The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
AMHERsrs ENC GODDESS
Tho idol "sabrinn ~ .yvoruhipped by the I'm
d~erEraduates the Deity or Their Bauquets.

Tho idol ''snbrinn ~ worshIppea by the I'm
derEraduntes. the Deity OF Their Banquets.
AMHERST, Mass. Dec. 25.-Many colleges have
their mascots in the shape of some particularly
ugly bulldog or some townsman or town boy
whose presence at college games is looked on as
necessary for victory, but Amherst College is
perhaps the only one with q substantial and re-
vered goddess. Sabrina is her name. and no
deity Of the Greeks or Romans ever had moro
startling adventures or was worshipped with
more sincerity than this idol Of Amherst.
The first Sabrina was a river goddess in Brit
ain presiding over the River Severn. In 1857
Joel Hayden Of Haydenville presented to Am
horst College an embodiment in zinc. bronzcd.
of this NEUROLOGICAL creature. and 1t is this
figure which has como to be the craven image
at whose shrine tho students worship, The
Hayden Sabrina weighs about $50 pounds. The
figure is of a young girl, nude. seated in grace
full pose upon the rivers bank as II. listening to
the viii per Of some god in the r%ustling of the
lea"cs overhead or the murmur of the water
below. The faculty set Sabrina on a low stone
pedestal between North College and the astro.
nomical observatory, where she kept guard over
a botanical garden. which has since been de-
stroyed. Here she held sway until 1870.
One cold morning in 1870 students on their
way to chapel found that the fair goddess had
had O shawl wrapped around her shoulders, as
though for protection from the weather. Tho
college man OF all work. black PROF. Charlie"
removed the garment, but the incident marked
the end of Sabrina's peaceful reign and the be.
ginning of her life as IN adventures. Several
times after that the goddess was provided with
raiment. and she was found ono morning in
1876 enveloped in a coat of black paint. This
action proved too advanced for the sentiment
of the student body. and the wielder of the
brush was found and forced to leave Amherst.
1t was not long after this. however. that tho
undergraduates in q body took a hand in NAL
treating the goddess, showing their disapproba.
ton Of the expulsion Of a student for rushing by
giving her a coat OF whitewash. Petween then
and 1880 she WAS daubed several times with hot
tar. In 1880 Snbrina played her first role in
class rivalry by bearing In her arms ono morn;
ing int a rag baby Labelled 81; Later she appeared
other liberties with her. such as burying her TO
her chin in the ground. perching her on some
Her first appearance as a class divinity was
when 80 took her to n class supper at New Lon.
her into the college we'll. from which rough
trnrtment she still bears a scar on her cheek.
become exhausted. and they Consigned sNbSrinee
to Prof: Charlie" with orders to cut her up
% wSs s sen t neE for fo old an 1inc bri BIT Ch al lie e., heart
1889. when the class of 90 unearthed her and
'a''St w. w AK i oltllUu tn
route for their class supper. Four '9l men. how.
ever: ontwitted 30: kidnapped tho goddess. and
carried her to Hatfield. There they toasted and
praised her and bequcathed her in turn to '93.
who enjoyed her presence at their freshman and
s%Ophomore .bnnquets. They intended to turn
her ov r to 90. but she was stolen by "a soon
after 93's sophomore supper, and since then Inns
been the property Of the even number classes.
She graced the banquet Of '06 at Nashua, n. II.
and to-day is guarded by the senior class OF Am.
herst, '9s, which will. unless 90 gets the better
OF it, transfer her to 1900.
A detailed account Of Sabrina's adventures
would include the tale of her change OF owners
at Brattleboro. when she WAS stolen on a forged
order from the express company to which she
had been Entrusted after n class supper. II IL
understood that there is still n substantial re
ward offered by the express company for the
apprehension of the men who had a hand
in this proceeding, but they will never
be caught. The goddess has been al
over New England, at one time making
tho trip through Long Island Sount
as a fgurehead Mt the prov Of the steamer
which carried her worshippers. Sabrina's las,
appearance was at the banquet OF the present
senior class at New London a fcw weeks ago
Immediately after the supper she vanished, ant
the only men who know whore she is Mt prescn'
are the two members of the class who have heeI
chosen her custodians. II any one else is in
position to give information regarding he
whereabouts there Is little doubt that he coult
sell his knowledge for a good sum to the elias,
of 90 of Amherst College.