The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
VICTIM OF A KISSING YARN.
CASE or PROF. CROOk, THE
ALLEGED JNkISSED.
Much Annoyance and Some Loss 81 Prestige
Caused Ia Him by Joke started by
students In ReNenKea-Pain Given Later
10 His BetrOthcd From the SRme source


students In ReNenKe-Pain Given Later
10 His BetrOthed From the same Source
CHLLICoTHE, Ohio. Dec. a1.-This il the
story OF a joke which has caused good
deal of annoyance to its original victim
and which IL now causing annoyance 10
others. II started In this wise.
In 1901 Prof. Alga Crook holding the
chair OF geology and mineralogy at the
Northwestern University at Chicago, found
occasion 10 demonstrate with some Of his
pupils about their behavior. He found
fault with them for smoking and chewing
tobacco, for swearing, for drinking in
toxicating liquor, and above all, for sitting
in the dark corners Of the campus at night
and engaging in kissing bouts with persons
Of the other sex. Prof. Crook ia earnest
in his manner and he spoke directly and with
severity.
His words stung. To get even, some Of
the students started the report that Prof.
Crook had said that he himself had never
done any Of the things he referred to, with
especial emphasis upon the last one The
report spread. the newspapers got it, ii was
printed from end To- end Of the country,
and one morning Prof. Crook awoke TO
find himself famous in an unpleasant way.
The charge was peculiarly hard one TO
meet Nobody would laugh at him for not
smoking or drinking or swearing. but kiss
ing is different. When be denied the re-
port, people only laughed, II he had kissed
a girl, they wanted specifications He
was between the devil and the deep sea
Prof Crook was from .the outset at
disadvantage So the report grew and
30
lished were SO worded that they only served
to add to the power Of the joke Letters
poured in upon him, letters Of advice,
Of encouragement, of condemnation pro-
posals of marriage offers to initiate him
into the mysteries Of the kissing game.
II was hard enough to bear the annoy
ance caused by the joke directly but II
had other effects 1t affected in a measure
his prestige as a professor. II is even
declared that an offer OF advancement
which was about to be made to him was
held back.
Prof Crook bore W against the storm
as well as he could and hoped that it
would pass in time He devoted himself 10
an important work--the location Of the
source of the diamonds which have been
found from time 10 time in this country
borne from the north in the glacial drift,
His method Is simple enough-to gather
data about all the existing diamonds then
by following the glacial drift 70 trace them
to their common source, but II will take
long time Ia the working out.
Gradually the storm subsidized The world
forgot about him and turned 10 other
things
But the other day word went forth that
he was engaged 70 be married and the
kissing story was called up again. This
time the annoyance was not confined TO
him. The young lady to whom he was
engaged also suffered. such questions as
when and how Prof Crook kissed her.
or il he ever did, and how il felt were
sought TO be propounded to her She was
pestered for her photograph How much
she has been wounded in this way no one
knows but herself but any sensitive person
can imagine.
Prof Crooks father is presiding elder
Of the Methodist Church for this district,
and il was while on visit home last sum
mer that Prof. Crook met his betrothed
He is an enthusiastic tennis player and it
was at tournament that the introduction
took place
II was a genuine case Of love al first sight
and in a few weeks they were engaged
They were married on Wednesday Dec
y II was arranged that the Wedding
should b. 80 elaborate church one, but the
recent death 81 the brides sister caused
this plan TO be changed
The bride has been instructor OF music
in the public schools here for some yea p.
She is very attractive girl and Possesses |
a beautiful cont alto voice. Prof. Crook
himself Is a tall. good looking fellow He
is especially well educated. having rounded
ont his studies by a three years course in
the universities OF Germany.
His life was a very successful one until
this Joke was sprung upon hun Now,
whenever his name il mentioned some
one has this story 20 tell about him. and
in the laugh that follows his merits are
sometimes forgotten But his friends hope
that the end has been reached now.
The case reminds one Of that little story
by Guy de Mou. assant called The Piece
Of String
A peasant peroaive- a piece Of string
living IN the village street and -toops to
PICK it ur A. he puts II in his pocket he
notices Lis enemy looking at him from
neighboring doorstep. Ashamed at being
seen picking up so trivial an object he turns
hastily away in evident confusion
But pocketboolS has been lost and the
peasant Is arrested. charged with having
fond II.
In vain j. protests that il was only a ri. CT
Of string he picked up Nobody believes
him But a. there Is no other evidence
against him he is released.
He goes from friend 20 friend telling his
story. showing the piece Of string But
they all Urn away He is an outcast
He tolls his story TO strangers TO any one
who will listen Practical iokers get lin 10
toll il 10 ann SO them a. soldiers are urged
10 tell the story OF their battles His mind
struck at the root, grows weak he takes to
his bed. at last he dies. clurchng the piece
of string, protesting his innocence in his
10 one who fools with that deadly thing
practical Joke. can toll where IL will end
-----