The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-05-18
IN. Y. Tribune.1
A HBeSt Familyo HOOdIum,

All sorts of letters from all sorts of
people are constantly dropping into a
newspaper Office, and the Tribune has
probably its full share Of them, but
we have not for a long time received
or read anything so deliciously absurd
as the appended communication from
an aggrieved undergraduate hood
lum. This young person is one Of
thirteen ''hoodlums' of Trinity Col
lege, who captured three FELLOWSHIP
dents and subjected them to the shame
full and cowardly hazing process which
has been described Upon the facts
being made public and commented up
on unfavorably by the local newspa-
pers, the 'hoodlums" proceeded to JUS
tify themselves in a card in which
they said, among other foolish things,
that it was not case of ''hazing" but
of punishment" that the three soph-
omores having issued an offensive pub
lication, these thirteen, considering
that their position entitled them to
protect the dignity of the college,
undertook to discipline the offenders.
There was such a calm, browsing
asininity about it that the Tribune
was fain to call attention to a novel
phase Of undergraduate hoodlumism
in its attempts at self-justifcation.
But there seems to be no end to the
possibilities of the ''hoodlum,' as wit
ness the following letter from one of
them, setting forth that they are of
the "best families and sail gentle
men," and loftily condemning "the
miserable little sheets called newspa-
pers" for considering them otherwise:
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: Your editorial in this morn
ing's edition, entitled "The Under
graduate Hoodlum," did, as is usual in
such articles, great injustice to the
college world in general, and to GER
tain members Of the senior class of
Trinity College in particular. Not
only was your editorial uncalled for,
as the "hazing" affair has long since
been settled, but it lacks the merits Of
originality, truth and wit. Hitherto
the Tribune has INDUCED in no un-
truths in regard to this matter, and
we had hoped that it would not follow
the example Of less influential jour-
mails, and descend to the plane of sour
rilous editorials. But what are we to
expect of the miserable little sheets
called newspapers, when the Tribune,
which prides itself on originality of
thought and truth, gives way to its
baser passions, and hurls shafts Of So
called sarcasm and wit at the public
which has already become tired of the
repeated lies that have been circulated
broadcast through the land?
Not only were some of the best fam
lilies of New York and vicinity repre-
sented in this much exaggerated af-
fair, but the men themselves are gen.
tlemen, and not ''hoodlums'' as the
Tribune would have us think. The
truth of the matter is, that the mel
who write such editorials as appeared
this morning are generally those who
never saw the inside of college, and
who judge Of college exploits from a
legal and hypercritieal standpoint.
One of the Sophs who was ''hazed'
went willingly-the other two were
taken off. Not one of them acas really
hnvt; and only one was ''paddled"; nor
did he receive enough to injure the
most delicate consumptive. The
branding" consisted in marking the
hands with nitrate of sllver-which
every one knows can be removed, in a
short time, by the application of GER
tain chemicals-easily to be obtained.
Lastly, the men were obliged to walk
home distance of only tlco and one
half mles-and not seUe2a, as some Of
the papers affirm. 1t is not worth
while to notice the other witty (?) re-
marks contained in the editorial refer
red to-as newspapers are allowed cer=
tain liberties, which they take when-
ever they can without being amenable
to law. Facts are facts, and it would
be wise for paper which expects to
be considered decent to refrain from
indulging in glittering generalities,
which are mostly composed of glitter
without being numbered with truth.
ONE OF THE "HooDLUMs."
New YORK Cry, April 21, 1882.
We print the letter entire because
it so illuminates the character of the
undergraduate hoodlum." He as
sumes to speak for the college
world" Perhaps by and by, after
"A third-rate college licks him into shape
Notofa scholar, but scholars ape.'
he will undertake in the same large
way to speak for scholars or gentle
men. Let US hope, however, that he
may outgrow his ears. Their present
size is photographed in the above COM
munication.