The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-08-06
FRANKS OF soHooLeoYs.
Demonstrations Which Enllvon the Spring
Terms at Phillips Exeter.

Demonstrations Which Enliven the Spring
Terms at Phillips Exeter.
Many and peculiar are the customs
and demonstrations which enliven the
spring term at Phillips Exeter, in which
an exuberance Of youthful spirits, class
feeling and school enthusiasm find full
vent.
Surrounding the town hall, which is
of itself II building of no slight height,
is towering dome, upon which stands
q colossal statue of justice. One night
In 1888 two daring spirits, at the immi'
nent peril of life and limb, contrived to
reach the goddess, and gorgeously ar
rayed her The feat was a nine days
wonder, and those who achieved it
won for themselves and their class no
slight degree of fame.
This was the beginning of a series OF
contests, in which each class strives to
plant some emblem on the dizziest
height attainable, and to resist all eff
forts to remove it. Doughty and fire.
quent have been the struggles thus en-
gendered, but with rare exceptions they
have been waged in good natured If
intense, rivalry, The vantage point
has generally been the tower of the
school edifce, but twice has the towns
statue Of justice been tempered with,
and at rare intervals globe that towers
above the ediflce of Robinson Female
seminary has borne evidences of stu
dent visits.
But perhaps the most remarkable,
and at least the most attractive of all
demonstrations, is the bonfire which
enlivens the last Monday morning OF
the school year. AS Sunday evening
wears on students, CARRIED in the queer
est and most fantastic apparel that can
be devised, gather in knots upon the
streets. Cordwood, tar barrels and
other in1ammables are piled high, and
every preparation is made. Promptly
at the last stroke of the midnight bel
the pile is kindled.
About it, in concentric circles, il
gathered the entire school, who whir
and dance in the din OF cheers, shouts
horns, crackers and cannon until forced
to desist by sheer exhaustion. A dis
play of fireworks lends attractivenesi
to the demonstration. Soon q pro
cesson is formed, and to the music O.
drums, flies and horns, the boys go The
rounds of the professors homes, chez,
each and clamor for speech, which
is generally given.
This demonstration of 1885 will no
soon be forgotten in student annals
The fire had been held in the academy
yard, and the police authorities Of TIN
town had given out that no demonstra
tons in the streets would be permitted
This mandate was unheeded, and tn
result was a sanguinary conflict be
tween the school and the police, o
which large force of specials had BEEF
sworn in All night the tide of battl
surged furiously with wavering results
Morning brought truce, eagerly we
coined by both sides. Black eyes an,
swollen heads we're many, but, strang
to say, no one on either side was ser
ously hurt. This was indeed remark
able, as clubs and billies had been free
ly used. Several students were arrest
{ ed, but suffered little for defying til
: majesty of the law.
Not often have the boys gone to yer
great excess in the way of mischief
but there have been occasional acts {
, vandalism, not by the school as body
4 but by individuals One took plac
thirteen years ago, when the residenc
Of clergyman, who had made publ
remarks deemed by the students III
g called for and derogatoIy to studer
II character, was egged. Exeter IN. II
c Cor. Boston Globe