By April C. Armstrong *14
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an alum suggests following a different path than he did, a boa constrictor is headed for campus, and more.
January 20, 1971—Edward R. Weidlein ’68 warns those who join the U.S. Army Reserves to avoid the draft that it can still be challenging.
So should you join the Reserves? Would I do it again if I had it to do over again? Not unless you or I had exhausted every other alternative short of being drafted (or perhaps going to jail, depending on the strength of your convictions).
January 22, 1822—Charleston’s City Gazette reports:
The [USS] Alligator has on board a collection of Curiosities, including a stuffed Whale, and a Serpent of the species called Boa Constrictor, alive, intended for the Princeton College.
January 20, 1988— Douglas Warshaw ’88 writes in response to CBS Sports firing Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder for comments claiming Black athletes were better because they’d been “bred to be that way” by slaveholders in the 19th century. Warshaw says that CBS has a responsibility to do more than merely rid itself of the “symptom” of a larger problem and needs to educate the public about the science that disputes Snyder’s claims in order to fully address racism.
January 23, 1868—Professor James C. Moffat, Class of 1835, writes effusively about his new colibri square grand piano. Designed by Fredrick Mathushek, the piano is 2/3 the size of other square grand pianos, but can produce a similar sound thanks to innovations in stringing.
I feel free to recommend it as a delightful parlor instrument, from its convenient size, and its remarkable power, sweetness and brilliancy of tone.
Did you read the previous installment in this series?
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