The Van Buren press., 1897-07-03
THE ANARCHIST.
BY Prof. Bliss Perry.

Gses : q 1a . sSss3etss
TT was the first day of the fall term.
had just assigned seats to the sopho-
more class in Greek, and had begun
some appropriate remarks about the
new college year, when the door of the
reeitation-room was pushed gently
open. The class looked up, and turned
around.
On the threshold stood man of &c or
n; stoopshouldered giant, with a
wide-brmmed. gray felt hat. an lift
ting black suit-planned as a compro-
mise between a prince Albert and
eutawaya long red tuft Of chin whis-
kers, and narrow, imperturbable, visit
full eyes lie glanced ut me aud took off
his hat. For that one second the room
was absolutely silent.
I'm freshman" he said, in soft,
southern voice. Freshman MeRawney.
Am in the right place."
\ rapturous, dcafening howl from the
sophoInores was his answer, and, after
Il somewhat extensive experience, |
confess that the reputation of this par
ticnlar class for prompt and unanimous
hetion with the lungs was we'll deserved,
The giant waited calmly till their
mouths we're open for second breath.
don't lie afraid. boys lie remarked,
renssuringlY. I'm not going to hurt
YOU" whereupon he bowed himself oft.
The sophomorcs looked at one an
ether obviously and then at me, and
took advantage of their temporary dis
oomiiture by resuming my remarks
upon the opening year.
That evening had the pleasure of
call from Mr.. McRawney. lie was a
Kentucky Scotch-lrishman, 1t seemed,
WHO had strayed nothward Ia search of
"A "bctter school" Why he came to us
could not learn, though he was courteous
enough TO hint that he had been drawn
by the reputation of the Greek depart
ncnt. He was heavily conditioned in
Greek, never having had a teacher; but
ia Latin and mathematics be was eN-
cellently prepared.
lie had taught school for awhile, and
convcrsed with me about the profession
with companionnblcness that was de-
lightful. His other occupations had
been numerous. discovered incident
ally that he had tried his hand at store
keeping, preaching, editing country
paper, and even serving on apolice force
lie stayed until midnight rambling on
about his experiences in his gentle,
puccr-cadenccd Kentucky voice, and
Was sorry to have him 90.
But | wondered how this unsophis.
iicated, genuine child of nature would
Sit into our artificial college world. with
Ill its vanished conventions and long
established codes Only two days laier
he satisfied my curiosity on this point,
and won the title Of the anarchist.
II was Saturday afternoon and Me-
I,nwney had started out to pay his re-
spects to the president. a crowd of
sophemores, lcunging in front of the
college gate by the presidents house,
caught sight OF the tall, ungainly fig
urc Looping toward them.
TO their establishment he was carry
Ing q cane, aud what was, if possible, q
worse defiance of tradition, he had tied
u kftNl vi tAlt NAAlNFN NoARi AibAhh -
in the Innocence OF his heart.
They started for him IS or 20 of them,
:. couple of football men in the van.
''Ilold on, freshmanln called the leader.
"IIullo, boysl" said McRawney. be-
nignaa9g.
Drop ma, cane. Don't you know
Tint a freshman can't wear the college
coors?"
In an instant the cane was snatched
from his hand and snapped into dozen
pieces. McRawney simply stared.
Now take of your hat to the sopho-
mores!"
The freshman glanced smilingiy,
qaestioningly, from one man toanether,
as If there were some joke which he did
not quite understand. His wide
brimmed hat was promptly knocked
into the gutter. He stopped smiling.
SAY" he yentured. with that soft. up
ward lift in his voice which they mis-
took for plaintiyeness, that's the only
hat have. Pick it up
"Oh turn up your trousersl" called
some one derisively from the rear Of the
crowd. lie glanced doWn at ms SHINY
black trousers, which indeed left u
Soupie oil inches Of white stocking ,isi-
BILE above his low shoes. The sophie
azores laughed and ne realized that they
were guying him.
40" he drawled. Il reckon it won't
be necessary to turn up my trousers
nor ms sleeves. ether" and before any
body realized what was going TO han
pen. be had the leader by the throat and
;hc next biggest man by the collar.
sweeping them both from their feet
aiih his bull-lilc. forward rush, and
'cforc they could get their footing he
SWING ;hcm apart To- his full arms
rnRih. and daahcd ihcir heads To-
gether.