River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-21
A College "Hazing -

room of the select establishment of DR..
Palmer, though there was good fire in
the stove, which the fifteen "select pupilsn
sat around with moody disconsoiate
faces.
Two of the largest boys had the warm
| corners, OF course, while the "small fryn
sat further off so as to be 'sout of the
way" One OF the large boys, however
IA young giant of nineteen, or perhaps
less-lay stretched at full length ON
bench at some distance from the fire. 1t
was half holiday, but because of the
storm, the boys were confined to the
house, and in the words of an old soldier
when describing his imprisonment, s'suf-
fered tranquility
III they could have wrestled, or made a
noise, it would have been more bearable
| Put that relief was forbidden; for the
school-room was directly under Mrs
Palmer's room, and she had s'weak
nerves." There had been a dumb fight
or two, but in their silent wrestling, a
| bench had been overturned, and the boys
we're called to order by sharp knock on
| the floor overhead.
"Just hear that old cat, growled Per
ry Nugent, one of the large bows; coarse
faced, broad shouldcred, and with a vic
ious look in his impudent black eyes.
"She can squat herself when she's angry,
but she can't stand sound from anybody
else, I'm not going to stand either hers or
| old Noseys nonsense much longer. Are
| we sugar and salt, that we can't take our
/ holiday out of doors like men, but must
be penned up here because it. rains2 I'm
not put here to coddle up old Mother
Palmer's weak nerves. I'm going out,a
The sleepy boy on the bench strenched
out his long limbs and half-opened eyes.
"What noise you're always making,
| Nugent," he drawled. 81 wish to good
ness you would go. But didn't you hear
the Governor say he had locked the gate,
and the boy who climbed over should
never return to his sheepfold of classic
learning? But go, by all MEANS my
good fellow. Perhaps papa and mamma
would kill the fatted calf to welcome
your return. Do GO | don't care; it
won't hurt my feelings"
''Who ever accused you of caring for
anything but your own self" grumbled
the other, with furious eyes, but certain
control of words, for he stood in whole
some awe of the six feet Of humanity that
lay stretched before him. ''Ysu're going
out yourself this evening. and much you
care what we suffer! Look here, Dan
Edwards, what are you smuggling att" to
one of the little boys who had laughed
aloud. "Come here, sir; I'll teach YOU
manners! Will you come, say, or shall
come after your
The little fellow, about ten years ofage,
hurried up to the bully.
"Pull his ears" suggested John Lee, the
other large boy, cringing sycophant of
Nugent's. ''He laughed at you
II wasn't laughing at him." said the
frightened child. Slim Grimes-he
tickled me-and F"
81 don't care what you laughed at" in
terrupted the tyrant. II ordered you lit
tie chaps to keep silent. Now, Master
| Dan Edwards, stand right here before me.
I'm going to give you a box on one ear; if
you vince or move your head when ! do
it, you'll catch it on the other Now.
One! twol three.'
| At the last word, the heavy, cruel hand
came down with such force that the child
dropped to the ground, As he raised
himself, down came another blow, knock
| ing him over again. He did not dare to
cry out, for he knew that would draw an
other blow: so he buried his aching little
lace in his hands, and crept back to his
seat. H
81 suppose you call that manly2"
sneered Morton Elston, raising himself
on his elbow on the bench where he had
been lying. ~ haven't interfered with
you for long time, young man, but it's
time to put stop to your bullying those
poor little fellows, I'm not easy to rouse
but just warn you | IN going to take their
part. Do you know what that means,
eh?'
sMeans27 cried the other angrilv
'sYou want to let the little vagabonds
ride over~us, and allow them to give us
all kinds of impudence. Did you ever
go to school where the big boys didn't
rule the little ones2 Does 'em good
makes 'em mild and obedient, and trains
their muscles. Keep to your own busl-
ness, Morton Elston, and let mine alone.
I've been boss over the young fry long
before you came here, and I've never
hurt 'em to talk of"
"He broke Abram Hewitts Leg"
whispered one of the little boys to his
neighbor, and he smashed Isaac's nose,
and now he says that amt nothin'. o
myr'
At this moment the door opened, and
DIR. Palmer, smiling and benevolent look
ing, brought in a pale, delicate hoy of
about twelve.
young gentlemen, he said, let me
introduce YOU to Master Mordaunt Ellis.
our new pupil. Mr.. Elston, Mr.. Nugent,
you will have the kindness to introduce
the young gentleman to his companions.
I can trust you, know, to make him at
home.n
And with beaming face the good old
gentleman departed, feeling that he had
initiated the new scholar into kind of
Paradise.
Little did he dream of the treatment
that awaited each new boy in his estab-
lishment-yes, and chung to him until
he was big and strong enough to play the
tyrant himself
For four years Nugent had been the
bully of the school. Many of the small
BOYS had left on account of the maltreat-
ment they received from him; but in very
few cases did the complaints reach the
masters ears When they did, Nugent
was so plausible in his defense, and brought
forward so many scared witnesses to prove
his innocence. that he managed to escape.
No sooner had DR.. Palmer left the room
thin Nugent's eyes lighted up with de-
light at the sight of new victim. He
sprang from his seat, seized the boy S hand
and pressed it SO warmly that Mordaunt
WINGED with pain.
aMake You at home? Why, Of course
we will Y he cried. ''Dr Palmer needn't
have told Us that, for we always give
warm welcome to the new boys. How do
you do!" shaking the boys hand more
roughly than before.
@Now let me introduce you to the others.
This is Morton Elston. He cuts up pref
ty rough on all the little chaps, but Ill
protect you. Here's John Lee, who can
curse harder and drink moro wine than /