THB NBBRASKAN
16
HOW IT HAPPENED.
II Y A SENIOR.
Many long years ago, before men were as wise as
they are now, there was situated in the Great American
Desert a magnificent institution of learning. This
school was thronged with a motley crowd of good,
bad, and indifferent. The good boys and girls loved
justice, honor, fair play, and common decency. The
bad ones desired anarchy, confusion, and hair-cutting.
The indifferent cared for nothing outside of self, and
were always with the successful side.
One day the elite of the institution, the honest, up
right, liberty-loving, the superior class the class on
top desired to peacefully assemble as they arc guar
anteed the right to do under the constitution. They,
accordingly, came together as peaceable, intelligent
citizens for certain lawful purposes.
Unfortunately for the reputation of the aforemen
tioned institution, the bad class of its students, the
wicked-minded, the plunderers, the rioters, the kid
nappers, the guerrillas, and the hoodlums that cle
ment with which society has always been cursed was
filled with envy and jealousy at the thought of any
thing good being done in its midst. To show their
anarchistic tendencies, they determined to strike down
their unsuspecting victims in cold blood. In the se
crecy of their closets a most elaborate but most nefa
rious scheme was concocted. Their dreaded rivals
were to be annihilated.
Kvil-mindcd people always work in the dark. Their
deeds cannot stand the test of the pure sunlight. So
when "darkness had settled over the earth," the ma
rauders surrounded the assembly hall of their oppo
nents and proceeded to make all manner of hideous
noises and to threaten to demolish the building. They
did not know exactly what they were there for, but
they demanded blood, canes, and hair.
Recognizing that the meeting must proceed at all
hazards, the Grand Mogul, his soul filled with self
sacrifice, and longing for his " patent leathers," de
liberately and with malice aforethought, surrendered
himself to the infuriated mob on condition that the
crowd would disperse. The rough clement could not
appreciate such heroic action, but gladly made away
with their victim.
This circumstance only whetted the appetites of the
beseigers. They became more furious than wild bulls.
Frightful bcllowings, such as characterized the Huns
of old, arose from their midst. To show what they could
do, they broke into the building and deliberately stole
the clothes of their enemies. These they scattered by
the wayside and wrapped dead bodies in them to
frighten old ladies.
The anarchists wont from bad to worse. Invading
the building, they deliberately tore one of the gentle
men from his fond lady without even a parting word
or token, and hustled him off to his doom. They laid
vile hands on others, smashed chairs, windows, and
locks in their fiendish glee just for the privilege of
paying for the damage.
Nevertheless the meeting progressed. Chagrined at
their unsuccessful attempts, the fiends sailed in to
trounce their foes. In the presence of the ladies the
conflict raged. There is nothing that can withstand
the uprising of an intelligent, law-abiding people,
when once their rights have been abused. Inspired by
the righteousness of their cause and the presence of
their ladies, the enroused class tossed their foes about
like kittens. Although outnumbered two to one they
soon had the building clear.
The assailants did not recover from their unexpected
repulse for some time. They did not dare make an
other open attack, but decided to adopt a barbarous
method of pouncing upon their prey under the most
disadvantageous circumstances. They accordingly
concealed themselves behind trees, rocks, and buildings
and waited for their victims. After the night was
nearly spent, they finally realized that their prey had
escaped in spite of all their vigilance.
All crimes must be atoned for. The next day thj
mob was not very conspicuous around the old college.
The participants in the brutality of the night before
were repenting in sackcloth and ashes. Some of them
were busily engaged writing apologies and getting
signers as secretly as possible. Others were raising
funds by subscription, sufficient funds to pay the dam
ages which the law required. Those not engaged thus
were busily telling how sorry they were it had happened
and that they had had nothing to do with it.
The papers of the community circulated broadcast
the news of the "scrap," md the humble apology of
those who participated in the disgraceful affair. The
students of the ins'.itut'on recognized the insult that
had been given to the most dignified and most learned
body in their midst, and eagerly criticized the action of
the disorderly ones. To-day the defeated party go
around with long faces and downcast eyes, avoiding
every honest man the' see. They did as well as could
be expected of them. They have seen the error of
their ways and are trying to reform.
M