Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-30
Hlfste' lantDas.
Priscetons Old Cannon.
A SOURCE OF Fun TO THE ''SoPHs" AND
ANNOYANCE TO THE FRESHMEN.

A SOURCE OF Fun TO lHE oOfHo AMI
| ANNOYANCE TO THE FRESHMEN.
The approach of the Commencement
season is being manifested in all depart
ments of the college. The Class Day
Committee is Fastening preparations TOT
the ..cannon exercises" which constitute
one of the most entertaining and promi
pent features Of Princeton Commence
ment Week. just a. old Nassau Hall has
witnessed the growth and changes OF the
college for more than century. 50 the
old cannon has been an important observer
of all the freaks and celebrations in which
the collegiate spirit has participated. This
cannon is SITUATED IN the centre OF
quadrangle formed by Nassau Hall and
| East and West Colleges. and here it has
remained buried, mouth downward. since
1893. For many years past it has been
the custom to hold the class day exercises
around this old relic. On this special oc-
casion IL is to receive coat of black paint,
and will be inscribed with the year OF the
graduating class II will be surmounted
with a pyramid OF flowers, and upon it
will be broken the old time class pipes.
| Around it for this special occasion an
amphitheatre OF seats sufficient to accom-
modate an audience of 1000 spectators
has been built. Here are to be delivered
the presentation speech, the prophecy.th the
class poem and history, and here the class
ode and "Old Nassau" are 10 be sung.
In the Fall the cannon becomes prom
inep, factor of college life Its dress OF
gold and black is turned into one Of bright
green. in order to welcome the verdant
Freshman and keep before him his posi-
ton in the college world. And the only
manly and proper thing for the Fresh
to do is to burn this stain from the cannon
and from his name. Hence results the
well known Fresh" fire, which task is
usually undertaken in the small hours OF
the night 10 order to elude the vigilant
Sophomores. whose study it is to keep
the Freshman away from the cannon. So
during the first two weeks of the full term
il is no uncommon thing to be aroused
from sleep by terrible cries of Fresh
fire, Fresh fire." From the window
there is seen mass of students surging
about a struggling bonfire When the
Freshmen succeed in building their fire
they are regarded as worthy Of place in
college affairs Then. too. the old cannon
always is the scene of conf1agration, when
the Princeton's men have been successful
in the intercollegiate games. Last fall, at
the time of the PrincetonH Harvard football
game, the telegraph office was closely
watched. and the moment victory was an
nounced from Cambridge, students flew
ab, ut and gathered material from all
ouarters-From President McCosh's fence
to the smallest plank-and built an inn
II. ID
The history of the cannon is lost in the
past. 1t was left near Princeton at the
close of the Revolutionary war, and, like
all the English guns. bore the mark Of
the crown. This particular one was the
largest of many, and for long time stood
on the present site of East College, until
the carriage under it gradually rotted
away Here it remained until 1912,
when it was made to play a part in the Sec
ond war with England. This time it was
taken up to New Brunswick, mas
much as British squadron appeared on
the Jersey coast and it was feared that
New Brunswick was in danger. At the
close of the war Princeton claimed her
cannon. but no attention was paid to the
request, and finally the Princeton Blues
congregated in front of the First Presby-
terrain Church one Sunday morning in
July 1886, and decided to restore the can
non that night. They armed themselves
and started out with wagons for New
Brunswick. After some skillful maneuv-
ering they gained possession of the gun
and returned with it to Princeton. where,
after elaborate preparations and cere-
monies. it was planted where it now re-
mains.
About 40 feet from this big cannon
stands the little cannon" as it is COM
monty termed. This also was left in
Princeton at the close of the Revolution.
and served as a post at the corner of
Nassau and Witherspoon streets till the
Glass of SO took it from its place and
brought it on the campus, planting it near
the big cannon. In 1871 the Rutgers Col
lege students plotted to get possession of
one of these guns, and on the 26th OF April,
1875, while the Princeton students were
absent during vacation. a number of Rut-
gers students dug up the small gun and
bore it in triumph back to New Brunswick
On the return of the Princetonians the
cannon was missing, and intense excite
ment was aroused, The Rutgers men
were savagely threatened. and matters as
sumed critical aspect. The college sent
two of its Professors as committee to
consult with the authorities of Rutgers,
which resulted in the return of the gun.
1t was afterward placed and chained in its
present position. In this way these old
caunons have acquired much interest and
played an important role in the history OF
Princetown College life.-N. Y. Times.