The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-13

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Chicago, ILL.,, Dec. 12-Professor Ala r.
Crook, professor of mineralogy and eco
nomic geology at Northwestern Uni
versity, and the man who three years ago
gained a worldwide reputation as one
who has neither drank. chewed, smoked
nor kissed n woman" is to he married,
but as yet he has declined to give the
name of the girl.
Discreet.y he spread the secret around
among those OF his fellow-professors whom
he believed would preserve it with equal
discreetness. but his confidence was placed
amiss and someone betrayed the knowl-
edge he had gained under solemn prom
ise. Then all Of his friends learned of it
and now he Is spoken of as ''the man who
had never been kissed
Publicity has been carefully avoided by
Professor Crook ever since he gained 80
much Of ii three years ago. Notwith-
standing the secrecy with which the name
Of his f1ancee is guarded. it is confidently
believed that she lives in Ohio.
WAS ENGAGED BEFoRB
It was declared among the students at
the time Professor Crook "spranE into
fame" three years ago that he was en-
gagged to marry a young woman from
Ohio, but that the ceremony was postponed
to avoid publicity. 1t Is rumored that the
projected wedding Is the finale Of that
betrothal.
According to the story. Professor Crook
conided to his class OF students on April
2s. 1901. information regarding his life:
81 never have in my whole life either
drank, ehewed. smoked or kissed a wom-
an
The report of Professor Crooks confes-
sion was at first confined to campus gos-
sip. There. however, 1t was accepted as
shield his opinions nor quibble with words
1t produced sensation. The professor
was bachelor of s.. with a Vandyke
beard. He never had been rated as a
On top Of discussion from platform and
pulpit Professor Crook began to receive
great bundles OF letters from correspond
ents who took an interest in the case.
Many We're from women. and while Pro-
fessor Crook never admitted It, Il was
said that among the epistles were several
proposals of marrfase.
FOREIGN PAPERS COMMENTED.
Professor Crook found in his mail one
day clipping from London newspaper
to mitigate the general wave of adverse
comment on the kissing" question. At
another time he received notices which
had crept into the newspapers in Peking
and In Calcutta.
During the genera; discussion of mis-
personal affairs. Professor Crook protest
ed and even denied the truth Of the story
regarding his reported confession.
II cannot answer questions he con-
sstently replied to his friends. but II it
is true that this is the source of 20 much
talk then. indeed. are We fallen upon de-
generate times
DENIES SPEAKING SUCH WORDS.
IT never have spoken to a class the
words which have been attributed to me.
As near as I can find out, the genesis Of
the story is that / was talking with
young man who had reputation for be-
ing wild. 1 WIS deeply interested in him,
as am in every young man and young
woman who comes before me as stu
derit. I assured him OF my deep soltci-
tation for his future it he persisted in the
ways he had adopted. He proceeded to
argue with ME and even quoted Luther:
Who loves not women. wine. and gong.
VIII live fool his whole life long.
"I lost patience and told him he was ut
terly wrong. He said that perhaps II
were to look back and remember some of
my old school days might have fellow
feeling for him. This called from me the
remark that II he were to follow me for
model. he never would drink. chew, lie or
fiirt with women. Afterwards, ] suppose,
this latter qualification was twisted or
construed into kissing woman"