ANECDOTES TOLD BY OLD BOYS.
Rabbit vs. Cat.—Formerly it was customary for Trinity boys to have rabbit feasts in their rooms at night. They indulged in this to such an extent one winter season, that it became unsafe to leave a dressed rabbit exposed, for some one would be sure to steal it. A party of students caught a rabbit and left it in their room with the expectation of banqueting on it that night. While they were out, much to their chagrin a second party appropriated the rabbit, and the whetted appetites of party No. 1 had to remain unsatiated. Means for revenge were devised. They obtained a cat, dressed it, and left it in their room, as they had left the rabbit before. Again party No. 2 stole the game. They cooked it nicely and had a delicious feast. Believing they had baffled party No. 1 a second time, they, to carry out the joke more fully, returned the bones to said party. Thereupon, party No. 1 sent them the claws, hide and tail of the cat they had eaten. Shades of departed cats! what a sick set they were! “Mew, mew,” was the only sound heard about the college for two weeks.
The Joke Turns.—An old student of Trinity once took a newy snipe-hunting. After traveling about five miles from the village, he left him to hold the bag (into which he would drive the snipes), with the intention of returning to Trinity himself, and leaving the newy to find his way home as best he could. Unfortunately for the old student, he missed the road and finally wandered back to the newy who by that time suspected the joke, and found out also that the old student had lost his way. He accordingly compelled the would-be joker to pay him one dollar to conduct him back to Trinity. Tradition says that student never took another newy to hunt snipes.
The Mutual Aid-the-Stuck-Society.—This was established for the benefit of those boys whose conversational powers are soon exhausted, and who become “stuck.” Each member was sworn to relieve any other member who might be stuck with a young lady on any public occasion, such as commencement, Senior Presentation, at sociables, etc. It was only necessary for him who was stuck to wink at some brother member and he would be immediately relieved.
Quite a number of new boys joined the society. On the first occasion which presented itself for the practical operation of the society, the founders engaged the company of ladies. Apparently they were soon stuck. They gave the wink to their fellow members (the newies) who came gallantly and promptly to their relief. By and by the newies became stuck (really). In vain they winked. No one came to their rescue. The society held no more meetings after this event.
On the Wrong Scent.—Boys who boarded some little distance from the village used to have a study room furnished them in the College building. The one opposite Prof. Gannaway’s recitation-room was so used. It was supplied with desks, and was often occupied by quite a number. One day, when fun ran riot, the room was “packed,” and T. W. W. climbed upon the top desk of the tower that had been built—presumably to make a speech—but some one kicked out the corner-stone desk, thereby precipitating a combined earthquake and thunder-clap. Prof. G. came to the door, with his specs adjusted to fit the occasion, and asked where that noise was. W. looked the Prof. right in the face and said, “I saw some one run upstairs.” The Prof. started off to find the offender, and everything was in order by the time he returned.
On another occasion, when the President was attending the session of the General Conference, the bell-clapper was taken out and hidden, all the gates were carried off, Frazier’s old mail-hack was taken off and not found for several days. One day we wanted holiday, and asked for it. Professor Wright, who was in charge and had been having the bell rung for a week with a rock, told the boys in the chapel to bring up the clapper, bring the gates, and he would grant their request. So, while a class was reciting, a long, lank fellow, who had been “snipe-hunting” a few nights before, came in with the clapper, the gates were put up, the bell tapped three times (the summons to chapel) and we assembled and had our request granted. These were pleasant days for the boys.
The boy who was wallowed in the snow, between Charles Davis’s and “Uncle” Jabez Leach’s, by his rival, is living in Trinity now.
The Party.—It was in the winter of 1874 that I got up a party—a sham party, but the boys thought it was real and were in for it. I made out a long list of ladies and opposite their names were placed the boys’ names, but showed this list only to the boys that were to be victimized. It was a very cold night; the ground was frozen. Mr. Coltrain’s house was selected as the place for the party. I got only about ten boys in the trap. These were cautioned to keep it a secret. About $3.50 was collected from them to get refreshments. They each wrote notes to the ladies that had been selected for them, and they like the boys were delighted and accepted. Scroggs and I were to go with some ladies from the country. This was a blind, but at the proper time we started. Some of the boys saw us off. There was a new path just above Prof. Doub’s, about fifty yards from the street. This is the way Scroggs and I went, and we lay down by an oak tree. By and by we heard our boys with their girls, going to the party. I can hear those merry voices now. When they passed, we went back to our rooms. I had arranged for them all to meet at Mr. Coltrain’s at the same hour, and so they did. Gray knocked at the door. There were no lights to be seen anywhere. Still none suspected what was up. Presently Mr. C. came to the door—he was dressed in white—“What is the matter?” Gray answered, “Nothing, we have come to the party” “—What party?”—“J. said there was to be a party here tonight and we were all invited.”—“I know nothing about it. We are all in bed.” Gray and the rest of them discovered my joke. After the boys had taken the ladies home, they came to my room, and with the money I had collected from them I gave them a royal treat to candy and cigars. O, the fun I had over the joke! I venture Gray and Turner have not forgotten it to this day.