Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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24 Hisfoijf gf the Class of ,96. As for the examinations, we polled, O yes, we polled-from Nassau Hall down to Brown, and from Albert Lybyer to Smith Homans, we polled hard. Possibly Bob Patton, Paul Loving and Robert Ormiston Brockway didn't do much in that line, but even they are reported to have put in a few good licks. I won't swear to this, however, especially in Bob's case, for Bob claims he has such a pull with the faculty that he doesn't need to study. At any rate, the most of us devoted some attention to the curriculum, as I just now intimated. All too soon the examinations leaped upon us like our collegiate tiger. After a furious struggle they passed on, leaving the vast majority of us conquerors in the fray-but some, alas, were wounded, the most only slightly, a few mortally. By which ambitious metaphor, worthy of Jap Potter himself, I mean that most of us passed the exams, but some were conditioned and a few,- very few I rejoice to state, were dropped from our goodly fellowship. The following men made first divisions in the three departments of Classics, Mathematics and Modern Languages: Alford, Beam, Bostvvick, Churchman, L. Gray, Hodge, Hamilton, Litch, Loetscher, Lybyer, Mather, Moment, Reese, Wayave and Worcester. V After the Mid-Years were over, hazing revived with re- doubled vigor, the period before Washington's Birthday being the last chance 195 would have to expend any latent spite upon us. Once more, for a while, we removed our hats, did the toothpick drill, the cornstalk march and went through all the merry games which now constitute such a delicious remem- brance of verdant days. The night before the 22d we determined to gather our forces and take possession of the town, all expected opposition from '95, notwithstanding. Biffy Lea sent out notice to the different eating clubs to gather at seven o'clock in front of Goldie's on University Place, At the appointed hour we

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Hz'st01gf gf the Class of '96. V 23 Sophomores did not attack them. So the ight was averted, as for that time, but it would have occurred sooner or later had it not been for the actioniof the powers that be. The snowball encounters had attained of late a most gory reputation and the faculty determined that they must cease and took vigorous measures to suppress the projected fray. By sending notice to the officers both of Ninety-Six and '95 that if a fight took place they fthe officersj would be summarily expelled, whether they were personally engaged or not, our plan of retaliation was effectually squelched. But snowballing still continued and bye and bye developed into a sort of guerilla warfare, wherein we defended ourselves whenever we could, or rather dared. One of the most noteworthy of these exchanges of pleasantry befell when a certain Sophomore, on attacking McGuire with a 'fwater-soaker, received a well-merited rebuke. A hot argu- ment followed, which ended in the Sophomore being knocked down by the fist of the irate Mollie, much to the satisfaction of the spectators. ' But now all hostilities between classes were temporarily laid aside, for Examinations with a capital E, the much-dreaded Mid-Years, spoken of by Freshmen with bated breath, detested by Sophomores and annoying to all, were at hand and required the concentration of every nerve. But before the examinations had begun, a step was taken which must not be left unrecorded. It was in our Freshman year that the Princeton Honor System of conducting examinations was introduced. The mass-meeting at which the resolution, leading to this course, was passed, was one of the largest in the history of the college. The vote of our class, although not long from schools where quite a different method was in vogue, was unanimous for the new order of honor. And I am proud to say that no member of our class who has once put that pledge upon his paper has ever given us cause to regret that he was a part of Ninety-Six.

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HZlff07jl W the Class QF '96. ' 25 attempted to mass as agreed upon, going by circuitous routes across the railroad, down Edwards Place, and so on, in order to reach Goldie's undetected. Well, some of us arrived there all right, but more did not. The Sophomores had strong guards posted in commanding positions and every Freshman who appeared was pursued up to the very doors. I think more of us learned to do the high dive over the picket fence and through the hedge, than ever dreamed of attempting it before. It is so much easier to dive than to jump when you are really in a hurry, as we were. In Goldie's front yard, however, a number of our biggest men constituted a reserve battalion which the Sophomores did not dare attack. Little by little quite a force was assembled, and we were about to sally out and defy '95 when the arrival of General Topley, Colonel Leggitt and the army, jim Connor, put a stop to further hos- tilities-so, like the King of France and his ive thousand men, we all marched home again. About two o'clock that morning Skinny Hall, Barney Haines and some others sallied out and succeeded in hanging a couple of '96 banners, one from the Art Museum and one from Dickinson. These were, of course, torn down by the Sophomores as soon as the daylight enabled them to be seen. N- The anniversary of the great George's nativity dawned cold and clear, and although there is no record of the fact that it was a particularly hilarious occasion for little George, never- theless we proceeded to whoop things up at a lively rate, and to hold our final contest with '95, We gathered early in the gymnasium and cheered ourselves, jeered the Sophomores, reminding them of various pleasant episodes, and made things very entertaining for all concerned. We hung up a huge '96 banner in the face of '95 and defied them to tear it down, only removing it ourselves to allow our class orator to be heard. Roy Morris was our representative and even the P7'Z'7ZC6f07Zid7Z