New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18
True Story of College Prank
BY E r n EST IN GER SOIL

10 see him were standing.
Well what's the rush,
They've got mixing of it."
"No?"
Pact Hawley heard Jones and Is
that other big Soph talking about -
something sure tomorrow night and x
/ guess it's out & -
We must put it Off" said Clarke, !! -
the third of the trio. - J
- But if they've got the scent,
Hawley objected. and find themselves
fooled the first time, they'll watch like hawks all
the rest OF the term
Then it must be done tonight" said Scofeld
decidedly.
You're right" Hawley declared. 1t would
do TO miss It, and | afraid this is the last
chance. They won't suspect US to-day in this RAIN
but if they begin to watch out from tomorrow
that's the end of freedom from spies
This ringing off the rust an old custom in
that college where freshmen and sophomores were
as usual, nveterate rivals and constantly teasing
one another.
All freshmen felt it their duty to get hold of the
college bell sometime in the last fortnight of the
class-Vear and set II going furiOusly at midnight,
breaking the peace of the village at hour de-
hghtful to mischief-nakers. The faculty were
righteously opposed to this traditional prank,
which they could never prevent and the SOphOmoreS
pretended to be so scandazed at it that they in
variably and sincerely offered assist the author
ities TO the utmost in frustrating these wicked
dOngs This year the sophonnoreS were especially
Jealous because they themselves had been able to
ring their rust off right royalty, and thought it
would be double glory if they could defeat their
SUCCESSORS.
Get the other fellows, and be at my gate on
the stroke of eleven, said Clarke the three young
consprators separated.
That night most favorable The
sky was densely black with clouds, whence
a sort OF Scotch mist was falling. Few persons
in this Observation-Disclosures little town
were abroad as seven or eight Tnuffled figures
crept silently along the side OF the shady
street and stole across the campus
Hawlev, Clarke and Scofeld, leaving the
Others on guard, entered the cellar of the chapel
and CROPPED their way up to the gallery. Close
beside the chapel stood a tree too large and
straight TO be climbed from the roots since its
FIRST large limb did not fork of until It reached
the level OF the gallery windows. This tree
lowered over the roof OF the chapel beside
the belfry.
Behind the rear seat in the gallery lay
long light ladder, used by the sexton IN clean
ing the tall windows. By raising the lower
half Of the window and lowering the upper one,
the young fellows, by the aid of a rope passed
over the top sash, succeeded IN lodging
the farther end Of the ladder in the crotch
Of the elm, thus making strong bridge. Then
they scrambled steadily along the outreaching
limbs, and one by one dropped safely TO the
roof OF the chapel
All this time not a sound had disturbed the
stiffness Of this drizzly summer night. The
pickets might be there they might have
gone home for all that the boys could hear
Evidently both the faculty and the Sophs
had thus far been caught mapping. Not a
light was TO be seen in the village except one
glimmering window IN the direction OF the
president house
Il spect Prexy' is studying the theory
Of Kant" whispered Scoheld, as he hoisted
himself from the ridge-pole into one of the