Evening star., 1902-08-01
PRINCETON'S MASCOT
ANECDOTES OF JIMMY" JOHN
SON, WHO DIED RECENTLY.
A Fugitive Slave-Came to "Nassau"
in 1639-Janitor Of cold
North"

From the New York Tribune.
Old Nassau's two famous characters are
no more. Scarcely had the undergradu-
ates and alumni recovered from the news
| that Johnny" Degnan. famous in song
and story as their beloved college police
man. had passed away. when the news
that Jimmy" Johnson. who for more than
threescore years had been a familiar figure
| on Princeton's campus. and the college
| mascot. had moved over the River Jordan.
The story Of Jimmy Johnson. the rum
away slave who came to Princeton in 1899.
became a janitor in "Old NORTH later
dealer in secondhand clothing. and since
the early seventies the apple. candy and
peanut vender" among the students Is too
well known to require repetition. Every
son Of Princeton and nearly every other
person interested in the unique things that
add attractiveness to university life have
heard how Jimmy" secured his freedom
from slavery through the generosity of
Miss Theodore Provost, a lineal descendant
of President John Witherspoon. who
promptly provided the $3.50 necessary to
make him free man. 1t has all been
already recorded in Princeon history, as
given by James W. Alexander. CO. of New
York; Jesse Lynch Williams, 92, of Prince
ton. and Jim Barnes. '9
Cook on the Delaware.
Here are a few anecdotes of this old
negro, who just a month from the day
Johnny" Degnan was laid to rest passed
out of Princeton life. 1t is said that
Jimmy" upon reaching Philadelphia on
his runa way trip, back in the thrties, Sc
cured passage on a river boat bound for
Trenton. The captain needed a cook, and
at once interrogated Jimmy as to his
ability in matters pertaining to the cuisine.
"Timmv'' had ba5 In,
such affairs. but, realizing his difficult sit
uatiOn, promptly responded in his stam-
mering way. "Be-be-bless de Lawd, Use
dun a g-g-great deal OBJ dis kind OBJ wuk,
boss" He got the job. but, fearing detec-
ton on the boat debarked at Trenton and
came on to the old college town.
Four Times Married.
Four times did Jimmy launch out into
the matrimonial sea. and not once was
his adventure in this field marred by d.
vorce or desertion. Providence three times
interpoSed its hand. and three times 'Jim-
my was left alone in the world. All three
of these helpmeets now sleep beneath the
green turf in Princeton cemetery within
stones throw of the little cottage In
which he and his four wives spent so large
part of their lives. Mrs. Johnson No. 4.
who is still young woman, being only in
her thirty-seventh year, survives him.
About a year ago, when some of the un-
dergraduates were talking to Jimmy
about his young wife, he replied: ''Ye-yes,
NINA w-wfe Is v-very y-young, b-but she
Is m-mighty g-good and k-kind to m-me."
Mrs. Johnson. who heard that the students
had learned Of the big difference in their
ages, said to a neighbor: "You can tell
them stoodents that he's seen three of his
wimmen put under de ground. but 1 guess
| he'll git across de river befaw 1 do"
Jim's Recollections.
Up to his eighty-sixth year, which was a
year ago, he still retained all of his mental
faculties and distinctly remembered every
important event that had happened in the
college since his connection with 1t, in 1899
The time the undergraduates barricaded the
faculty in Nassau Hall in 1S41, the fierce
class fights Of the fifties, the war feeling be-
tween the northern and the southern stu
dents in the early sixties, the stealing of the
cannon in 1873 by the Rutgers students, the
thrilling escapades of the band of dare
devils of the early eighties and the famous
fight with "Pawnee Bits" cowpunchers and
snake charmers, in 1899, were all as fresh
In his memory as on the day they happened.
Occasionally "Jimmy'S" remarkable mem
ory led him astray, so the story goes, but
never on anything that touched the big
events of the college. He always boasted of
| never forgetting a face he had once seen
When Mark Twain was here year ago last
May as the guest of Laurence Hutton the
author, he and Mr.. Hutton one day strolled
out through the university campus and,
coming across jimmy the humorist in his
characteristic way said: Hello Jimmy
Don't you remember Sam Brown Of 1872"
Jimmy Strengthened himself and, not
wishing to display any forgetfulness, replied
with absolute confidence: "Oh, ye-yes Mis-
ter Be-Be- Brown, 1 remember you puf-puf-
puffectly, Mister Be-Be-B Brown" and the
| answer brought forth shining half dollar.
Honest and Courteous.
Jimmy won the respect Of every one in
Princeton through his honesty, good nature
and courtesy. Up to the time of his death
on Tuesday he proudly boasted Of the fact
that Mrs Cleveland always recognized him
with gracious bow whenever she passed
him on the campus or streets. Frequently
while passing through the campus she has
gone by a long line Of students filing out
from recitations lectures, not one of
whom was recognized by her. but Jimmy
always received her pleasant smile, and in
acknowledgment of SO great an honor he al
ways bent his aged form and tipped his
faded hat.
Old Jimmy" and his wheelbarrow, with
its variegated colors, will no longer be seen
on Old Nassau's campus. dispensing his
sweets and fruits to the enthusiastic under
graduates and admiring alumni upon their
return. and now that he Is gone a new mas
cot will have to be found to keep fresh the
once familiar figure and presence of the be-
loved old negro