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

John Hay. Secretary Of State, once
played an important part in Smoke
out al 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
gu'sed. 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
1.-The night resounding rap on their
door was the first intimation they re-
| ceived Of the honor. Tor time par
ley was carried on between the in
mates and the insaders of room No.
27, but forcible entry being threat
ened the callers were reluctantly adj
mitted. finding their hosts not in cos
tunes de rigeur, but In plain robes de
mutt.
Each of the six disguised visitors
i had a small flower-poi, in the bottom
Of which were live Goals and on top
of them and filing each pot wsre
scrapings from the floor of cigar fac.
Itory. j-f~ @l'a'w
4 Stretching themselves on the floor,
In position that outlined the spokes
/ of wheel, with the flower-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
J lay.
Enrest B. Gordon, in a biography OF
his father, writes thus of that scene:
i Gordon, when freshman of but two
weeks standing, was visited in his
room, smoked out and imperiousls
| ordered by his visitors to mount tht
table and preach sermon. The new
, comer's resources in that line had not
been suspected. With admirable ap
} propriateness he chose as his text
; "a certain man went down from Ieru
: salem to Jericho and fell among
thieves
"Never was more pointed discourse
[ delivered. The listeners, taking um
bragg, rushed like the wild beasts al
! Ephesus upon the preacher. upset thu
: table on which he stood and woult
l. :, had Ix ty,l h,ie ri =.
ity had not passed forthwith from tn,
: didactic to the muscular phase, ant
} with excellent results. He sprang a
d the ringleader, tore his coat in halves
and with the efficient cooperation 0
John Hay, who just then appeared OF
} the scene, routed the intruders from
the premises"
] Duncan, mounted on chair In th
Z center Of group OF applauding SC
! )homores, and collaborating juniors
: had just referred to "that monumental
e work of Daniel Webster, his great die
: tionary," when the group Of Juniors
I sitting In deep window seat at tn
4 end Of the hall vociferously shoutin
0 Here's to good old Brown, drink he
r down. were amazed at seeing the orf
4 tor his night shirt waving In tn
G breeze, tumble headlong among hi
. audience, that was seen to be scatter
ing in every direction.
OIL The cause Of this sudden stamped
$ was disclosed as the crowd thinne
d Iout Mr. Elliott, the register OF Brown
~. l. ,txf ha
8 made his way with lantern conceale
II under long coat, into the crow
gathered about Duncan's pulpit an
Q had suddenly held up his lantern In III
d speakers face.
II In the end no one was made I
feel the weight of the faculty's di
l. pleasure for that nights uproar.--Th
j. American Boy.
Il