The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-10
FRANKS oE scHooLBoYs.
Demonstrations Which Enllven 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.
Surmounting the town hall, which is
of itself 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 edifice, but twice has the towns
statue of justice been tempered with,
and at rare intervals globe that towers
above the edifice 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 infammables are piled high, and
every preparation is made. Promptly
at the last stroke of the midnight bell
the pile is kindled.
About it, in concentric circles, is
gathered the entire school, who whirl
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 attractivenesc
to the demonstration. Soon q pro
cession is formed and to the music Of
drums, flies and horns, the boys go the
rounds of the professors homes, cheel
each and clamor for a speech, which
is generally given.
This demonstration of 1885 will moi
soon be forgotten in student annals
The fire had been held in the academy
yard, and the police authorities of the
town had given out that no demonstra
tions in the streets would be permitted
This mandate was unheeded, and thu
result was sanguinary conflict be
tween the school and the police, O
which large force of specials had beer
sworn in. All night the tide of battl,
surged furiously, with wavering results
Morning brought a truce, eagerly vel
coined by both sides. Black eyes anC
swollen heads were many, but, strang
to say, no one on either side was seri
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 tn
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 o
vandalism, not by the school as a body
but by individuals. One took plac
thirteen years ago, when the residence
of a clergyman, who had made publ
remarks deemed by the students un
called for and derogatory to studen
character was egged.-Exeter On. Fl.
Cor. Boston Globe.