Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-06


recent pranks are worse than idiotic They
are criminal. The recent acts of vandalism
and theft have led to the patrolling Of the
college grounds both at night and day by
special detectives, but their efforts have
not been productive of the desired results.
Not only have the students conducted
themselves riotously, but they have desc
Grated several of the college buildings,
have removed historic relics and even have
stolen valuable Instruments. While these
acts have been done in conformity with
the requirements of initiation into the sew
eral secret societies there has been a GRIM
inal intent shown which in an outsider
would be punished by Imprisonment. But
Harvard men are shrewd-at least they
appear 90, for none of the participants in
these recent acts OF vandalism has been
Deutschland the detectives have been un-
able to discover q single clew that would
lead to their identification.
A short time ago drafting instruments
valued at 81, 200, which had been stolen
from the old gymnasium, were returned,
and the famous Louisburg cross, which for
90 years surmounted the gable of the libra
~ and which disappeared one dark night,
were returned as mysteriously to the libra
rian.
in huge letters of red Of the words 'sNor-'
toms Pride" on the mosaic work of the
Fogg Art museum, being a "grind" on
Professor Norton, and the painting of the
college seal in crimson on Gray's hall,
with the words, "To hi with Yale" are
laid at the door Of the secret society known
as the Med. Fac, whose requirements Of
initiation are that the neophyte shall do
some act for which. If detected, ne would
be brought before the police court or ex-
PEELED from the university.
The drafting instruments were stolen
from the gymnasium one dark night few
weeks ago, the neophyte climbing to the
| roof Of the building and gaining entrance
through a window near where the instru-
ments were kept in a case. The theft hav-
ing become noised about, the instruments
were returned by mail, the sender paying
postage on 40 packages at 10 cents each.
The Louisburg cross was brought from
Canada by Governor Shirley in 1745, hav-
ing been taken from cathedral there dur
ing the invasion. 1t hung for years on the
walls Of tho college buildings, and when
one Of them was burned early in the cen.
tury the cross was recovered from the ruins
and placed on exhibition in Gore hall.
About 20 years ago it was gilded and
placed on the gable Of the library, where
1t remained undisturbed until q few
months ago, when it was wrenched from
it's position. It becoming college gossip
that the cross had been seen in the room
of one Of the secret society leaders, steps
were being set on foot to search the sew
eral dorInitories, when one morning las
week the librarian, on going to open tn,
building, found the relic hanging to thu
doorknob, with note attached, ascribins
its disappearance to the A. p. AS.
Besides all the pranks, there have beer
numerous ludicrous initiatory require
ments at Harvard Of late, to which tn,
faculty does not take exception so long q
, no brutality is shown. The only recen
cases Of brutality marked have been tn,
. tying of a neophyte to the railing of tn
bridge over the Charles river and leavinI
him blindfolded to shiver all night in tn
', cold and the shooting Of a blindfoldet
!. man on q sled down the shoots into tn
icy waters of the miniature lake.
Among the ludicrOus exhibitions hav'
been the skimming of dust off the snow il
the college yard, the playing Of hand or
gans, the making Of Temperance addresse
on the street corners and the parading il
burlesque costumes.
There is great rivalry this year between
the D. f. E. 8, otherwise known as the Dick