The Washington herald., 1908-03-18
PAY FOR THEIR FUN
Ringleaders of Georgetown
Dismissed for Lark.
OTHERS ARE KEPT III BOUNDS
Denied Permission TO Keep Up ST.
Patrick's Day Customs, Nearly En-
Parades-Thirty Names Scratched
from Roll OF the Institution.

French leave" was taken yesterday by
$50 students of the academic department
Of Georgetown University. bent upon pay
ing honor to Ireland's patron saint. hom-
age which took the form OF an impromptu
parade through the streets of the city.
There may be thirty vacant chairs in
the classrooms this morning as an after
math Of the escapade. Also. for the next
six weeks. or until the Easter holidays
have passed, the faces Of the ''rah-rah''
boys will be conspicuous on F street by
their absence on Wednesday and Satur-
day afternoons.
The thirty empty places will represent
thirty collegians selected for slaughter as
horrible examples. Their names have
been erased from the rolls Of the college.
Those less guilty-bejng merely sheep
and not shepherds in the processlon-will
spend ions time gazing across the
waters OF the Potomac trying TO memorize
the first, thousand lines Of Homer in the
original where he tells Of the famed
Achilles.
Hope for the Culprits.
All this because the boys disobeyed the
mandate Of Father David Hilhouse Buel.
S. J.. rector Of the university. But as a
prominent Georgetown alumnus said last
night:
Il haven't the least doubt but what
Father Buel has determined to expel the
ringleaders. When he remembers ne was
once boy. III wager he will forgive and
allow them to escape with less punish
ment."
From time immemorial the boys OF the
Blue and Gray colors have enjoyed a
holiday on the feast day OF st. Patrick.
Accordingly. on Monday night they laid
plans for celebrating
A delegation waited upon the reverend
rector The boys stated their desires. in
voked time-honored custom. and related
anecdotes OF other days. Especially did
they dilate upon how the rushes between
the freshmen and sophomores were ar
ways the main event of the day. and how
the victorious class led the annual parade
through the streets of Georgetown.
Not Proper Lenten Observance.
Father Buel refused.
1T is Lent. he is reported TO have said.
7 cannot see my way clear to allow you
boys a holiday"
The delegation was then dismissed from
the Office. Immediately there was a meet
ing Of the clans. The classes held secret
meetings
Monday night. after dinner representa-
tives Of every class. from the dignifed
seniors to the Special Latin little fellows.
assembled on the campus. There they
were joined by others, Soon cat calls and
other yells that only college lungs can
give rang out on the heights OF George
town
The boys were aroused. They were not
afraid to vent their feelings. The COM
pany was formed aud the plot laid.
'Hoia-hOia saxa" boys 10 the number OF
l50 yesterday morning rushed from the
college and down the street
Lecture Rooms Deserted.
Vacant were the classrooms. Erudite
professors. when they entered the lecture
rooms. were greeted by an unaccustomed
silence Not a chair was filed. Prac-
tically every lad able to walk was in the
parade.
Through the streets Of Georgetown
marched the students, singing and shout
ing. Seeking new fields. they started for
the city proper. Just when the F street
prom was at its height they appeared
on the scene.
It was sight too dazzling for ordinary
mortals. and the lads did not stay too
long in one place. After showing them
selves to the f street promepaders. the
students hit the higa places along the
Avenue and then, tired, started for
home
Conscience Makes COwards.
But the return march was not so jo-
vial. They did not advance in file, but
went home singly and in twos. II was
not valiant host any longer Esprit
de corps had disappeared. The boys en-
tered their rooms as silently as the dark
ness of night
But fate had already been mated out
to them BY ways known only to them
selves. the reverend fathers had learned
the ringleaders' names
1t was decided to impose the severest
punishment. Accordingly their names
were erased from the rolls.
To do the same ia all the paraders
would have resulted in Georgetown Col
lege becoming deserted college. Accord
ingiy. the minor cuiprits were placed 'on
bounds