Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-01
GIRLS SMOTHER THE BOYS
Struggle Follows an Effort to Break
Up n NiRhtEOwn Party in a st.
PauI C0IIere.

A dozen youths, students of Hamline col
lege, ST. Paul, recently engaged in a close
range struggle with the co-eds of the in
stitution, clad in nightgowns, and we're
compelled to retreat after they had been
literally smothered in girls and pushed and
pulled about in n most heartless manner
by their fair opponents. With the girls
wearing only the scantiest of apparel, and
the boys decked out in Indian and tramp
costumes. the struggle was decidedly in
teresting one.
1t all arose over a nightgown banquet.
The co-eds had been planning for weeks
to enjoy themselves in a novel manner, and
elaborate preparations had been made. The
diningroom of Ladies' hall had been Sc
lected as the scene of the affair, and tables
had been surreptitiously prepared. The
greatest secrecy regarding the affair had
been maintained, but in some unaccounable
way 1t became known about the institution.
Shortly before midnight the girls In the
scanty costume which had been agreed on,
gathered in the lower hallway of Ladies'
hail. and when all were present marched
silently and in a body to the diningroom.
sight really shocking to the hungry
co-eds met their eyes. A dozen young In
dians and tramps were hurrying about the
tables and helping themselves to the deli
cacies. Though outnumbered three to one.
the marauders felt the strength OF their
position and boldly continued their depre-
dations Many of the more timid of the
girls tried to withdraw hastily, to hide the
scantiness of their attire, but their leaders
were more aggressive, and, after a brief
but exciting conference at the door. or
dered their followers to charge the bold
invaders.
And they charged. with a shout that
Ewoke the enthusiasm of the most back
ward the girls set upon the thieves and the
fun and fighting began. The Indians and
tramps, seeing the futility of attempting
to escape and realizing the interesting
side of the situation, hastily slowed away
what loot they had taken and united In
resisting their fair opponents.
But their efforts were of no avail. The
fury of the attack by the female brigade
was irresistible and each boy found him.
self surrounded by large and aggressive
crowd of angry girls. The invaders were
struck and jerked and pushed and pulled
about the tables. and then thrown on their
backs by the co-eds, who piled on top of
them and held them powerless. The girls
showed no mercy. and their enemies asked
none. One by one the boys were forced
to disgorge their plunder. and one by one
they were driven through the windows by
which they had entered.
In the meantime the tumult had awakened
the preceptress, who hurried TO the dining
room to discover the cause. When she ar
rived she found a situation that was
startling to say the least. Almost every
girl student residing at the hall was there.
Flushed with victory and content with the
signal defeat they had administered to the
boys. they declared themselves ready to
accept any punishment II allowed to pro-
ceed with the banquet.
The preceptress was lenient, however, and
told the girls that they we're the aggrieved
parties In order TO give the nightgown
party a semblance OF legality. she per-
rnitted the festivities to proceed