New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-22
A NEW COLLEGE RECREdTION

| Reference has already been made in The Tribune
| to the apparent passing away of college hazlng.
Some concern has been expressed by those who
have watched the course of events closely to
what will take its place, and to keep up the
undergraduates interest in life. This seems to
have been answered by Harvard. A recent dis
patch from Boston, printed in The Tribune, tells
of a student of that institution of learning who
appears to be striking out in a new direction, or
at least TO revive an ancient practice, in an at
tempt to relieve the mOnotony of college life.
His plan is nothing less than to make a choice
collection of signs He was detected late at
nj ght taking active measures for making his sign
collection complete, and was caught after n
long chase by Constable Drew. lie had a COM
panion, who escaped with Drew's sign under his
arm The constable dragged the unhappy col
lector away 10 the police station, where a search
brought two signs to light from under his over
coat. One was only a paltry Paint sign
which might have been taken from almost any
where. and really amounted to little, never hav-
ing accomplished anything beyond causing every
one who saw it to draw his finger along on the
freshly decorated object to if it told the truth
The other however, was of more pretentlous
nature and informed an anxious world that we
Sell Commonwealth Ginger Ale This, we should
iudrp would count much higher in sign col
lection than a mere paint announcements
When questioned as to his motives IN his pur-
sut Of signs he replied that he had been Informed
bv an older student that he could never hope to
have any kind of standing in college like
Harvard till he could show collection of at least
fifty signs lie had got fifteen in his cabinet, ne
said. and the cOnstables sign, which his f1ehd
had would make sixteen He had hoped to bring
the number up to twenty that night, as besides
the two he had which called attention TO the
paint and ginger ale, he also had his eye on two
otbcrs one large wooden sign announcing
Reans For Sale by the Bushel or Car Load
and a small tin sign bearing this legend Greek
Tauobt While You Wait Besides, he explained,
there was no saying how many Boarding School,
Buddhism in Six Easy Lessons " lbsens Oon-
nlete Works. and other common signs they mighC
mot have picked up before morning. The Judgc
imposcd light fine and the young student ana
collector went out. gathering Notary fuDiic
sion in the hall and small barDcr-pole on inc
corner.
If whit we trust we shall he pardoncd for call
;,, rho Harvard idea spreads and becomes popular
IL does not seem improbable that IL may not only
take the place of hazing in relieving the tedium
If the students life but of other athletic con-
,osts as WELL and the time may come when, IN
StDn
ot pr,sent and leaving limb or two, the UNDER
,,roduote will simply stroll out after midnight,
,rcrch loose A Livery-and- Boarding-Stable' sign
and RIM with it through the back streets to his
,oor While making the dash for safety he might
no nresumc illustrate the old proverb, that he
,bot runs may read and peruSe the sign, thus COM
hiinc intellectual stimulus with physical exercise
Contests will be held, we suppose, with other col
,oe the one showing the greatest number OF
inns boinr declared the champion Competition
i,b tbc local constables and the owners of the
inns will also insure the best work on the part
80 the students. IL would seem that nothing could
ttor serve to bring out the sprlntlng qualities Of
,. ono than with three or four signs belonging
% other people under his coat, to discover sul
dcnlv that an unappreciativc but Ight-running
constable is coming close behind.
T. must certainly he great consolation 10 the
..rcrts Of this young man who has started ont
as the pionrer sign collector 10 know that he IS
M, ru,ning his health by overstudy. When they
:. Aovn of an evening to think of their boy far
nav, from the old home, striving for education,
t on fortinQ thou ght comes 10 them that their son
i not burning the midnight oil, porting over his
,dios with failing eyes and thrObbing brow. No.
.hor nv the aid of little imagination they can
20 their boy shooting through the Boston back
,roets with bundle of paint and ginger ale
si,rs under each arm big enough to start small
9ad,-ord while "A constable with Sunol-hke
ao,ion is running easily and naturally close
behind.