The times., 1898-06-05
..PrInceton. old ana New

olo Ath0 -tSh-
A book which is certain to prove inter
esting. not only TO the son of Nassau, but
10 the college man in general, is Prince
ton, Old and New" by James w. Alex
ander. The author is, OF course, a grad
uate of Princeton, and he has large
store OF knowledge regarding that historic
old place, and pleasant way of expound-
ing the same.
Not the least interesting part of the
book are the illustrations, which are
numerous and fine. The volume is not a
large one, being only a little more than
q hundred pages all told. but every page
is interesting.
Few people realize how recent a thing is
the college emblem, of any kind. College
colors are comparatively late inventions;
the college yell is also new In the matter
of colors Princeton may claim antiquity
above other colleges, for Mr.. Alexander
says:
The crimson Of Harvard is a recent thing. They
used 10 sport the magenta, and had college
paper OF that name, afterward changed 10 the
Crimson when the new tint adopted. As for
Princeton, IL is less than quarter OF a century
since she discovered that she had a color. Ii was
there all the time, for the Princeton orange was
hers the moment the colonial governor, Belcher
dubbed the first college building with the naiue
tuTy Princeton went without colors except
ing the light blue Of Wing, and the pink OF Clo
Hall In athletic sports Princeton has al
ways been q leader, a fact which prompted
prominent Dutcflman in New YorA TO render the
Holland motto, oranle bowen, princeton on
top"
THE ''skyrocket'' cheer also comes in
for attention. It IS says Mir. Alexander
less than thirty-six years old, and the tes-
simony seems 10 prove that ii originated
F.rrrT1ss go
not generally adopted as a college cheer
till some years later.
Another college institution the Nassau
Lit, IS given due notice. Ii appears that
the first article in the first number Of this
famous college magazine was written fif-
ty years and more ago by DR.. Cuyler. who
graduated in the class OF Il. In the same
number was a contribution from Charles
G. Leland, Hans Breitmann."
A comical account is given Of old-time
college fare The priacipal refectory was
IN large building on the campus, now
only memory Of the past and there was
another east of the college. where the
charge for board was lower. The food was
fairly good, but the modern student
would doubtless use bad language about
the service. Boiled eggs were served in
tin milk-pan, each student was provided
with bowl and soup-spo0n and the eggs
were broken into the bowl. Mix and
dipped toast also appeared in milk pans.
and according 10 Mr.. Alexander a GER
tain old joke owes its origin 10 a Prince
ton Wit. One Of the fellows threw a dish
OF very Objectionable butter against the
wall, and when the startled tutor asked
who did il, somebody told him TO ask the
Putter as II was old enough 10 speak for
Itself
A good part Of the book. in fact IS Civ
en- up 10 various curious pranks Of by
s-#rr Trl-t -
bits Of history Here for example, is q
story OF fifty years ago:
When William Pennington. son Of a former
governor Of New jersey, ro0med next door 10
Senior Tutor Topping. il Uas the custom for each
man 10 hang on the outside knob OF his door the
bag containing MS soiled clothes for the laundry
Iennngtcn stuffed his own Shirts one day, in
Tutor IclFlngs bag. and waited for the day
when the clean linen was returned and laid out on
topping bed Then. knowing that two OF the
younger tutors were in Topping's room. Penning-
Ton knocked n his door. on entering he Dur on
an embarrassed air, II hcstating 10 speak in
me presence Of the other tutors. Topping, in a
These gentlemen are my friends; have no Sc
ctts from them; say what you wish
Pennington sin hcmmed and hawed but again
urged 90 speak, hlurtod out: 1t is not my fault
Mr Topping; j did not want to say ANYTHING
hhoui il now but Is you insist, ] must ask YOU
please 70 return the shirts lent you. as ] am in
HesA q Gcu- IoVpings rage and horror al
beng thus addressed before the younger rutors.
who looked mp 10 him as a ''Magnus Apollo" NAV
De imagined He began 10 Upbraid Pennington
who interrupted him by saying: Ii is of no
use MI loIpIng, trying 20 deny the fact. see
the shirts there the bed with your own things -
The tutors stood aghast, but Pennington stepped
70 the bed and picked out his own shirts marked
with his Eane-
That student genius for the comic was shown in
novel way a few years ago AT Princeton. when
certain class, by concerted arrangement brought
1nto a professors iectuTe-roOm fifty small alarm
clocks, 50 set that che should 60 Of every minute
during the exercise. 1t requires no description 10
picture the result.
Princeton has a fine record in regard
10 patriotism. Witherspoon. the WAR
President was a signer of the Declara-
non OF Independence, and his country
seat, ''TCsculum" was pilIaged and
stripped by Hessian troopers. During the
hottest days Of the Revolution Wither-
spoon uttered these ringing words:
For my own part, Of property have some. OF
Tepulauon more That reputation is staked that
property Is pledged on the issue Of this con-
Test and although these gray hairs must soon
descend into the sepulcilre. 1 would Infinitely
rather that they descended thither bv the hand OF
the eXecutioner than desert at this crisis the
sacred cause Of my country.
Some Of the hangers-on who frequent
every college, are described in the last
few pages. One was an old darky known
as Peter Polite" who used ff.y wears
ago TO sell pies and ice cream TO the
students. One night as he came into
the room OF a senior to vend his wares.
the senior Inquired: Peter, what perdui-
sites accrue to yourself from this noe
turnal perambulauon?" Said Peter with
low bow, and with courtly gravity:
VIII the gentleman please speak Eng
lish?H
Altogether. the book is full of memo
Ties, humorous, pathetic and of the true
college flavor Every
ought to have a copy, and it will interest
e great many people who have had moth
ing in particular to do with Princeton
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
Washington: All booksellers. Sl.25)