Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-06-06
SHAMELESS CONDUCT.
Disgraceful Vandalism at Harvard
University.
Five College Buildings Daubed and the
Founders Statue Disflgured.

Vandalism Of the most disgraceful charac-
ter was perpetrated at fair Harvard. sun
day, June l, in the early hours OF the morn
ing, completely surprising the most out
ageous aud widest pranks Of the most
reckless students Of days gone by.
High carnival was held by large malorl-
~ of the students during the Saturday night
previous in honor Of the success of their
fellows ON the diamond and field, and liar
ward square was the scene OF much hilarity
from early eve I'LL long after midnight. the
students perching on the fence about the
yard and lining the streets in knots.
The students hilarlty. stimulated by
copIous draughts OF the cup that incbriates
a. well rs cheers, was not to be crushed, and
like small army. as II literally was. the
crowd Of Harvard youths betook themselves
to the college campus, where they were safe
from immunity, as far as the police was con-
cerued.
Here a huge bonfire was kindlcd and fed
with all manner OF fuel, including great
beams, barrels aud tubs which came from
and were gathered by the young athletes
from no one knows where.
One excited youth, not satisfied with the
Gre produced by the stack Of timbcr. pulled
Off his costly dress coat and tossed II into the
flames, eNclaiminG: blaze aud burn
brightly, yc bonorcd fire aud reflect to the
heavens fair ITarvard's triumphS.'
some time after midnight saturday and
early Sunday morning the work of the
vandals commenced. With red paint and
brush, one Of the students, prompted by
"Old Nick" proceeded on a disgraceful tour,
tlaubing the handsome buildings here and
there with the inscriptions oh, .; Y, 3, "
and the figures "32," the latter indicating
the number OF points made by Harvard in
the Mott Haven contest, while the other in.
scriptions stood for the score in the Harvard
and Yale ball game.
The buildings thus disfSured were Bowl
ston and Sever Halls, Appleton Chapel, the
| College Library and Memorial Hall
The worst act OF all, and. in the minds Of
many, approaching a sacrilege, was the
painting Of the statue OF John Harvard
In the triangle composing a portion q
the grounds about Memorial Hall. The
face of the founder Of the college
was bCsmeared with red paint, a
was the body. legs and chair In
which the figure sits, as well az the repre-
sentation of books in the background OF the
| statue. The statue rests upon handsome
| and massive granite base and this was Gov
cred with the same significant numbers and
'etters which disfgure the buildings.
| The inscription, "John Harvard Founder
| 1872 was nearly obliterated. with the fig
urcs go" about is inches long and scvera
inches wide On the left side were al. .
Y. s." in equally large letters. ard in the rear
! So" covered the space, The paint Is thicb
and thoroughly dried in and on either side Of
| each letter the oil has run fully an inch and
discolored the granite. The drippings from
the paint run down from each letter, and
! the statue could not have been more thor
oughly disfigured II all attempt had beer
made with that purpose In view.
Memorial Hall, with Its sacred memorie,
and associations, was not spared, and tn,
| whole Of the large brown stone stoOp leading
from the rear door W as inscribedin letters two
feet long with n sentiment not at all compli
mentary to Yale. The place is IL feet wide
aud the inscription, TO HI with Yale,
extends its entire length. The words wer'
| spelled ont In full and red lead was spilled
here and there about the steps in larg,
| patches.
The large massive oak doors Of Seye
Hall were distigured with large figures ,"9--S'
and "32," painted neal the top.
The Harvard boys were out in force, anC
genuine sorrow mt what had been done b,
some OF their foolish aud reckless c0mpan
ions was depicted on their faces, us was ais,
! intense Indignation.
II Ia the intention OF the students I,
raise subscription with which to dcfra,
the expenses which will he incurred In tn
work Of removing the plant from the place
disligurcd. This can only be done by ham
mering or chiseling the stone work, and
will be- tedious and necessarily expensive
Job. The students hope in this manner e
substantially show their regret and disap
proval.
While sevcralwere undoubtedly concerned
the lettering was unquestonsbly that of on
individual, as the same handiwork is di,tin
guishabc in each place.
\ fear prevails among the students, TO
greater or lesser extent, that the work o
Sunday morning may prove dcathblow {
sports at Harvard from which the ban Ia
been but recently removed.