Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-08
BOYS WILL BE
BOYS, YOU KNOW
V. M. l. Alumni Talk of Re-
cent Dismissal.
THE CASE A SERIOUS ONE
They a,IDepIore the Action ofthe stu
dents ana say they should BE pun
isicd, but Would Like TO Sec tho
Poor Fellows Rcinstnted- Anci-
dents OF college Life Other Mnt-
tcrs of Interest.

terest is felt concerning the final result
OF the Dismissal OF the first class 4 few
days ago for conduct bordering on in
subordination. There is but one opin-
ion, however, and that is that the class
should be severely punished for their
breach of discipline. but there is also a
vein OF pity among these eX-students
for the boys who are in such serious
trouble. While these gentlemen deplore
such conduct, ana condemn it in no
uncertain way, yet they hope that the
spirit of punishment may be accom-
plished and the penalty SO abridged
that reinstatement may occur and the
offcnsc dealt with in such n manner
as to leave n lasting effect. The fact
that the students have been dismissed
is in itself great humiliation. they as
sert, and is regarded as nevertheless
forgotten lesson. but some of the alum
nj think that if the men are reinstaied
and rcprimanded ana made to promise
not 10 do so again in n public apology,
that the object of punishment WOULD
then be thoroughly accomplished.
ALWAYS IN FOR FUN.
OF course it Is well known that most
an NDlluss lneu, Wneil OIL III GD!tSSe. arc
in for all kinds of fun ana amusement,
and While these irclinations often lead
them into trouble. in nearly every case
the offense is not of the heart, but
simply over-anXiety for fun and prac-
teal jokes. There is possibly not an
alnmnus in the state but who some
times during his college career took
briught down the professors blight.
but it is very doubtful if any real
wrong was ever intended.
or course there is Il nigh moral tone and
code OF honor among the pupils, and
very often these little affairs can never
be traced to its source. The whole class
Is usually pledged TO protect each
other. ana the incidents of fun and
tricks that are played very often have
TO go unpunished
This, however, does not mean that
the colleges do not try to ferret out
these JOKES. because they always do,
and, as rules are very strict when :,
fellow is caught he is sure TO be dealt
with according to military discipline
and the college rules regarding such
offences.
The recent case, though. seems to be
or most serious nature, in that the
class had been called up and told very
positively not to do the thing they did.
and then the fact that it was the Sc
NOR class makes the offcnse all the
more deplorahle, as the officers knew
better and should not have acted as
they did.
WHAT THE ALUMNI SAY.
Judge Martin of the Law and Chan
Gerry Court in conversation on the sub
ject, said:
The case in question is a most de-
ploraDle one. and those taking part In
IL should he punished. but it seems 10
be pity that the entire class. with one
exception. should be permanently dis
missed"
When questioned as to Franks and
Jokes OF college boys. the judge smiled
as his memory took him back to the
days when he was climbing the ladder
OF fame ut the V. NJ l. with n Latin
grammar under one arm ana a musket
on the other
toys VIII be boys" he said. land off
at college they often play pranks on
each other and also on the teachers
NJ.
dealt with pretty severely. I remem
neF case where Il practical joker was
never caught, but the subject of his
prank paid pretty dearly for it. 4 man
on guard duty was walking his beat
on the back piazza of the building. In
me course of his rounds he had to pass
lil!',m,S,d!ately in front of four pieces OF
artillery. One of the pupils, in thu
darkness of the night nut n bIanl
cnarse IN the cannon. and then. wait
me MS chance. fired it Just as the sen.
cry was Immediately in front of tho
great gun The shock was SO severe
thal the man was knocked down hut
not much hurt. During the excitemnnt
me cuiprlt escaped. but the sentry was
punished for not detecting the scholar
who did the shooting"
MR. G. TAYLOE GWATHMEy
Mr. Gwathmey talked very interest
ihSly ABOUT the incidents that hammer
eh WINE ne was at Lexington. lie said
me most serious thing that occurred
WIS lhe blowing up OF the magazine
d tnIn5 that was greatly dcplored-ond
mao me corps of cadets ever discover
e -, VINO ana IL they would have Joined
me professors in Diminishing the mon
lie asserted that the scholars yora =,
ways up TO some innocent pranl, ,,u+
very often they were caught ana deoi,
with pretty severely. lie said the u7cst
amusing incident that he couId "a.
member was one occasion when sentrv
poN was oioWn over with the guard in
~; leatioiy lrightening the poor fellow.
There was at the time n band Of ..>Jo,I,
MaSuiies at the college. and tbny
were up TO all sorts of Jokes and 80
puehtiy NTed bombs off at the doors NJ
the professors rooms. They wera ,ar,
smart and were awfully hard 10 catch
w with. e"'c"
SOME or THE OTHERS
Mr. w. Fl. White was found in bis
Office, but was suffering very much VIII
a bad attack OF grip. He said no was
at the institute during the war az ths
states and the boys were thinking too
mrch ABOUT serious affairs TO think
very much about personal amusarnante
They found time and inclination hnw
ever to indulge in such actions some
times. ''o'i'e-
Nh. Walter II Taylor said thn.