Page:The Fraternity and the College (1915).pdf/197

 and widely advertised onslaught upon the theatrical business in the down-town district, the faculty, or the Young Men's Christian Association, or the Students' Union, or some well-intentioned organization at the University planned on the back campus a seemly well-ordered celebration and exhibition of approval by the undergraduates, following a baseball victory, with the idea of bringing about reform. Boxes and other inflammable débris were hauled to a proper place, the celebration was put in charge of a number of upperclassmen, and after dinner the student body gathered in a quiet and sober way to look on at the conflagration, and to listen to the yelling. Everything was orderly, and the enthusiasm was well under control. Standing near me was a young freshman who watched the flames of the bonfire unemotionally, and joined mechanically in the cheering. The performance was to him evidently dull. As the flames died down, the cheering ceased, and the crowd began to disintegrate, he turned to a companion, his face for the first time lighting with interest. "Now this thing's over," he said, "let's go down town and raise hell." He had caught, he imagined, an idea of real college spirit. College loyalty to him was best expressed through destruction and upheaval, a point of view, unfortunately, in no sense unique; he had missed the respect for