Morris tribune., 1895-08-14
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THE HAVING OF VALIANT
BY JESSE LYNCH WILLIAMS.


from the upper-class men (anothe
good old custom now defunct), you ha'
only casually to drop word to fresh
man on the way to recitation to wal
for you when night came, back o
Witherspoon-as you would bid class
mate to come to spread in your room
and he would turn up promptly ant
smilingly, take his little dose meekly
and cheerfully. and go to bed bettel
boy for it and brag about it every tim'
he dined out in Christmas holidays
But all that is changed now.
Even in the days of which this il
written, which were only comparative
ly modern times, one had to play {
very careful game to do any hazing
The freshman was beginning to hest
tate about putting out his light wher
you yelled up at him from the street
People were putting strange notions in
his head. He was beginning to think
he had 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 subscriptions
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, MIR. Buckley? Why,
to see me?" That was horribly fresh.
mot now, Buckley growled. (Which
is your room?" Excuslng himself from
the upper classman, who was enjoying
all this, the freshman led Buckley into
the alleyway and pointed up at the
wing of the house. It was a large
one and many people lived in it. "That
room up there, next to the one with
the light in it, see!' 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-mannerly enough,
he skunk off, and the freshman took his
friend up the stairs, which smelled Ct
damp carpets.
The next night Buckley got his gang
together. They blew smoke into one
another's faces and decided that lit
tie exhibition of Craftsmanship 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 it while the moon
reflected in the water. And, if he felt
cold after that, he could climb a 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
good nights work.
It was nearly two o'clock when they
carried the ladder into the alleyway.
They laid it down in silence.
For several reasons this was to be
right nervy go. A young professor
and his young wife had suite of
rooms in the house. But it wasn't that
which troubled them. This was: The
moon shone full and strong upon the
clear, black wall of the house, and it
was in plain view from certain spot
distance of about two blocks away.
Across this spot a certain owl-eyed
proctor was pretty sure to pass and re-
pass off and on all 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.
Buck, which is the freshman's
room?"
cit 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 see
the third"
Yes" said Haines; don't you see
the windows open up there. None of
the family would do that"
Buckley started up. The others
leaned against the bottom round to
steady it; then he came back for a
moment. Don't take it away until I
get all the way in-until I wave my
hand. There's plenty of time. Keep
cool" he whispered, as he nimbly be-
gan his ascent. For his descent he
was to rely upon the stairs, the fresh
man, and his own persuasive powers,
for what are freshmen and stairs made
for? ~, e- ~
Ee The ladder did not quite reach, and
he had to stand on the top round and
reach for the sill. Then he pulled him
self up, got one foot over, took longer
grip on the inside of the window,
dragged the other foot up, as you would
climb high board fence, and was in
the room with both feet. He leaned
out and waved his hand. The top of
the ladder silently swung out from the
wall ana sxvOopad down in Silapco