New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-27
THE PRINCETON MASCOT.
ASEcporEs OF JIMMY" JOHNSON, THE
ON NEGRO WHO DIED LAST WEEK.

,,,. " Iulv 2s (specian.-Old Nassau's
two famous characters are no more. scarcely hao
the undergraduates and alumni reco'eeu I'm "a
,o,,,s that Johnny Degnan famous IN song anu
-. &c ,heir beloved college policeman h6ae
nassed away when the news that jimmy JOHN
sou who for more than threescore years hau 70"
a FAMILIAR figure Princetons campus anu 'iie'
college, mascot had moved over the River 'ordah'
1-,-.o e q. Iiroro1'' Johnson the runaway slave
ho came 10 Princeton in 1888, became 1anitor IN
..oId North later dealer in second mana cioth-
ing and since the early seventies the apple
candy and peanut vender" among the Students is
TOO well known to require repetition Every son or
Princeton and nearly every other person interested
I'm the UNIQUE things that add attracuveness to
university life have heard how Jimmy secured
his freedom from slavery through the generosity Oh
Miss Theodore Provost, a hneal descendant oi
President John Witherspoon. who promptly pro-
zided the $3.50 necessary TO make him free man.
II has all been already recorded in Princeton MIS-
tory as given by James w Alexander, 60 OF
New-York; Jesse Lynch williams. 's2, Of Prince
ton, and Jim" Barnes, go
Here are few anecdotes of this old negro VINO
.ust a month from the day johnny" Degnan was
laid 10 rest PASSED out of Princeton life 1t is said
that Jimmy. upon reaching Philadelphia on MS
runaway trip back in the thrtes. secured passage
on a river boat bound for Trenton The captain
needed a cook and at once interrogated Jimmy
&C ITO his ability in matters pertaining TO the
cuisine Jimmy" had had any experience
in such affairs but realizing his difficult situation
promptly responded in his stammering way Be
be-Bless de Lawd. Use dun a g-g-great deal oh
dis Kind OBJ wuk boss" He got the job but fear
ing detection on the boat debarked at Trenton and
came to the old college town.
-Four times did Jimmy" launch out into the
matrimonial sea- ana not once his adventure
this field marred by divorce or deserton. Provi-
dence three times interposed its hand and three
times Jimmy left alone in the world. All
three Of these helpmeets now sleep beneath the
green turf in Princeton Cemetery. within a stones
throw of the little cottage in which he. and his
fout1 wives spent large a part of their lives
Mrs johnson No. 4, who is still young woman,
being only in her thirty-seventh year. survives
him. About ago. when some OF the under
graduates were talking to Jimmy about his
young wife 0he replied: "Ye-yes, NINA w-wife is
v-very y-young. b-but she is m-mghty g-good and
k-ldnd to mime" Mrs Johnson, who heard that
the students had learned of the big difference in
,bs.r ages said TO a neighbor: You can tell them
stoodents that he's three OF his wimnlen put
under &c ground, but / guess he'll git across de
river befaw do"
IJp 70 his eighty sixth year. which was a year
ago. he stin retained all of his mental faculties
and distinctly remembered every important event
that had happened in the college since ms c9nnee-
barricaded the faculty in Nassau Hall in leA, the
tween The Northern and the Southern students in
early sixties the stealing Of the cannon in 1875
the band OF 'daredevils' the early eighties and
and snake charmers. in 1883, were all as fresh
in his memory the day they happened.
Occasionally 'Jimmy'E'' remarka bic memory led
him astray so the story goes. but never on any
thing that touched the big events OF the college
He always boosted Of never forgetting face ne
haa once seen When Mark Twain here a
wear ago last May the guest of Laurence Hut
ION the author. he and Mr. Hutton day stroed
ont through the university campus. and. coming
across Jimmy the humorist in mis- characteristic
way said: Hello, Jimmy, Don't you remember
sam Brown OF '59?' Jimmy Strengthened HIM
self and not wishing TO display any forgetfulness
replied with absolute confidence: Oh. ye-yes, Mis-
ter Be-Be-Brown, / remember you puff puff pufrect-
w Mister Be Be Brown" and the answer brought
forth a shining hale dollar.
Jimmy the respect Of every one in Prince
ton through his honesty, good nature and courtesy
I'D to the time OF his death Tuesday he proudly
boosted OF the fact that Mrs. Cleveland always
recognized him with gracious bow whenever sne
parsed him the campus streets. Frequently
while passing through the campus she has gone
by q long lire of students fling out from recita-
tons lectures not OF whom recognized
by her, but Jimmy" always received her pleasant
smile and In acknowledgment Of so great an honor
he always bent his aged form and tipped hts faded
hat
old Jimmy and his wheeibarrow, with its varie-
gated coiors will longer be Old Mas
sau's campus dispensing his ana fruits 10
the enthusiastic undergraduates and admiring
alumni upon their return. and now that he is gone
q mascot will have TO be found 10 keep fresh
the once familiar figure and presence OF the be-
tev>d old --,crn-