The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-07-30
,os * 8. * sas lS q s,s a q II
THE ANARCHIST. /
By Prof. Bliss Perry. 1

more class in Greek, and had begun
some appropriate remarks about the
new college year, when the door of the
recitation-room was pushed gently
open. The class looked up, and turned
around.
On the threshold stood man of 26 or
27; stoop-shouldered giant. with
wide-brimmed, gray felt hat. an ill-fit-
ting black suit-planned as compro-
| mise between a prince Albert" and
cutaway-a long red tuft of chin whis-
kers, and narrow, imperturbable, visit
| full eyes. He glanced at me and took OIL
| his hat. For that one second the room
was absolutely silent.
I'm a freshman" he said, in soft,
southern voice. Freshman McRawney.
| Am in the right place."
~ rapturous, deafening howl from the
sophomores was his answer, and, alter
IL somewhat extensive experience, l
| confess that the reputation OF this par
ticular class for prompt and unanimous
action with the lungs was we'll deserved
The giant waited calmly till their
mouths were open for second breath.
Don't be afraid, boys" he remarked,
reassuringly. Pm not going to hurt
you." whereupon he bowed himself out.
| The sophomores looked at one an
other obviously and then at me, and
took advantage of their temporary dis
comflture by resuming my remarks
upon the opening year.
That evening had the pleasure of
call from Mr.. McRawney. lie was
kentucky Scotch-Irishman, it seemed,
who had strayed nothWard i'll search OF
better 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
ment. He was heavily conditioned IN
| Greek, never having had a teacher; but
in Latin and mathematics he was eX-
cellently prepared.
He had taught school for awhile, and
conversed with me about the profession
with companionableness that was de-
lightful His other occupations had
been numerous discovered incident
aIlv that he had tried his hand at store
keeping. preaching, editing a country
naper. and even serving on a police force.
| He stayed until midnight rambling on
about his experiences in his gentle,
uueer-cadenced kentucky voice. and
was sorry to have him go.
But wondered how this unsophis-
ticated. genuine child of nature would
fit into our artificial college world, with
all it's vanished conventions and long
established codes. Only two days later
he satisfied my curiosity on this point,
and won the title of 1.-The anarchist"
1t was Saturday afternoon and Nc
Pawney had started out to pay his re-
spects to the president. A crowd of
sophomores, lounging in front of the
college gate by the presidents house,
caught sight of the tall. ungainly fig
ure Looping toward them.
To their astonshment he was carry
ing cane; and what was, if possible, a
worse defiance of tradition, he had tied
knot of the college colors around it,
in the innocence of his heart.
They started for him IS or 20 of them,
couple of football men in the van.
Hold on, freshman!" called the leader.
"Hulo, boys!" said McRawney, be-
nignantly.
Drop that cane! Don't you know
that freshman can't wear the college
colors?"
In an instant the cane was snatched
from his hand and snapped into dozen
pieces. McRawney simply stared.
Now take off your hat to the sophie
mores!"
The freshman glanced smilingly,
questioningly, from one man toanother'
us 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" be 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 trousers!" called
some one derisively from the rear of the
crowd He glanced down at his shiny
black trousers, which indeed left a
couple of inches of white stocking visi-
BILE above his low shoes. The sopho-
! mores laughed and he realized that they
were guying him.
NO" he drawled, 81 reckon it won't
be necessary to turn up my trousers
! nor my sleeves, either;" and before any
3 body realized what was going to hap
pen, he had the leader by the throat and
the next biggest man by the collar
sweeping them both from their feet
) with his bull-like, forward rush, and
! before they could get their footing he
/ swung them apart to his full arms
length, and dashed their heads to-
gether.
The men had good thick mops of foot
ball hair. and thick, football skulls, but
they dropped like rags and showed nc
5 desire to get up again.
; \ ring of amazed and wrathful sopho-
!; mores was parted suddenly, and the
L white-haired president of the college
a rushed up to McRawney with an ex-
tilted: whats this? What's this;
What's this?"
The ScotchvIrishman, towering up tc
|. Ais full height above his PROSTATE foes
. replied blandly: II am waiting forsome
Q gentleman to pick up my hat"
o Now the president was gentleman
2 and genius. "Well. WE'LL" he cried
5 II will pick up your hat for you'll" and
3 he did.
2 The Kentuckian bowed very low anc
8 the sophomores availed themselves Of
= this interchange of civilities to disap
j pear around the corner, carrying theil
= fallen heroes with them.
s II was just about to call upon you
8 sir " said McRawneV