Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-03-22
"Reminiscences of Professor Hovey.

"reminiscences Of Professor Hovey.
Edmund o. Hovsy, a member of
the faculty of Wabash college for 43
years, died at the seat Of that institu-
ton in Charlottesville, on March 10th.
He was born in New Hampshire in
1901, and during his connection with
the college has been an untiring and
effective worker. We do not know
that 1t is now quite proper to relate
one or two comic incidents In which
he played q prominent part, yet we
will venture. Before the war for
number Of years there Was connected
with the college some most uncon-
trolable students. Prof. Hovey con-
sidered 1t Is duty to keep the boys as
near straight a. possible and with the
view Of foiling them In their mis-
chievous designs made tia point to
keep an eye on them at all times and
under all circumstances. Students
on q lark would occasionally be
Mortified to find the good old Profess
ser suddenly amsrgs from tho shad-
ow OF gate post, or tree box and
silently confront them. He had an
eye for key hole too, which was the
continual dread Of evil doors; and as
Q consequence was occasionally the
victim of q pnt mp job. At ono time
q fine buck sheep had taken up its
quarters In the campus. The boys
had leased the buck until it only re-
quired the motion OF . closed fist
toward him to put him in a towering
rage, and then he would attack any
one in sight. The boys determined
to make this buck the means of play
ing practical joke on Prof. Hovey.
One evening the animal was caught
and taken into the hall OF the third
story where he was tied at the end of
the hall, the rope being long enough
to allow the old fellow to move up to
the head OF the stairs. A meeting OF
some kind was being held in the
chapel, and when il was over the
room In front of which the buck was
tied was brilliantly Lit up. The boys
rightly judged that the Professor
would consider this sufficiently sus-
picious circumstance to warrant an
Investigation; and accordingly here
he came. When he reached the head
OF the stairs he tiptosd aleng the hall
bringing his head down to level
with the key hole. This position the
buck regarded az q challenge to CON-
bat and after two or three prelimin-
airy stamps Of the foot, as declara-
ton OF war on his part, lowered his
head and went for the Prof. The con-
cussion was tremendous, and the rope
breaking the "combatants" rolled
to the bottom of the stairs together
The CHATTER Of the buck as he rushed
through the halls and made his way
out aroused the students In that part
OF the building, and when the Pro-
lessor returned to investigate the
room concerning which he was thus
led into trouble, everything was as
silent as the grave, except the sonor-
Gus notes from single snorer. The
story did not spread beyond the soph-
omOre class.
The citizens Of Crawfordsville, who
the Professors lameness,
generally believe thatit was caused
by ruaewey. A squad of KenIuckians
knew better. It occurred in this way:
The young men from the dark and
bloody ground occasionally INDUCED
In q secret @jsmboree. which was held
In the room of one of their number.
One Saturday morning while indulg-
ing In 9 little -pasttime" Of this kind,
they had failed to note the flight of
"a ~ a until The haur ~ <hr~a <,oIool-
They also failed to modulats their
tones and may have been informed
on by some student who was kept
awake by the noise which they made.
They had also failed to lock the door
and were startled by the Oft repeated
Well, young gentlemeni"-Profes-
sor Hovey stood In the wide open
door holding the door with one hand.
The surprise OF the jewellers may be
imagined. It was the work Of a mo-
ment for three stout fellows to spring
to the door and attempt to shut it in
his face, but he was q man of grit and
did not propose to be put out In that
style. He resisted as long as posi-
bic and a. a last resort thrust his
knee into the fast closing aperture,
and the door closed on il. The stout
fellows threw their united strength
and weight against it which cut the
wood deep into the leg. 1t was done
In less time than 1t takes TO write this
line, and the Professor had to be car
ried home. It Ii claimed that he new
or told how the accident occurred.
but the story got out that he was
hurt by q runaway.
1t II doubtless true that some of
the students Of twenty years ago and
over. did not particularly love @Prof."
Hovey because Of his determination |
10 have the regulations of the college |
but they respected him for |
MS earnestness, and true Christian |
character. The writer remembers OF |
'eading . quaint inscription on a
leadstons In a little graveyard at
lsheville. N. c., which closed by re-
'iting that the man buried there had
zen the friend Of young men, and
lad helped to -start-~ssy many OF
hem into life In the best way. The
anne thing may be said of Professor
Iovey, whose life has been 30 we'll
pent in training young men for the
rsatest success In life. To-day men
Ise up from every quarter Of Ameri-
q, representing every walk In life, and
pstify to the good that they have re-
siyed ut the hands of this man who
as 1t tast closed q splendid earthly
arser.
A Word About Assessments.