The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18
A Pleasing Incident.

man whose low forehead, broken nose
and general truculency of expression,
together with the handle of revolver
which protruded from his pocket, I'M
mistakably showed that he was Prince
ton undergraduate. The timid passen-
gers regarded him with much conster-
nation, and theological student faint
ed on the spot The undergraduate,
however, seemed peaceably inclined,
and smiled grimly when he noticed the
effect which his entrance produced. He
sat down near the middle of the car,
and, drawing the Police Gazette from
his pocket, resumed his collegiate stud
les. In point of fact, alarming as his
appearance was, he was not as violent
and reckless as are many of his class
Doubtless, he had passed through the
scenes of bloodshed and horror which
are nowadays inseparable from college
life. Doubtless, too, he was ready to
take his share in any assault on Fresh
men or theological students in which
his assistance might be sought Never
theless, he was not an unredeemed, ruff
fan, and, as the event proved. was sill
ly rather than brutal.
AiihiOblblOIl III 1IOhO vi IillS lOllll8
man sat an unprotected widow, with
young baby of six months of age in her
arms. She was a young widow and
had successfully mastered her grief for
her late husband. Indeed, in spite of her
youth and beauty, there was certain
determined look in her eye which would
have suggested to physiognomist the
probability that the deceased husband
must have led rather exciting life in
case he was in the habit of awakening
his wifes jealousy. When the other
passengers noticed that the undergrad
yates gaze had been attracted by his
charming neighbor, q Shudder went
through the car. 1t was felt that at
any moment the savage nature of the
young man might display itself in way
that could not fail to alarm the widow,
and to require the holder passengers to
rush to the baggage-car in search of
the conductor.
Contrary to public expectation, the
undergraduate did not proceed to any
acts of violence. He leaned over the
back of the widows seat and began to
converse in a gentle tone upon the state
of the weather. Gradually the CONVEX
sation became brisker, and in a little
while the undergraduate changed his
seat and sat next to the young widow.
The passengers saw that they had made
a mistake, and that, instead of being
an abandoned ruffian, delighting in
nothing but midnight riot and de-
bauchery, the undergraduate was one
of those particularly silly young men
who fancy that to g flirt," as they call
it, with casual young lady in rail-
way car is the noblest work of man.
SO rapid was the revival of courage that
a large man sitting near the end of the
car remarked to his neighbor in loud
whisper that I" those Princeton students
weren't half as dangerous as they
looked" and that, as far as he was
concerned, he would not hesitate to call
| the conductor the moment the under
graduate should become violent.
There is no doubt that the widow her
self was censurable for entering into
conversation with stranger, and es-
pecially with one who obviously be-
longed to the studious and criminal
class. Still, she gave no signs of bash
fulness or fear, and conversed with
great fiuency and redundant giggling.
The undergraduate was evidently de-
lighted, and felt that he was engaged
in most successful Irritation. Present.
ly the train stopped at a way station,
and the young widow, remarking that
she wished to get out for moment to
see if one of her friends who resided at
the station in question was visible, laid
the baby in the UNDERGRADUATE lap,
and bade him take good care of it for a
moment or two.
Had he not been Princeton under
graduate the passengers would certain
ly have smiled at him, as he sat awk-
wardly holding the infant; but the ter
rible reputation of the Princeton stu
dents was sufficient to protect him from
ridicule. When, however, the train
started before the widow had reap
peared, the passengers could no longer
restrain their sense of the righteousness
of the situation, and simultaneous
laugh rang through the car. So many
persons shared in this laugh that no
one particular individual could be sin
gled out for the slaughter, and the I'M
dergraduate contented himself with
scOwling tiercely, and demanding in a
threatening tone to be informed how
far it was to the next station.
1t so happened that the train was due
at the next station in about five min
utes. As soon as it arrived the under
graduate rose up and carried the baby
to the ticket office, where he deposited
it, remarking to the terrified ticket
seller that he would confer particular
favor on Princeton student by keep
ing that infant till it should be called
for. OF course the ticket-seller did not
dare to refuse, and the undergraduate,
returning to the car, resumed his seat,
first announcing in loud tone of voice
that if any gentleman present enter
tanned the opinion that there was any
thing laughable in his conduct he would
be glad to prove that such an opinion
was mistake.
The silence that fell upon the pas
sengers was speedily broken. The
abandoned baby had been left but a
few miles behind when from another
car entered the missing widow, wreathed
in smiles and accompanied by the fe-
male friend whom she had met at the
last station but one. Her smiles dis
appeared as she approached the under
! 4. Of hn,. laI M