“There is a feeling in the public mind that football games breed dissipation and are naturally followed by unseemly conduct.  We all know that much of the excitement following football games in New York is due largely not to college men but others, who take the game as an excuse and the time as an opportunity to indulge in more or less boisterous conduct, with freedom from interference usually accorded at that time.  I wish it thoroughly understood that in no way as a Princeton man do I countenance dissipation, intemperance, boisterous or unseemly conduct.  It may be a comfort for you men to know, however, that I am personally acquainted with every police magistrate in the City of New York.  While I do not claim to have any influence with them, nor would I try to exercise it improperly, nevertheless if the team wins and any man should unintentionally and weakly yield to the strain consequent upon such a victory, I can be found that night at my residence.  Any delinquent will have my sympathetic and best efforts in his behalf.  If, however, the team loses, and any one goes over the line of propriety, he will have from me neither sympathy nor assistance and I shall be absent from the city.”

It is related that on the night following the victory, several daring spirits decorated themselves with cards hung from their necks bearing this legend, “Don’t arrest me, I am a friend of Job Hedges.”  With these they marched up and down Broadway and, though laboring under somewhat strange conditions, were not molested.  A full account of this expeditionary force appeared in the daily papers the next morning and it is related that there was a brisk conversation between Mr. Hedges and the mayor, when the former arrived at the City Hall, which took on, not an orange and black hue, but rather a lurid flame, of which Mayor Strong was supposed to be but was not the victim.

The net result of the scene, however, was that the team won, there was a moderate celebration and no Princeton man was arrested.

[Illustration:  Johnny Poe, football player and soldier]

CHAPTER XI

JOHNNY POE’S OWN STORY

Johnny Poe was a member of the Black Watch, that famous Scotch Regiment whose battles had followed the English flag.  On the graves of the Black Watch heroes the sun never sets.  Johnny Poe’s death came on September 25th, 1915, in the Battle of Loos.  Nelson Poe has given me the following information regarding Johnny’s death.  It comes direct from Private W. Faulkner, a comrade who was in the charge when Johnny fell.

In the morning during the attack we went out on a party carrying bombs.  Poe and myself were in this party.  We had gone about half way across an open field when Poe was hit in the stomach.  He was then five yards in front of me and I saw him fall.  As he fell he said, ’Never mind me.  Go ahead with our boxes.’  On our return for more bombs we found him lying dead.  Shortly after he was buried at a place between the British and German lines.  I have seen his grave which is about a hundred yards to the left of ‘Lone Tree’ on the left of Loos.  ‘Lone Tree’ is the only landmark near.  The grave is marked with his name and regiment.