New-York tribune., 1911-11-05

nv up. freshman" Get going!'
Hats off, Circulate These
Il Il and similar cries. with an accom-
psnying scurry of feet, are familiar sounds
in the early fall TO those living in the :m-
mediate vicinity Of Princeton University, but
to ar untutored stranger they are often
times surprising, TO say the least and he
cant always oe blamed when nc sometimes
wonders if he is actually at one OF the old
est institutions of learning in America or
whether he has wandered into an insane
asylum by mistake.
1t doesn't take long, however, to discover
whence como the cries and the reason
for them It IS PrncetOn's sophomores
"horsing" the freshmen. one of the Oldest
and most cherished customs at an institu-
ton full to the brim with traditions. The
stranger, on walking still further through
the campus, is likely to see and hear many
other ludicrous and more or less amusing
sights according to the way he looks at it,
Groups of sophomores decked out in gay
ly coored orange and black horsing hats
and orange and black blazers may be seen
all over the campus, generally surrounding
one or two freshmen who, in a half-fright-
ened manner, are endeavoring TO carry out
the instructions OF their tormentors. the
sound Of prep school yell being given
at the top of some big husky freshman
lungs rings across the campus, followed by
the cheers and jeers Of the sophomores
Then comes the polite request from one OF
those wearing the detested costume which
designates him as a sophomore that the
freshman give them a funny story or song
1 10
brain in an erdeavor to recall the last joke
he has read. for good story is suCe TO let
him off. The same old bromides are got
off year after year by each entering
class. but. strange TO say, most Of them
get away with IT," TO use the student YER
nacular, and are told 10 beat it, If they
manage TO tell any sort Of story at all
! To be allowed to walk In peace for very
| long at a time is considered far too dig
nified for the new freshman, and every
sophomore looks upon II as duty to see
| that the new men hit H. up 10 and from
classes.
The first thing the entering man must
learn is TO wear only the most modest
and unpretentious clothing. else he s
| likely TO rue the day that he bought the
beautiful purple garters that now dangle
about his ears, put there at the request
OF some sophomore who has made 1t his
| duty D see that the newcomer has no
loud effects upon his person. A tie OF any
other color than black is also likely to
cause trouble, and, in fact, the freshman
costume OF black jersey and corduroy trou-
sers is by far the safest to wear.
Down at the foot of the broad stone steps
leading from the railroad station up to the
bjg Blair arch there is little plot Of grass,
for years known as the Circus Maximus'
for reasons easily guessed This is one OF
the favorite spots for the horslng bees
and many a Princeton freshman got his
first start i'm life on this spot II only "A
few well known actors and play writer's
could be on hand at some of these horsing
sessions many new star for the Broad
way theatres might have been unearthed
and many an idea for a new play garnered.
Booth Harrington and Jesse Lynch VIII
Jams. McCresdy Sykes and job Hedges
all took their turns at being horsed IN the