THOSE COLLEGE HOODLUMS

NZ Truth, Issue 1173, 24 May 1928, Page 1

THOSE COLLEGE HOODLUMS

LADY: "A woman of gentle and refined manners." Gentleman: "A courteous, kindly man." So says, the dictionary. Unfortunately, it fails to classify the Canterbury and Wellington Training College students, their lack of manners, their crudities of speech and their total lack of all those finer points we expect to find m the teachers of our children. There was a tournament m Christchurch— one 0/ those series of games and dances, which, under ordinary circumstances, harm nobody, even although there are those who maintain that it is not at all edifying to see what are, m years, fully-grown- men, running about the city adorned with false noses, tiny straw hats and horn-rimmed glasses. Others, more tolerant, will forgive the gangs of near-students who roamed the t /n opling women and girls and who, m their own way, "lived" for the time being. A considerable number of these young gallants, at the thought of a squash shandy, became semi-intoxicated, the intoxication becoming all the more obvious when women students were among the spectators. • <■' It was on the Christchurch station;;' just before the departure of the Wellington students on the boat-train, that restraint was thrown to the wind and the public given a half- hour's display of how carefree the life of a training college student can really be. In a circle cleared for the bccasion,*two young bloods, only conscious of the fact that fair eyes watched their prowess, indulged m a passable fight. In the rush to obtain ringside seats, some students actually shoved two people right off the railway platform. A diversion was created by a couple of young "men" who pounded ukeleles and sang meaningless songs^ m; which they were assisted by a couple of women students (ladies?), who, m approved "Flaming Youth" style, swayed their bodies and gave an exhibition of dance-steps whilst their giggling soprano voices blended with those of the would-be motionpicture college-men. •.■■-■••. , It is almost unnecessary to add that the rush which took place when the train came alongside made the Charao of the Light Brigade a very tame affair by comparison. Women and children dM not count. The students, who, m mobs, travel at reduced rates, wanted seats. They got them. . ■.■■■■.■■• Women with children struggled through the carriages m search of seats. But the students sat very, very tight. In this, they were supported by a number of Waitaki college boyß who Were also lacking m elementary manhood, * 0