New-York tribune., 1878-11-06
COLLEGE DISORDERS.
THE WAY TO END THEM-A LETTER FROM NEAL
DOW.


THE WAY TO END THEM-A LETTER FROM NEAL
DOW.
70 ths Editor OrThe Frf6une.
SIR: Many of our American colleges, as well
as those tho old country often disturbed and DIS
graccd by disorders" among the students These
irregularities OF many kinda sometimes the desruc-
ton OF property; sometimes attacks by students upon
towns people sometimes, and more frequently per
sona attacks by the older and stronger students upon
the younger aud weaker. At the famous Winchester
School, In England, few years ago, an oder pupil
almost kile his fag "a small bOy-Whom he logged
cruelty with because he ialled In reeihng the
slang catechsm. The affair made great noise IN the
newspapers for few days. when the principal OF the
school-in the public presS-justhed the aoggng' as
being strictly rule and according to the traditions
Il IL funny grave doctors OF divinity, oi phil
osopy OF and OF law, lay their wise heads
together consider what can be done about IT, They
all agree that IL If sn aud shame and crime, in older
and stronger students to beat abuse ana torment the
Younger and weaker but the to prevent 1t Is what
puzzles Them mean the learned doctors. To simple
minded psople il would not TO be difficult matter
but TO tneso college professors 1t has been an unsoVed
problenl--O these many, many years. A short way
with these Tufans would bo To shoot them. Why nOti
why shouldn't freshman sophomore quietly sleep
ing In bis rOOm shoot those who break hs door In for
tbc purpose OF committing a personal violence upon
himl Because the hazers do not 10 KILL TO do
great bodily harm to their victim" But how does he
know thatl His ~ his CASTLE aud Oy every rule
OF law, morals. and common sense. he Is entitled
TO defend himself in 1t against all o0mers' and Is not
hound 10 hold parey with his assallanS and 10 settle
with them terms upon which lie will surrender ana
70 agree that he will submit to q scourgng with nettles
or thstles or rattan or will consent be placed
der the nozzle ola pump for fifteen minutes or for any
other period OF time He "a entitled to defend himself
from any such treatment by any and every means In bis
power But strong and brave boys not attacked
a general rule; it Is the weak and tmid boys. the
delicate, retiring boys who arc marked out by
these ruflans for assault. And these they
dare not attack the day, nor at night without
mask. They rush uDOn their weak aud umid
victims suddenly in dark corridor. or In crowd 1t
NAV be IN the open air. that resistance or defence Is
impossible; then without mercy they mhict upon
them cruel tOrtureand call 1t harmless sport But
why should weaker boys shoot their nssaants
at the first ASSAULT zee one good reason why they
should not do IL would render necessary the
slant wearing OF concealed weapOns-unless indeed
they openly In belt, rs by officers In the
field This would lead to the universal wearing Of
arms change Northern society into that sort which
exists at the South or did exist there twenty years ago
think SEQ the grave wise heads OF group OF college
professors gathered about the council table OF the fac
ulty talking over tho matter. what shall he done
about iti" Wigs are now, unhappiy, by such
grave personages, by anybody In this country in
these degenerate days. but wigs would add very much
10 the impressveness OF tho wiss,
such IA are nov worn by English Judges "whlt shall
be done about itp That's tho question which exceed
ingy puzzles these learned And In all their prosy
talk they fail catch glimpse OF tho mode OF
treatment which will cure the evil. and do IL
promptly These college boys are as much members OF
the body polite and much amenabe TO the laws Of
the land as they were while dwelling under the
Maternal roof Would any hesitate for moment 10
rrngn a student before the grand jury and the courts
m he should break his neighbours house Ia order 90
scourqo OF TO dOIso with water. clean foul fellow
student who happened TO home IN vacation Or IL
two or three such shOud seize cOmrade Ia the dark
street and nflct upon him any bodily HARM would there
lie uestion to the proprety and the duty OF haV
ing the runan. up before the courts Tho doing this ny
no means implies spirit OF revenge for the outrage hut
only duty society at large to prevent such by
punshng. In the most exemplary manner, those who In
| nlcL It,
| A friend OF mino sufferer in this way, many
/ wears agO He brave md manly bOy--net q
| eowardy fibre in his bOdy-hut he as physically
weak as he was Intellectually strong a modest and
retiring boy, those OF sloh physique almost always
are His door burst open IN the middle OF dark
Winters night; he taken from his bed aud roughly
| water for q considerable time. He disdaned TO ask
mercy quarter no word was spoken by any oue--al
was done In slsnoe When these ruans let him go, he
| couldn't 20 he lay prone aud sill upon the
These young rufans Thought they had killed their
| victim and fod, leaving him alone and mo-
| tionless. Alter time he revived and made the
| best Of bis way back TO bis room He did not
mention the matter 20 any ho waited and watched
The authors Of the outrage thought their yotm was de-
eowaraly ruisps masked, and did nos sRsak ftam