Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-17

Hanover, y H., November 10th.
Mssrs Editors from the various literary
journals and newspapers we have read the rec
ords OF an ARRAY, which, from the headings,
and some likeness TO circumstances which have
happened here, we conclude were meant for Han
over items From these reports We should judge
that Hanover had been bc-iesed by the students,
that j. b. Parker, an innocent bookseller and sta
toner, had been treated worse than a rarisian mob
could ever treat a criminal and that the studcnt,
a great part Of whom are gathered here from
homes Of culture and refinement, had become so
far lost to a sense OF gentlcmauliuess and honor
as to commit depredations upon merchants Of the
town, and disgrace the college And yet journals
whose editors claim that, by tongue aud pen, they
are bound to advance the cause Of education, de-
vote half a column to a report they have focei,c ed
from some unreliable writer, or more often gath
cred FROM some rumor, OF from some sheet which
knew nothing Of the facts Of the affair That
people may not tinl, that all the student, tDart-
mouth College are wholly deprived Of morality
and decency, we will state the case We under
stand it. \ few words will tell it,
Mr. Parker had become unpopular with tie stu
dents from the unreasonable prices he charged for
/ his books Having purchased the only other
bookstore in town, it was thought by the students
that he took advantage Of the monopoly. lie Of
iered TO sell at public auction quantity Of shop
worn books 4 number Of the students attending
the auction acted in rather boyish manner,
making considerable noise crowding against each
! other, and pushing some articles OF furniture out
Of doors. In this the few engaged did nothing
very criminal yet it was far from being praise
worthy. The second day made the matter some
what worse and after INDUCING in some threats,
near the close Of the sales, he was subjected 90
many petty annoyauces such as moving his slips,
insults, and the like, which never received ap-
| prevail but from very small class OF students,
/ Naturally he grew angry and some time after, at
| two o'clock one morning. nine Of the students
were arrested and held ia Precinct Hall until they
| could take the train at Norwich station, to come
| before the grand jury at Plymouth, y. H. \
large number Of the students, from the novelty OF
the affair had assembled at the depot, and in the
general crowd Mr.. Parker received some abuse
and insults which caused him 10 seek the ticket
office, from which, on the arrival Of the train hc
was prevented from coming out lie went 70
| Plymouth by different conveyance, obtained the
indictment and all returned on the following day.
| In the evening a novel entertainment was given,
in which very small number Of the students
were engaged though the number wa, swellod
by large number Of spectators. The entertain
ment consisted Of the burning Of an eflsy, and
such exercises as would bear witness Of theh
hatred Of oppression
Although the whole affair seems to Us a very
small one, yet we are far from thinking the
offenders ought not to be punished While We
are quite willing to await the action Of the Faculty
on matter like this we hardly think it right foi
every newspaper in the land to upbraid the stu
dents, the college and the faculty, whose every
effort is put forth for the culture Of the moral and
Christian, as well as the intellectual elements Of
the students
We wish, in the first place, that the college did
not contain low-minded men enough to stir up
such disgnceiul affair and, secondly that it did
not contain men so foolish as to send their non
sense perhaps meaning little themselves, 10 the
public print; and lastly that our country did not
contain the silly newspapers that delight to print
such trash But we are glad that there are some
newspapers which make It their object to present
the good Of mankind, and parents are coming to
know that II they would teach their children
noble things, they must set before them examples
Of the virtues, not Of the vices Of mankind