The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-08-10
THE HAzING OF VALIANT



ties owed the freshman by the sopho-
more class, as Hall talk was due them
from the upper-class men another
good old custom now dcfunct). you had
only casually TO drop word TO fresh
man on the way to recitation to wait
for you when night came, back OF
Witherspoon as you would bid class
mate 70 come 70 a spread in your room
and he would turn up promptly and
smilingly, take his little dose meekly
and chcerfully. and go to bed better
boy for II and brag about IL every time
he dined out Ia Christmas holidays.
But all that is changed now.
Even in the days of which this is
written, which were only comparative
ly modern times, one had TO play a
very careful game TO do any hazing.
The freshman was beginning to hesi-
tate about putting out his light when
you yelled up at him from the street.
People were putting strange notions in
his head. lie was beginning to think
he had a personality. They were tell
ing him he had rights
Twice had Buckley waited near the
house where Valiant ate his dinner.
But It's quite light after dinner in Sep
TENDER. He had gone to the house
where he roomed. and asked the land
lady if any OF the gentlemen wanted
TO join the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION. But that. like the Nassau
literary and Princetonian subscription
list game, had been played out; the
door was closed in his face. Then, for
three successive nights. he waited in
an alley near by, and on the third
night the freshman came, but with
him an upper classman friend.
Buckley said things and kept in the
shadow, but the freshman had good
eyes and said, as he took out his keys:
"Oh, is that You, Mr.. Buckley? Why,
how do you do? Aren't you coming up
20 see me?" That was horribly fresh.
mot now, " Buckley growled. (Which
is your room?' Excusing himself from
the upper classman, who was enjoying
oil this, the freshman led Buckley into
the alleyway and pointed up at the
wing of the house. 1t was large
one and many people lived in 1t. "That
room up there, next TO the one with
the light in It, seeg" he said, in polite,
friendly tones. This was decidedly
fresh
Buckley said he would come up later
on in the evening. which, OF course. he
had no intention of doing, and saying
good night" good-manncrly enough,
he SUNK off, and the freshman took his
friend up the stairs, which smelled of
damp carpets.
The next night Buckley got his gang
together. They blew smoke into one
nnother's faces and decided that lit
tie exhibition Of oarsneanship in basin
OF water with toothpicks would do TO
warm up with. Then cross-country
jaunt would be appropriate, running.
walking, and crawling TO the canal.
Here, as the freshman was proud of his
shape. he would be given an opportu-
nifty OF displaying 1t while the moon
reflected in the water. And IL no felt
cold after that, he could climb tele-
phone pole for exercise they didn't
want TO be inconsiderate OF his COM
fort-and sing; Nearer my home to-
day, to-day, than / have been before, !"
at the top of it, Then with few reci-
tations and solos on the way back he
could be put TO bed This would be a
good nights work.
1t was nearly two o'clock when they
carried the ladder into the alleyway.
They laid IL down in silence.
For several reasons this was TO be
right ncrvy go. A young professor
and his young wife had suite Of
rooms in the house. But IL wasn't that
which troubled them. This was: The
moon shone full and strong upon the
clear, black wall of the house, and IL
was In plain view from certain spot
distance of about two blocks away.
Across this spot certain owl-eyed
proctor was pretty sure TO pass and re-
pass off and on ell night.
This was the reason they were sit
ting on the ladder waiting for signal
from Colston, who was over by the
certain spot watching for the certain
proctor.
''lsuck, which is the freshman's
ROOM"
ut was the one next TO the light,
and the light was in the room over the
side door"
second or third story?'
'Sist! not SO loud. Why, let's SEQ
the third"
Yes" said TEnincs; don't you see
tho windows open up there. None of
the family would do that"
buckley started up. The others
leaned against the bottom round 10
steady IL; then he came back for
moment Don't take IL away until
get all the way in--until / wave my
hand. There's plenty Of time. Keep
COOL he whispered, as nc ninbly be-
gan his ascent. For his descent he
was TO rely upon the stairs, the fresh
inan. and his own persuasive powers,
Tor what are freshmen and stairs made
for?
The ladder did not quite reach. and
he had 70 stand on the top round and
reach for the sill. Then he pulled him
Hclf uD. got one foot over took n lonOer