Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-08-15
A COLLEGE PRANK.

dent James A. Carnahan, who for many
| years controlled the dostinies of that great
| institution. Ho was ono Of tho earlier Of
Prinoeton's great heads, and his remains
| now Ito In the historic presidents plot I'm
tho famous old cemetery which holds like
| wise tho dust OF Withcrspoon, Jonathan
Edwards and his Ill fatcd son-in law,
| Aaron Burr.
President Carnahan, Ike most Of Prince
tons heads, was a ScOtchman, noted alike
for his austerity OF manner and goodness Of
heart. Unlike most Scotchmcn, he had n
keen sense Of humor, though with nation
al pride, and perhaps not wishing TO Of
fend his fellow Scots, no kept IL In the
background He could be M savage "a
looking man az ever wore n tartan, but
down In his heart there WAS great udder
OF the milk Of human kindness, which one
had but 10 press gently to find u grateful
stream.
Boys were boys 30 years ago as they nre
today. Princeton's boys Of that period
were no worse than they are now and no
better. Their pranks In those days, how
ever took different form. There were
then no boat racing, no football, no base
ball, no athletic sport to work off the SUI
poriluous animalism, and tho boys had
their ingenuity taxed to find means Of di-
version. They would muflie or steal the
clappor OF the chapel bell would smear
the blackboards with oil, would 1ll up
Princcton's sacred Revolutionary cannon
shot holes In the walls Of the old Nassau
with bird lime, with picture Of Scotch
hen, with some kind OF cackling legend
above It, The professors were always get
ting Ii In some way. Peter Bogart, who
was grandnephew OF the first Freling.
huysen In America was also descend
ant OF John Witherspoon. He was noted
as a man with two sides to his nature. He
was curator OF the theological seminary
and an intimate friend of President Car.
nahan. He was likewise q close friend
and sympathizer with the boys In all their
sports.
Ono day In the early thirties Mr.. Bogart
got gentle tip that the "boys" were go.
ing to play huge joke upon "the prex"
The boys had usually let President Carna-
han alone. His dignity and his awful
voice had q REFRESHING effect upon youth.
ful spirits and by common consent 1t was
not considered advisable to monkey with
the stalwart Scotchman.
1t was the week before Christmas, the
weather being very cold, when Mr.. Bogart
gave his chief quiet hint that the boys
were going on certain night at certain
hour TO take his family carriage out of its
house, run It down to Willow creek, two
miles away, there hold certain orgies and
festivities over it and then run II into the
creek up to the hubs to be frozen In solid
before morning. The boys thought 1t
would be rare fun to see "old prex" and
his coachman cutting the carriage out with
axes the next morning. The carriage was
one Of the old fashioned. strap hung We.
hicles, with tight doors and a flight of
steps that folded up when the doors were
closed.
On the night agreed upon the boys
stealthily approached tho presidents car.
riage house, and after much mystery and
silence reached It's doors. They ought tc
have been little puzzled to find that the
door was slightly ajar, but they were prob.
ably too excited to notice that. They
swung the door open, attached long rope
to the carriage pole, and about 20 young
rascals lined themselves on tho rope after
the fire fashion of the day They observed
silence until they got off the campus, but
when they struck the Nassau pike well out
Of hearing they got to work with theil
songs and gibcs and jeers. On the way tc
the creek they frequently stopped the car
riage to gather about open TASKS of apple
jack and with great glee picture what was
to happen next morning when "old Scotty
prex" found his carryall imbedded In the
Ice. The night was very cold and when the
boys reached the bank of the stream they
found 1t already frozen over, but dozen OF
them with axes soon had place broken
through, into which they trundled the
presidents carriage. Then they built a big
fire, unloosened some more applejack and
sang a lot Of college songs. They were just
about to detach the rope from the carriage
and proceed homeward when every moth.
er's son Of them found himself transfxed
to the spot.
"Young gentlemen, said great and
majestic voice as its owner opened the car.
riago door and let down the folding steps,
II am exceedingly obliged to you for the
pleasure Of an enjoyable evening"" 1t was
President Carnahan, wrapped in huge GOV.
ering and well caparisoned with fur. ~
don't know" he continued, with wither.
ing sarcasm, but pleasant voice, "when
have had so enjoyable a ride. 1t is rare
indeed that a man Of my years can call
into his personal services so we'll born and
so well bred body of young men, willing
to haul his carriage about, and want t.
add further that l appreciate keenly the
delight with which your various exercises
HaNe lHpreSseu Ine. Will auu Iurtne1
that between the kindly light of the mooL
and my own knowledge of the sound OF
most Of your voices have pretty correct
list Of the names Of the young gcntemen
to whom 1 am indebted for this distin
guished honor. So now, my young friends,
II you will kindly reman the ropc we will
proceed on our journey homeward. We
have had pleasant time, and we have all
enjoyed 1t, / know, but let us have nl
delay, please, for the night Is very cold"
And there was nothing left for those
miserable, crestfallcn students to do but
man that rope, haul tho carriage out OF
tho frozen creek and pull 1t home amid
silence that could be felt.
DIR. Carnahan and his friend, Peter 30.
gart, sat inside the carriage and chuckled.
But the president kept his word. He
knew ovory scamp engaged In the prank,
h,,t hn t.x tI,.