7 HE HESPERIAN
which he had made companions. He lived to make the
world better and in so doing increased his own, happiness.
His life is an example to nil, and the name and memory of
Asa Gray will ever he cherished by every loyal scientist.
February 15, 1S88. Carrik hi. Pknnock.
.- MOOA'LItiM' EPISODE.
Mischief was brewing at Riverside institute. At least an
observer would have so thought had he seen the group of stu
cnls gathered in Fred Clemens' room one evening in Septem
ber, 1872. Eight young fellows were earnestly conversing,
often in an excited and indignant manner. It was 10 o'clock
at night and every light upon the upper floor should have
been extinguished at half-past nine; but the lights in Fred's
room were still burning. Blankets had been hung over the
windows to prevent the rays of the lights from shining
through the crevices of the blinds. Something of interest
was being planned, and discovery would cause suspension a't
least.
"It is a downright shame," said Will, "we are scarcely
allowed to look at the 'town' girls even when we meet them
at church, much less visit them on Sunday evening or go skiff
riding by moonlight, other evenings." It is almost full moon
now and a Mark' upon the river ought to be planned. This
new icgulation of the president, that no students shall be
allowed to leave their rooms after 8 o'clock in the evening
without special permission, is for the sole purpose of prevent
ing us from taking the town girls skiff riding. I am in favor
of going anyway if we can get away from the grounds without
being discovered." "Hut when shall wc go?" asked Fred.
"I suggest next Tuesday evening, for by that time the neces
sary preliminaries in regard to getting the girls' company
etc., can be arranged." "Agreed," answered the rest.
"Now, how can we get away from the grounds without the
night watchman seeing us?"
I will leave these plotters a few moments in order to make
a few explanations. Riverside institute was about half a
mile from M . The institute buildings were situated near
the summit of a high bluff that overlooked a large river.
The main building faced toward the river and the grounds
extended down to the water's edge. But the current was so
swift along the institute grounds, and so many rocks
obstructed the channel that students were accustomed to go
higher up the river while boating. They had been accus
tomed to take a short sail or row in the evening two or three
times every week, when the moon shone. But these moon,
light rides had recently been prohibited by the institute
authorities for the reason that the students had been in the
habit of rowing directly to the town and securing the com
pany of young ladies for the evening. The rules of the
institution required every student to be in his room by 9
o'clock, but the skiff rides had led to a number of infringe
ments of the rule, and evening boating had been prohibited,
but great dissatisfaction had been created among the students.
But to return to the eight students bent upon having a
moonlight excursion at all costs. Tuesday evening came.
The moon would rise about 9 o'clock that evening. The
night watchman would begin to make his rounds at half past
eight. I was necessary to escape from the building before
that time. It must be remembered that a number of stu
dents, among them the eight plotters, roomed upon the third
floor of the institute proper, while the other students occu
pied another building a short distance away. A high tower
had been built immediately over the west entrance of the
main building, (something after the fashion of the country
meeting house), and in it hung the bel. The tower was not
enclosed above the building, and it was the plan of the eight
plotters to get upon the roof of the main building through a
trap door and thence into the belfry tower. To descend
would be easy, but to get out after descending would be
apparently difficult. But just before supper, Will had driven
a screw into the keyhole of the outside door, and the janitor
had of necessity left the door unlocked.
About a quarter past eight, eight students might have been
seen clambering over the roof, into the belfry and thence to
the ground. In less time than it takes to tell it the eight
students were running down the bluff toward the town.
Soon four skiffs, each bearing two students with their young
ladies, were gliding up the river bent upon enjoying the
lark to the fullest extent. Soon the moon rose, and even the
students were charmed by the beauty of the river (?) by
moonlight. Soon after a song was sung, and unless you have
heard music upon the water, you can have no idea of its
charms.
Up, up the river glided the skiffs. It was not long until
the students began to wonder if a watermelon patch could
not be found. So the skiffs turned toward the shore and
four of the boys started in search of melons. Half an hour
passed and then away in the distance was heard a sound of
riot. Nearer and nearer it" came. Soon the four students
appeared each carrying a watermelon as large as a bucket.
The four students did not saunter up to the skiffs as if
they had plenty of lime.but came at a very respectable sprint
ing gait. They sprang into the skiffs and grasped the oars
in a hurry. Scarcely had the last skiff left the shore, when
an irate farmer and his hired man appeared upon the bank.
It was "almost but lost" with the former, but the students
were "saved."
Down the river floated the skiffs and the "rippling of the
riverwas mingled with the sound of revelry and the crunch
ing of the watermelon." The oars hung idly in the oar
locks. The skiffs drifted with the current at its will. Down
the river the lights of the town could be seen and as they be
gan to be extinguished, the students reluctantly grasped the
oars ane started homeward.
Soon the young ladies were safely inside their respective
gates, but the students had yet to pass the watchman at the
institute. When they reached the grounds, no watchman
appeared. A rush was made toward the entrance of the
tower. Alas! the watchman was inside! The boys turned
and fled. "Run around the building and then into the
entrance again quick: I'll hold the door shut while the rest of
you get a good start up the stairs," whispered Fred. Around
the building they ran, the watchman scarcely ten feet be
hind them. Into the entry the boys darted and Fred pulled
the door shut. He held it until the others had ascended the
narrow stairway some distance and then suddenly pushing
the door open upset the watchman who was pulling hard from
the outside. In an instance Fred was Jar up the stairs.
During the race around the building, the watchman had not
been silent by any means and every one had been aroused by
his shouts. But thr watchers in the building had rushed
down by the inside stairs. Thus the boys had a clear path
to their rooms even if the watchman was chasing them closely.
In a few minutes they had reached the trap door in the roof
hooked it from the inside and were Jafe. They reached their
rooms unobserved and then, partially disrobing, joined the
students who poured into the hall to ascertain the cause of
the disturbance. Investigation failed to discover the culprits
and the eight students secretly chuckled.
. By the time of the next full moom, the evenings were too
cool for comfort during skiff rides and the students
were not inclined to attempt similar expeditions until the
first VW been partly forgotten.