Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-20
A COLLEGE PRANK.

II OOlI1lLOL l. IVA N IN
Princeton graduates Of &C. years ago re-
member with affectionate regard Presi-
dent James A. Carnahan, who for many
years controlled the destluien Of that great
Institution. He was one Of The earlier of
Princeton's great heads, and his remains
now lie in the historic presidents plot in
the famous old cemetery whth holds like
wise the dust OF Wlthcrsponn, Jonathan
Edwards and his Ill fated son-in- law,
Aaron Burr.
President Carnahan, like most of Prince
toms heads, was Scotchmap, noted alike
for his austerity Of manner AMI goodness Of
heart. Unlike most Scotchplen, he had q
keen sense of humor, though with nation
oil pride, and perhaps not Wishing to Of
fend his fellow Scots, he kept 1t In the
background. He could be as savage
looking man as ever wore q tartan, but
down in his heart there was great udder
Of the milk of human kindness, which one
had but to press gently to find grateful
stream.
Boys were boys 80 years ago as they are
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 a different form. There were
then no boat racing, no football, no base
ball, no athletic sport to work off the su-
perf1uous animalism, and the boys had
their ingenuity taxed to find means Of d.
version. They would muff1a or steal the
clapper of the chapel bell, would smear
the blackboards with oil, would All up
Princeton's sacred Revolutionary cannon
shot holes in the walls of the old Nassau
with bird lime, with a picture Of Scotch
hen, with some kind OF cabling legend
above it. The professors wefb always get
ting it in some way. Peter Bogart, who
was a granddaughter of the 1lrst Freling-
huysen in America, was also q descend
ant of John Witherspoon. Flo was noted
as 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 4 close friend
and sympathizer with the boys In all their
sports.
One day in tho early thirties Mr.. Bogart
got gentle tip that the "boys" were 60
ing to play huge joke upon 1.-THE prex.
The boys had usually let President Carna-
han alone. His dignity ard his awful
voice had REFRESHING effecs upon youth
full 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 a 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 1t and then run it 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 flight of
steps that folded up when the doors were
closed.
On the night agreed upon the boys
stealthily approached the presidents car
riage house, and after much mystery and
silence reached its doors. They ought to
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 a long rope
to the carriage pole, and about 20 young
rascals lined themselves on the rope after
the fire fashion Of the day. They observed
silence until they got oil tho campus, but
when they struck the Nassau pike well out
Of hearing they got to work with their
songs and gibes and jeers. On the way to
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 sold Scotty
prex" found his carryall imbedded In the
ice. The night was very cold, and when the
boys reached the bank Of thu stream they
found it already frozen over, but dozen of
them with axes soon had a place broken
through, into which they trundled the
presidents carriage. Then they built 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 it's owner opened the car
riage 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 we'll caparisoned with fur. II
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 well born and
SO we'll brod a body of young men, willing
to haul his carriage about, md want to
add further that / appreciate keenly the
delight with which your various exercises
have impressed me. will add further
that between the kindly light Of tho moon
and my own knowledge Of the sound OF
most Of your voices / have pretty correct
list Of the names of the young gentlemen
to whom I am indebted for this distin-
guished honor. So now, my young friends,
If you will kindly reman tho rope we will
proceed on our journey homeward. We
have had pleasant time, and we have all
enjoyed 1t, know, but let us have no
delay, please, for the night Is very oold."
And there was nothing left for those
miserable crestfallen students to do but
man that rope haul the carriage out Of
the frozen creek and pull 1t home amid a
silence that could be felt.
DR.. Carnahan and his friend, Peter b.
CART, sat inside the carriage and chuckled.
But the president kept his word. He
knew every scamp engaged in the prank,
but he never again referred to the subject.
Who were on the rope that nightY Well,
five or more at least well known to fame
subsequently. W. G. Alexander Of the
Equitable Life Insurance company was
one, ex-Secretary Of War McCreary was
O. - q
sen another, ex-Minister to France VIII
liam D. Dayton yet another and ex- Gov
ernor Robert s. Green Of New Jersey was
thsyounsestof the iot.-Chicago Tribune.
He Sent.
Jigley-You said you would never 60
and see your girl again until she sent for
you, andInow hear you sent to her.