The Cairo bulletin., 1905-07-06
JOHN HAY SAVED A BROWN
FRESHMAN.

John Hay, Secretary of State, once
played an important part in a smoke
out" at Brown University, according to
the New York Herald.
1t was night in September. 1856, |
and all through the upper stories of
Brown University Hall many were stir
ring, some quantity costumed and dis
used, others being present only as
"rooters.
Samuel Duncan and his roommate,
Adroniram j. Gordon. then freshmen,
were the victims selected for the So
phomor.c visitation
In the dead vast and middle Of
the night a resounding rap on their
door was The first intimatlon they re-
ceiyed OF the honor. FOR time par
| ley was carried on between the in
Ematas and the Invaders of room No.
~, but forclble entry being threat
ened the callers we're reluctantly adj
mitted, finding their hosts not In cos
fumes de rigeur, but In plain robes de
mutt.
Each Of the six disguised visitors
had small flower-pot, in the bottom
| of which were live Goals, and on top
Of them and filing each pot were
scrapings from the floor Of cigar fac
TORY y~vsly'Y
| Stretching themselves on the floor,
| In position that outlined the spokes
| of a wheel, with the fiower-pot pipes
"a long. red stem inserted near the
| bottom Of each, they proceeded to blow
into the room clouds of nauseating
smoke that soon told in the stomachs
of the embryo preachers. The only
pure air in the room was the stratum
next to the floor, where the smokers
lay.
Ernest B. Gordon, in biography OF
his father writes thus of that scene:
Gordon, when freshman of but two
weeks standing, was visited in his
room. smoked out, and imperiously
ordered by his visitors to mount the
table and preach a sermon. The new
comer's resources in that line had no,
been suspected. With admirable ap
propriatenass he chose as his text
"A certain man went down from Ieru
salem to Jericho and fell among
thieves
Never was a more pointed discourse
delivered The listeners, taking un
bragg, rushed like the wild beasts al
Ephesus upon the preacher, upset the
table on which he stood and woult
have him badly indeed IL his Christian
ity had not passed forthwith from the
didactic to the muscular phase. ant
, with excellent results. He sprang a
J the ringleader, tore his coat in halves
and with the efficient cooperation o.
John Hay, who just then appeared OF
, the scene, routed the intruders from
the premises"
Duncan, mounted on chair in thu
center CT group Of applauding 50
| )homores, and collaborating juniors
: had just referred to that monumental
, work of Daniel Webster his great die
tionary," when the group Of Juniors
sitting In a deep window seat at th'
| end OF the hall vociferously shouting
. Here's to good old Brown, drink he
r down. were amazed at seeing the ora
! tor. his night shirt waving In tn
} breeze, tumble headlong among hi
= audience, that was seen to be scatter
ing in every direction.
ii The cause Of this sudden stamped
) was disclosed as the crowd thinne
4 out. Mr.. Elliott, the register OF Brown
I whom we knew only as pluto" ha
& r,ade his way with lantern conceale
4 under long coat, into the crow
gathered about Duncans pulpit ain
e had suddenly held up his lantern In III
4 speakers face.
n In the end no one was made {
feel the weight Of the faculty's di
!. pleasure for that nights uproar-Th
! American Boy.
a