New-York tribune., 1922-05-28
Shedding Years
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1t IS hardly to be expected that more than
100 men IN a class all know each other anu
Tor the first FIVE or six reunions the men natu-
rally group themselves in the same clinues
they associated with in college. But as the
classes dwIndle and the men grow older club
distinctions forgotten and it is not un-
likely that in the older classes there may be
half dozen men back none Of whom knew
Hch other Intimately while in college, but all
Of whom IN the magic atmosphere Of Princeton
n June have become bosom companions, swear
ing eternal allegiance to each other,
Even though these ciques do exist among
the younger classes, in the good old days a
classmate, unknown and unknowing during his
student days, could walk into noisy tent at
reunion, and in five minutes find himself slap
ping men, whom he had once regarded as un-
approachable gods, resoundngly on the back
and exchanging mutually imaginative rem
inlscences with them. In ten minutes the en-
tire class might be toasting the fact in de-
cdedly off key but nevertheless whole hearted
manner that he was jolly good fellow, and
in half an hour he might be the most popular
man back. Mark you, that was in the good
old days
But now glass of ginger ale is scarcely suf-
man with whom you had only bowing ac-
quaintance in college, and if you go in for
vigorous campaign of back sapping or any
thing else you are sure to be frowned upon
else you are setting yourself for straight jab
20 the jaw.
There is much to be said in behalf of the
new order, however. There is less likelihood
of returning to your home town after reunion
and having it reach your ears that little Willie
Brown, your neighbors -yearod, has told
his Sunday school teacher and every one else
that when he was down at Princeton he saw
you asleep on the grass right where everybody
walking and even four men couldn't wake
you up.
Many of the returning grads plan-the word
plan is used advisedly-to spend the night at
their clubs, and some months before reunion
engage bed in the club dormitory. the idea
being, in theory, that those who have beds
sleep. By virtue of their foresightedness each
has tag with his name appended attached to
one OF the twenty or thirty beds in the room,
which is supposed to warn other and less fore
sighted grads that that particular bed is de-
fendu. But grads who lack foresight are also
apt to have little regard for the conventions
When 1t comes time for them to turn in and
there happens to be a vacant bed in sight the
unforesighted grad hops into it and remains
there until, and most generally if the rightful
owner is able to dispossess him. AS there are
usually more grads than beds it follows that
the early hours Of the morning find the late
comers what the always expressive soldier used
to term S. 0. L.
de-bedded grad isn't to be expected to turn
his other cheek at 2 a. m and offer the squat
ter his razor and brushes for use in the morn
ing. # he is unable to start dispossess pro-
ceedlngs he generally takes his revenge by
secretlng himself under the nearest bed and
bursting forth into song-unmeodious, sleep
disturbing and volumnous song. The louder
the threats to have his life the louder he sings
and shoes and other articles hurled in his d-
rectlon gcad him on to touching love plants
ballads of home and mother, songs of Virginia
and ether states until he is either hammered
into lnsensibility when his hiding place is dis
covered or until he sinks into blissful lula
bied slumber Yes, there is more chance of a
few hours sleep under the new regime
There is also less need for alibis the chief
cause of which used to be your non -participa-
ton in the alumni parade, when your wife and
especially to see you They pretended that
they came down to see the ball game but it
was really to see you in your cute little uni
form pass in front of the stands.
The alumni parade is the outstanding event
on the reunion program. The classes from the
oldest down to the graduating seniors from in
front of Nassau Hall, march down Prospect
Street. thence into the field and around the
track in front Of the stands. The oldest
classes come first and heartily cheered A
few years ago one class had lone representa-
tive, a man who thought so much of Prince
ton that he came back to the reunion alone
and even had to be wheeled in chair.
The old guard is treated with fitting rever-
ence, but the younger classes are there ostens-
bly, to amuse with their colorful costumes
their improvised antics, their bands and signs
The costumes fash in the sun, the bands grind
out medley of lively airs, cheers rend the air
The parade passes close to the stands, and
if any one is looking for you he will surely
find you. The costume Identifies your class,
and the rest is easy. Under the old order the
ordeal of marching in the hot sun often proved
too much for one who had also had hot time
the night before. What could one say, then,