To the Editor of the Princetonian:

Sir: A few days ago I attended the Harvard-Princeton baseball game, and once more I was impressed by the dismal ineffectiveness of the three "Princetons!" at the end of the locomotive cheer it sounded like a triple iteration of: "We're Stung!" Indeed there is another, and still more unfavorable connotation, but since the latter is totally unfitted for ears polite I am unable to be more explicit.

Now consider the case of "Harvard," a word of two syllables. For Harvard men to endeavor an imitation of the Yale machine-gun chatter would be simply ridiculous. And so, very wisely, they aim at the dignified and sonorous effect: "Harvard! Harvard!! Harvard!!!" Here the accent is on the first syllable with a fine, open vowel sound; the result is vocally excellent.

At Princeton we are under a double handicap--a dissyllabic name and a thin, closed vowel (i) with which to start. Consequently, we cannot rival either the quick bark of "Yale!" or the slow sonority of "Harvard!" From the standpoint of effective vocalization "Prince-ton!" is what our British cousins would call a fair washout. What to do about it?

May I suggest that we employ, at least occasionally, the alternative patronymic of 'Nassau!" as a snapper to the body of our tribal war-cry. It is inferior in phonetic value to both "Harvard!" and "Yale!" But it is infinitely superior to the pinched-up and vocally inexpressive "Princeton!" I am inclined to think that the best tonal effect will be secured by avoiding the repetition of the word (Nassau), particularly if the tempo be a rapid one. Use a single "Nassau" at the end of the cheer, thus: "Nassau!" Note that the explosive accent is on the final syllable, the vocalization fairly well drawn out, and a very open vowel sound given to the second half of the word. Compare the concluding line of our college hymn: "Three cheers for Old Nassau." --Daily Princetonian.