Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-19
PRINCETON'S CANNON.
ITS COATS OF PAINT ARE VARIED
WITH THE SEASONS.
A Source OF Fun to the "Sophs" and An.
noyance to the Freshmcn-HistOry
Of the Cannon-Thc Lit
tic Cannon"

[Ccr New York Timesl
The approach Of the commencement Sea-
son is being manifested in all departments
of the college. The class day committee Is
Fastening preparations for the cannon ex-
ercises," which constitute one Of the most
entertaining and prominent features Of
Princeton commencement week Just as
old Nassau hall has witnessed the growth
and changes Of the college for more than
century, SO the old cannon has been an i'm
portant observer Of all the freaks and cele-
brations in which the collegiate spirit has
participated This cannon is situated in the
center Of a quadrangle formed by Nassau
hall and East and West colleges, and here 1t
has remained Hurled, mouth downward,
since 1888
For many years past it has been the Gus
tom to hold the class day exercises around
this old relic. On this special occasion it is
to receive q coat Of black paint and will be
inscribed with the year Of the graduatin.
class. 1t will be surmountsd with pyra-
mid Of flowers. and upon it viii be broken
tho old-time class pipes. Arouni it for this
special occasion as anphitbeatre of seats
sufficient to accommodate ar audience Of
1900 spectators has been built Here are to
be delivered the presentation speech, the
prophecy, the class poem and history, and
here the class ode AMI @Oh Nassau" are to
be sung
In tine fall the cannon becomes prominent
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 position 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 nama
Hence results of the well-known "Fresh" fire.
which task il usually undertaken in the
small hours of the night in order to elude
the vigilant Sophomores, whose study 1t Is
to keep the Freshman away from the can.
non. SO during the first two weeks OF tho
full. term it is no uncommon thing to DO
reused from sleep by terrible cries OF -Fresh
fire, Fresh fire,' From the window there is
seen mass of students surging about
struggling bonfire. When the Freshmen sue
coed in building their fire they are regarded
as worthy Of place in college affairs
Then, too, the old cannon always is tho
scene of conflagration when Princeton's men
have been successful in the intercollegiate
games. Last fall. at the time Of the Prince
ton Harvard football game, the telegraph
Office was closely watched, and the moment
victory was announced from Cambridge
students flew about and gathered material
from all quarters-from President McCosh's
fence to the smallest plank-and built m
immense fire around this revolutionary relic.
The history Of the cannon y lost in the past.
1t was left near Princeton at the close OF
the revolutionary war, and, like all the
English guns, bora the mark OF the crown
This particular one was the largest Of mnny,
n
site OF East college until the carriage
under it gradually rotted away
Here It remainsi until 1912. when il wal
made to play part in the second war with
England. This time it was taken rp tS
New Brunswick inasmuch as British
squadron appeared Oh 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 con
gregated in front of tine First Presbyter
church one Sunday morning in July, 1895
ami decided to restore the cannon tina,
night They armed themselves and started
out with wagons for New Brunswick.
After some skillful maneuvering they
gained possession Of the gun and return ed
with IL TO Princeton, where. after elaborate
prepArations md ceremoniea 10 vas pisnte'
where il now remains.
About forty feet from this big cannon
stands the little cannon as il Is com
monty termed This also was EFF in Prince
ton at the c.ose Of the revolution, and served
Is q post at the corner Of Nassau and With
erspoon streets till the class OF 80 took il
on the campus planting it near the big can
non In ISL tie Rutgers college student
plotted to get possession Of one of these guns
and on the 18th of April, 1873. while the
Princeton students were absent during va
cation, . number Of Rutgers students dug "
the small gun and bore II in triumph tad
to New Brunswick
On the return of the Princetonians ,hi
cannon was missing. and intense excitement
Vas aroused The Rutgers men were saw
aSely threatened. and matters assumed Z
critical aspect The college ssn: two Of IL
professors q, a committee TO, consult viii
| the authorities Of Rutgers. w6ich resulted II
the return Of toe gun It vas after ~ard
placed and chainst in its presGnt pos.non.
In this way these old cannon have acquired
much interest and played an important roS'
| h tie history Of Princeton college life