The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-09-03
From The College Courant.
College Life of Gen. F. P. BLAIR. jr.

As the press has been circulating
statement in regard to Mr.. Blair's con
nection with Yale College, we have pro
cured from the pen of one of his class
mates at Yale, assisted by one of his class
mates at Princeton, the following sketch
of his college life. We have nothing t.
do with politics in our paper, and VIZ
publish the following sketch only as /;
matter of interest to our readers of botl
parties. We ask that no paper, for politi
cal capital, will quote any isolated pas
sage and credit it to our editorial opinion
Francis Preston Blair, Jr., third son
of Francis p Blair, was born in Lexing
ton, Ky, Feb. 10, 1921. His father was
graduate of Pennsylvania University
KY, and editor from 1880 to 1885 of the
Globe, which was the organ at Washing.
ton of the Democratic party during Gen
Jackson's Presidency, and for many years
afterwards. His oldest brother, Mont.
gomery Blair, is well known as the Post
master General in President Lincoln s
Cabinet.
L. 2. Blair, Jr., entered the Freshman
class in Yale College in the fall of 1887.
He had the honor of presiding at the
first meeting of the class, which held
probably on the Saturday afternoon fol-
lowing their organization, for the pur-
pose of choosing the leaders of the class.
For many years previous to 1887, this
officer, who presided at the meetings of
the class, and led them when they march
ed in procession or engaged in fight
with the town boys, was called the "Bul-
ly )" the second officer, or subordinate
leader, usually one of the smaller men,
bers of the class, being called the "Mi-
nor Bully but in all the higher classes
then in college, there had been warm
contests in regard to the use or disuse of
these names. The "Bully" party (me-
brace all the Southern and wild young
men in eachclass, as well as the New Ha-
ven students and conservatives general
ly), earnestly advocating the continuance
of the accustomed name, and the "Chair-
man" party composed principally of the
more sobre portion) asearnestly advocating
the substitution of some other name
for this which was so suggestive of fight
ing.
In the class of 1888 the "Chairman"
party had the majority, and the class was
divided into rival factions. A similar
controversy disturbed the class of 1910,
especially during the Freshman year
but the class Of 1S41 was declared by Mr..
Blair to have majority for "Bully" at
this frst-meeting, and henceforth there
was no more controversy In the class as
to the name.
This conclusion was not reached, how
ever, without strong opposition. Mr..
Robinson (now How. Wm. E. Robin
son, NJ C.,) particularly Distinguishing
himself by his championship of the
Chairman" party, aud provoking Mr..
Blair to utter the threat that he would
leave the chair and horsewhip the unac-
commodating opposer of his policy, at
which threat, though not carried out Mr..
Robinson appeared to be by no means
intimidated.
Mr. Blair's labors in the class were
unexpectedly terminated near the close
of the first term, in consequence of his
participation in some disorderly nocturnal
scenes at Christmas, which were speedily
followed by the decision of President
Day and other members of the faculty to
Suspend" Mr. Blair and some others from
the privileges of the college.
Mr.. Blair's connection with the Uni
versity of North Carolina, which followed
his departure from Yale, is understood to
have come likewise to an untimely end,
in consequence of his unlawfully shoot
ing pig His third attempt was more
successful, as he passed through the col
lage course at Princeton, N. j., with the
class of 1s4l, though even here he fail
ed of obtaining his degree with the rest
of the class on account of disfguring the
face of fellow student A few years af-
terwards Mr. Blair refused to take his
degree when it was offered him by the
college authorities.