The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-16
A COLLEGE PRANK.

dent James A. Carnahan, who for many
years controlled the destinies 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 which holds like
wise the dust of Witherspoon, Jonathan
Edwards and his Ill fated son-in-law,
Aaron Barr.
President Canadian, like most of Prince
toms heads, was Scotchman, noted alike
for his austerity Of manner and goodness Of
heart. Unlike most Scotchmen, he had a
keen sense of humor, though with nation
al pride, and perhaps not wishing to Of
fend his fellow Scots, he kept it in the
background. He could be as savage a
looking man as ever wore a 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 a grateful
stream.
Boys were boys so 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 different form. There were
then no boat racing, no football, no base
ball, NO athletic sport to work off the su-
perfuous animalism, and the boys had
their ingenuity taxed to find means Of di-
version. They would muf1e or steal the
clapper of the chapel bell, would smear
the black boards with oil, would fill up
Princeton sacred Revolutionary cannon
shot holes in the walls of the old Nassau
with bird lime, with picture of a Scotch
hen, with some kind of cackling legend
above it. The professors were always get
ting it in some way. Peter Bogart, who
was a granddaughter of the first Freling-
huysen in America, was also a descend
ant of John Witherspoon. He was noted
as man with two sides to his nature. He
and an intimate friend of President Car
nahan. He was likewise close friend
and sympathizer with the boys in all their
sports.
One day in the early thirties Mr.. Bogart
got gentle tip that the ''boys" We're go
ing to play a huge joke upon ''the prex. j"
The boys had usually let President Carna-
han alone. His dignity and his awful
voice had a REFRESHING effect upon youth
full spirits, and by common consent it 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 a quiet hint that the boys
were going on a 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 it and then run it into the
before morning. The boys thought it
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 the presidents car
rio Oft nd
silence reached its doors. They ought to
have been little puzzled to find that the
! door was slightly ajar, but they We're 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 off the 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 Hold ScOtty
| prex' found his carryall iInbedded in the
| ice. The night was very cold, and when the
boys reached the bank of the stream they
found it already frozen over, but dozen of
them with axes soon had place broken
through, into which they trundled the
presidents carriage. Then they built big
| fire. unlOOsened some more applejack and
! sang 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 transf1ed
to the spot.
"Young gentlemen" said a great and
majestic voice as its owner opened the car
riage door and let down the folding steps,
81 am exceedingly obliged to you for the
| pleasure of an enjoyable evening" 1t was
President CarEahan, wrapped in huge Gov
ering and well caparisoned with fur. 81
don't know" he continued, with wither-
ing sarcasm, but pleasant voice, "when l
have had so enjoyable a ride. 1t is rare
indeed that a man of my years can call
into hiS1persOnal services so we'll born and
SO well bred body of young men, willing
to haul his carriage about, and l want to
add further that 1 appreciate keenly the
delight with which your various exercises
have impressed me. l will add further
that between the kindly light of the moon
and my own knowledge of the sound OF
most of your voices L 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 remain the rope we vii
proceed on our journey homeward We
have had pleasant time, and we have al
enjoyed il, 1 know, but let US have ~
delay, please, for the night is very cold. "
And there was nothing left for thos
miserable, crestfallen students to do bu
man that rope, haul the carriage out o
the frozen creek and pull it home amid
silence that could be felt.
DR.. Carnahan and his friend, Peter 30
CART, sat inside the carriage and chuckled
But the president kept his word. II
knew every scamp engaged in the prank
but he never again referred to the subject
Who were on the rope that night2 Well
five or more at least well known to fam
, subsequently. W. G. Alexander Of til
Equitable Life Insurance company va
, one, ex-Seeretary OF War McCreary wa
another, ex-Secretary of State Frelinghuy
sen another, ex- Minister to France Wi
har nd q