The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-06-05
SHAMELESS CONDUCT.
Disgracofu Vandalism at Harvard
University.
Five college Buildings Daubed and The
Founders Statue Disfgurcd.

Vandalism Of the most disgracelul charac'
Ter was perpctratcd NJ fair Harvard, sun
day, June |, in the early hours OF the morn
Ing, completely surprising the most out,
rageous aud widest pTsnks Of the most
reckless students of days gone by.
High carnival was held by q large mGori'
ty Of the students during the Saturday night
previous, IN honor Of the success ot their
fellows on the Diamond and field, and ilar-
ward square was the scene OF much hilArity
from early eve Till long after midnight, the
students perching ON the fence about the
yard aud lining the streets In knots.
The students hilarity, stimulated by
eopious draughtS Of The cup that inebriate.
as well as cheers, was not to be crushed, and
like a small army, as Il literally was, the
crowd of Harvard youths bctoo6 themselves
to the college campus, where they were safe
from immunity, as far rs the police was con-
cerned.
Here huge bonfire was kindlcd and fed
with all manner Of fuel. including great
beams, barrels and tubs which came from
and were gathered by the young athletes
from no one knows where.
One excited youth, not satisfied with the
fire produced by the stack Of timber. pulled
off his costly dress coat and tossed II into the
flames, exclaimng: Blaze and burn
brightly, ye honorcd fire, and reflect TO the
heavens fair Harvard's triumphs.h
Some time after midnight saturday and
carly Sunday morning the work Of The
vandals commenced. With red paint and
brush, one Of the students, prompted by
sold Nick" proceeded on adisgraceful tour,
daubing the handsome buildings here and
there with the inscriptions III, 8; Y, 81
and the figures $50" the latter indicating
the number of points made by Harvard in
the Mott Haven contest, while the other in.
scriptons stood for the score in the Harvard
and Yale ball game.
The buildings thus disfgured were Bowl,
ston and Sever Halls, Appleton Chapel, the
College Library and Memorial Hail.
T The worst act of all, and, in the minds OF
many, approaching sacrilege, was the
in the triangle composing portion 81
the grounds about Memorial Hall. The
face of the founder of the college
was besmeared with red paint, as
was the body, legs and chair in
which the figure sits, rs well as the repre-
sentation of books in the background Of the
statue. The statue rests upon q handsome
and massive granite base, and this was GOV,
cred with the same significant numbers and
letters which disiigure the buildings.
The inscription, .'Jobn Harvard, Founder,
1922 was nearly obliterated, with the fig.
ures 1889" about is inches long and several
inches wide On the left side were III. Q,
Y. s." in equally large letters, ard in the rear,
"S-g' covered the space. The paint Is thick
and thoroughly dried inland 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 If an attempt had been
made with that purpose in view
Memorial Hall, with its sacred memories
and associations. was not spared, and the
whole of the large brown stone stoop leading
from the rear door was inscribed in letters two
feet long with sentiment not at all compli.
mentary to Yale. The place is II feet wide
and the inscription. TO HI with Yale,
extends its entire length. The words were
spelled out in full, and red lead was spilled
here and there about the steps in large
patches.
The large, massive oak doors of Sever
Hall were disfigured with large figures, "9-S'
and 49, painted near the top.
The Harvard boys were ont in force, and
genuine sorrow at what had been done by
some Of their foolish and reckless compan-
ions was depicted on their faces. as vas also
intense Indignation.
1t is the intention of the students to
raise subscription with which 10 defray
the expenses which will be incurred in the
work of removing the plant from the places
dishgurcd. This can only he done by ham.
mering or chselng the stone work, and il
will be tedious and necessarily expensive
Job. Tie students hope in this manner "a
substantially show their regret and disap
| proval.
While several were undoubtedly concerned
the lettering was unqucstionably that of one
individual as the same handiwork is III tin
| gnishablc in each place.
A fear prevails among the students, to-;
greater or lesser extent, that the work o.
| Sunday morning may prove dcathblow Il
| sports at Harvard, from which the ban bal
| kCrD hut recnntlV removed.