The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-02-14

ni,,s u,, Diouse.
"Ha! then lie, eh?" exclaimed the
third class "man."
THAT, or thereabouts," replied the
shock-headed "pleb.' "Fix it to suit
Yourself But don't get gassy with
me. or I'll have to hand you a poke"
mouthed at the understood ''pleb" for
his hardihood in thus addressing a
third class IMAM
you'll have to fight me for. that,
SIR" said the third class ''man," en-
deavoring to make his voice sound
ferocious.
you're on" was the shock-headed
"pleb's" reply. "The more the mer-
rier. When do you want yours?"
Now" said the third class "man,"
not quite SO confidently. and in about
two minutes they had squared off at
each other. The third class "man"
was of about the same proportions as
the large "pleb," who still lay dream
ing on the grass, but he was quicker
on his feet. However, that fact didn't
avail him two cents worth. The un-
dersized ''pieb" pranced into him from
the drop of the flag, and the rataplan
of jolts that he planted all over the
third class imam" for a couple of
minutes. while the latter never got in
lick, was sure caution to pythons.
1t wasn't half as much a caution, how
ever, as the way the undersized "pleb"
suddenly drew back, when he ceased
to extract amusement from basting
the third class "man" all over the
latter's person above the waist line
and planted his left on the third class
mans" right ear. The third class
"man" toppled over like sack of
oats. while the party of amazed ca
diets rubbed their eyes and wondered
if it could all be true-for the just
thrashed third class ''man" was the
top-notch bully and fighter of West
Point.
The cadet onicer who had been so
outrageousiy ''insulted" by the vic
torious undersized "pleb'' on the
parade ground was the first to re-
cover.
"Seize him." he commanded his six
mates still on their feet. e'
wait a minute put in the shock
headed "pleb," backing away bit,
his blouse hanging over his arm.
'What for this seizing?'
'Sirrah, 'pleb,'" replied the cadet
officer with an attempt at impressive
ness. sit is the custom here to take
the conceit out of 'plebs. You are
to be 'braced' and exercised and
'spread-eagled' and 'bucked and
gagged and soaked under the pump,
and then you are to drink pint or
so of tabasco sauce with your tailow
candles and raw onions. and follow
that up with few Kerosene cocktails,
and you are to announce that you like
these things"
''Oh, am. hey?" said the shock
headed ''pleb," brushing little spot
of dust from his blouse. ''Thatll be
nice. BY the way, who's going to
have all this fun with me?'
''We are" replied the cadet officer,
advancing upon the understood ''pleb."
closely followed by the others.
The code OF ''honor" in vogue at the
West Point military academy among
the cadets forbade any of the latter
from mentioning what happened just
at this juncture, but plain soldier
Of engineers, WAC saw the whole per-
formance from behind a little knoll
a short distance away, has told about
it. The cadet officer didn't get hold
of the undersized ''pleb" at all.
Neither did any of the Others. He
knocked them down like nine-pins.
AS soon as they scrambled to their
feet he knocked them down again.
After being knocked down the second
time. they all remained down. quite
Indifferent to what was going on
around them. Then the undersized
"p1eb" strolled around the laid-out
ones, gave each OF thesn good swift
kick where kicks are customarily ad-
ministered and strolled away. Nine
cadets did hospital stunt on the
sick report of the West Point military
academy for periods varying from ten
days to three weeks after that night.
A large delegation of Terry McGov-
ern's friends met him when he
stepped off the gangplank of the
West Point boat in New York on the
following night.
''This hazing game" remarked Ter
ry-who had been designated cadet |
by Sporty congressman just for
a lark. and to see what would hap
pen to the featherweight--"tth this haz-
ing game isn't such much of a hard
proposition. It's eastern giving ex-
hibition bouts any time. It's bully
way to keep in training, at that. I'm
going to try now to get Mr.. Amos ].
Cummings to have me appointed to
Annapolis. like being hazed."
Note.-There are numerous "pipe !
dreams" that could, with both profit
and poetic justice, be converted into
realities. Star.
Anxious.
"Your wife's just met with seri-
Uug Hccidrrt, " -SFi,I.seas !. said ths