Evening star., 1897-06-02

best Independent recollection is that the
skyrocket' cheer of Princeton was intro
duced without any other formality than
that which attaches to any taking fashion
which is adopted by community or COM
binatfon OF persons having a common in
terest, at date that was synchronous with
the celebration in the city of New York
and in Princeton of the successful laying
and operation of the Atlantic cable. In
commemoration of this achievement of me-
chanical and scientific skill on the part of
American and English pluck and talent,
New York and Princeton INDUCED in. at
that time, very rare and unusual pyro-
technic displays: and the sound of the ex-
plodfng skyrocket was a new sensation
which appealed to the imagination and the
physical exuberance of undergraduates.
The final success of this transatlantic SUBJ
marine cable was the great event of the
period, In which the scientific and intelli-
gent minds of the country took a deep in
terest; and Princeton professors and stu
dents commemorated the event with great
enthusiasm. The vocal imitation on the
campus and in town, occasional at first,
soon became recurrent upon slight provoca-
ton. until it became somewhat familiar at
a period which antedates the war While
there was, so far as the writer is aware
no formal adoption of the "skyrocket" as
the college cheer, it seems to him that it
was consecrated during the "Noctes Am
brosianae' of the "McVeigh group" who
contributed something to the history of the
college between the years 1853 and 1861,
not found in the ordinary chronicles. I in
elude cI IN this group not only the princely
fellows who lodged at McVeigh's, but also
many of their boon companions, whose
rooms were in "Old North or East" or
west colleges, and who occasionally par
uc1pated in the literary and musical exer-
clseS in the big brick building which were
not always announced in the college cur
rlcuium Among the latter I recall the
historian now under review, who was wont
10 reSale mis- select audience with the ballad
of the ''Old Gray Horse and other nonu-
lar melodies, with banjo accompaniment
OF considerable verve. Another was Georg-
ius-lyier Olmsted, Jr., with whose name l
nave always associated the popula RIA ton
II not the introduction of the ''skyrockct'
as a college cheer. The latter was a mem
Der or lS6U-the same class as Woolsey
Johnson. to whom has been attributed the
formulation of the 'Hooray, hooray tiger
slss-boom-ah Princeton;" and it NAV well
De that these two good fellows NAV be
caiied the sponsors of the Princeton sky
rocket. l am confirmed in my recollection
that the "skyrocket" cheer antedated The
war, and the passage through Princeton
junction of the 7th Regiment of New York.
by written testimony which appears in my
princeton autograph book where over the
literary contribution of Geo T. Olmsted.
jr., of the class of 1860, which was sub
scribed in May or June of that year. / find
this cabalistic combination:
"sh-sh-Boom Ah-h- h -h-h-h'
Any one who has felt the gaudia certain
1nis of real conflict can readily appreciate
the stimulus of an appropriate or hallowed
battle cry; and its Importance in mimic
strife may well be understood But, how
ever the cheer may have originated, or to
WhomsoeVer credit is due for its introduce
ton and adoption it seems entirely natural
that an institution which originated during
a revolutionary period and was Graded in
war. an institution that has cannonized it's
campus and has received its name from an
historical battlefield. should adopt as its
iaiiying cry a cheer that sounds so strong
ly OF explosives. And 1t is a good omen
nri icrtt at,I IT., a.
rected with that achievement of skill AMI
ingenuity with which America and Prince
ton are closely identified. In this view its
symbolism in war and peace is ascertained
and justified.
ALEXANDER PORTER MORSE.
June l, 1897.