
wrote letter b the superintendent "i The
insane asylum at Stauuton, Va, in which BE-
stated that very respectable citizen "i Ct
Isle. Penn, namel ugh Blair, was sulJe
tj tenn ,rAry ab.rrttiIn pf IA; % . J.. Irrr-
which ne imagine himself tp be Dr.. jesse |
Peck. President Of Dickinson C,lIe.e. Then
followed a description nt the unt'ftuna'e
Hugh Blair, which des :rptipn wa an elth'
rate picture Of Dr.. Peck himself. As Mr.
IIusb Blair hal been absent 81 ne days, hl-
frienIs were bscpnin. alarmed aud the sup
n.,.ition was that as Dr. Peck would reach
Staun,,n % attend Conference ou a certain
d,y. Mr. Hugh B hir hal glne there, under
bi, dslusion. and w,ull be on the same tram
Would the superintendent b. 50 kind IS Ia
watch the tain. and IT the gentleman de-
scnbrd came, t. take him to the Asylum
witbou, exciting his fears aud retaiu h'n there
ull hi, friends cjulI call lUr ban, when a.
expenses would be paid aud they would be
ever grateful, &c.
The letter was seat, aud the trio waited for
the sequel.
Dr.. Peek, in al bis imposing dignity reach
Ell Stauuton oD the DAY expected. On step
pins from the tram be was accos,ei by a
polite gentlemen With:
"Is this Dr.. Peck %
"Yss, sir; an DR.. Peck, president Of
/ Dickinson College" was the dIgnliied reply.
"Gl4d u see you, sir. VIII you step into
my carriage, DE-. Peck 2" sail the aGAOIe sen-
/ tenlau.
Dr.. Peck surprising tito lie an attention
which was belus paid to tbe president II Dick
son C,llese, complied, aud was driven 10 tie
asylum. bis companion chatting pleasantly Oh
the way. He had not been Inside tie iosu'n-
rion loug before he discovered its character.
and naturally desired to know why he bad
been brought there.
The superintendent assured him that be
would not he harmed tbat he would simply
he required to remain at the institution unIii
his friends came after him.
DR.. Peck became indignant and demnnded