A CAMBRIDGE “RAG.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2050, 10 April 1907, Page 1

A CAMBRIDGE “RAG.”

An almost incredible story appears in the London papers about Mr. Keir Hardio’s stormy visit to Cambridge. A daring scheme was drawn up to kidnap, the Socialist leader, and to place a bogus Keir Hardie on the platform, who was to talk nonsense. AVith this object one of the undergraduates was disguised as Mr. Hardie. It was a very realistic disguise, but unfortunately it was so realistic that a number of the undergraduates

mistook the bogus Hardie for the real one; and despite his protests, seized him, locked him up in a room, and went in search of further fun. The double escaped from his prison by means of a rope, but by the time he made himself known to the leaders of the conspiracy, the real Hardie had arrived at tho hall. The behaviour of a section of the undergraduates at the meeting was about as bad as it could be. The platform was bombarded with oranges and lumps of sugar ,alid vials of chemicals wore thrown about. A bottle containing sulphuretted hydrogen was hurled through a window and caused a stampede. The appeals of tho chairman and a police inspector for order had no more effect than Mr. Hardie’s rcmai'ks that it was easy for twenty men to'howl down one, but tliere was not much honor in the job, and that Labor looked to the Universities for instruction in good manners. It was not until the Senior Proctor appeared on the platform, and appealed to “the honor of the University” that peace was restored, and Mi*. Hardio was able to speak. At the first mention of the word Socialism, however, the disorder was renewed, and ultimately the platform party had to retire under a fusillade of sugar. Altogether it was a disgraceful business, but Mr. Hardie did not seem to mind it much. He told a London interviewer that all the trouble was caused by some thirty undergraduates split up into three parties. “Tho general body of the undergraduates —there were a large number of nrofosors present too—were in no wvy to blame for the rowdyism,and scores of them came to me afterwards and expresed their regret at what had taken place. I believe the disturbers hoped that their tactics wou.d lead to a town and gown row.” Several of the undergratuates wrote to the Daily Mail justifying the “ragging” of Mr. Hardie. “One of tho Hooligans” says that the incident was “an expression of the abhorrence generally felt throughout the University of the man who could greet as friends and brothers the Zulu rebels.”—Press,