The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-12
College HaZing.

The bovine or brutal quality is by nc
means wholly worked out of the blood
even yet. The taste for pugilism, oil
the pummelling of the human frame
into jelly by the force of fisticuffs, as
form of enjoyment or entertainment,
is a relapse into barbarism. 1t is the
instinct of the tiger still surviving in
the white cat transformed into the
princess. l will not call it. young
gentlemen, the fond return of Melusina
to the gambols of the mermaid, or Un-
dimes momentary Inconsistencies OF
a soul, because these are poetic and
pathetic suggestions. The prize-ring Q
is disgusting and inhuman, but at least
it is voluntary encounter of two in-
dividuals. But college bullying is un-
redeemed brutality. 1t is the extinc-
tion of DR.. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 1t
is not humorous, nor manly, nor gen.
erous, nor decent. 1t is bald and vuI-
gar cruelty, and no class in college
should feel itself worthy of the respect
of others, or respect itself, until it has
searched out all offenders of this kind
which disgrace it, and Danish them TO
the remotest Coventry.
The meanest and most cowardly
fellows in college may shine most in
hazing. The generous and manly men
despise it. There are noble and in
spring ways for working off the high
spirits of youth: games which are rich
in poetic tradition; athletic exercises
which mold the young Apollo. To
drive young fellow upon the thin ice,
through which he breaks, and by the
icy submersion becomes at last a Grip
pie, helpless with intiammatory Iheu-
matism-surely no young man in his
senses thinks this to be funny, or any,
thing but an unspeakable outrage. Or
to overwhelm with terror a comrade of
sensitive temperament until his mind
reels-imps of Satan might delight in
such a revel, but young Americans
never, young gentlemen, never.
The hazers in college are the men
who have been bred upon dime novels
and the prize-ring-in spirit, at least.
if not in fact-to whom the training
and instincts of the gentlemen are un-
known. The word is one of the most
precious among English words. The
man who is justly entitled to it wears
a diamond of the purest lustre. Ten
nyson, in sweeping the whole range in
tender praise for his dead friend Ar
thur Hallam, says that he bore without
abuse the grand old name of gentle
man. ''Without abuse"-that is the
wise qualification. The name may be
foully abused. Tread in the mornings
paper, young gentlemen, a pitiful
story of a woman trying to throw her.
self from the Bridge. You may recall
one like it in Hoods Bridge of Sighs I"
The report was headed, ''To hide her
shame" "Her shame?" Why, gentle
men, at that very moment, in bright
and bewildering rooms, the arms of
Lothario and Lovelance were encir-
cling your sisters waists in the intoxi-
eating waltz. These men go unwhip-
ped of an epithet. They are even en-
ticed and fiattered by the mothers of
the girls. But, for all that, they do
not bear without abuse the name of
gentleman, and Sidney and Bayard
and Haliam would scorn their pro-
fanation and betrayal of the name
The soul of the gentleman, what is
itp Is it anything but kindly and
thoughtful respect for others. helping
the helpless, succoring the needy, be-
friending the friendless and forlorn,
doing justice, requiring fair play, and
withstanding with every honorable
means the bully of the church and
caucus of the drawing-room, the
street, the college? Respect, young
gentlemen, like charity, begins at
home. Only the man who respects
himself can be a gentleman, and no
gentleman will willingly annoy, tor
ment. or injure another. George
William Curtis. IN Harper's Magazine.