Muhlenberg College - Ciarla Yearbook (Allentown, PA)

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VICTOR A. RUTH Macungie, Pa. Born at Lehigh Church, January 26, 1891. Prepared at Keystone Normal. Entered Muhlenberg in the fall of 1913. Classical Course. K. S. N. S. Club. Col- lege Band (1, 2, 3). Reformed. Repub- lican. Ministry. Attending the Lyric Theatre some time ago I was surprised to find myself seated in the second row, immediately back of Victor. As the show had not yet begun, I said to him, “I did not expect to see you here tonight.” ‘‘Oh, yes,” he replied. ‘‘I attend quite regularly. We have many students at college, ministerial students at that, who never saw a real first-class play in their lives.” “Do you consider a thorough conception of the stage and its effects upon society as abso lutely necessary for the modern minister?” “By all means. How can a minister preach against vice and the mysterious and the foul methods of its work if he does not see some of those methods depicted on the stage?” “What plays would you advise the average ministerial student to see from time to time?” “ ‘September Morn,’ ‘The Traffic,’ ‘Maid in America, ' ‘Omar the Tent Maker,’ etc.; in fact, every play that comes to town.” Haven’t most of the students seen those plays already?” “No, we have men here who regard all plays as demoralizing. Men like Schwenk, Kraft, Heckman, Dundore, never saw a play.” “What do you think of the Orpheum?” “The shows are great. They spur you on in your fight against vice and sin. I never miss any of them.” (Just then the curtain rose and then this authority on the theatre was all attention.) y 75

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ROLAND LEROY RUPP Breinigsville, Pa. Born at Seipstown, February 18, 1893. Prepared at Perkiomen Seminary. En- tered Muhlenberg in the fall of 1913. Sophronia Literary Society; President (3). Perkiomen Club; President (3). Round Table. Alpha Sigma. Class Presi- dent (3). Class Treasurer (1). Associate Editor of 1917 Ciarla. Press Club. Rep- resentative to A. A. Student Council. Inter-Society Debate (1, 3). Class Track (2). Class Football (3). Reformed. Demo- crat. Law. “Mr. Rupp,” we said, “we called to get your views on the political situation.” Roland “tec-heed” like a school girl over her first confusion of love and replied, “I don ' t know that I have any opinions yet, however.” “Surely,” we said, “you have some idea of the way things are drifting — Taft for instance.” “Taft is a dead issue. Why that man can no more make the Presidency than 1 could (get the personal note, reader). Why, Bryan could stand as good a chance as Taft. Wilson is the man. The more I study the situation, the more I am convinced that Wilson is the only logical candidate for the office, however.” I noticed this little peculiarity of sticking in “however,” whether occasion demanded or not. However, to get on, I again asked, “Do you think Teddy Roosevelt — ?” “There now, you hit it. However, Roosevelt is not the man for the job. Never- theless, I believe that he is the only man that the Republicans can logically advance.” Being “among those mentioned” I here forgot my mission long enough to agree for Governor Hughes and the discussion switched on to the referendum. “I believe most heartily in it and the time will come when it will be a matter of national political importance.” “How do you stand on prohibition?” “Ah, gosh! I don’t know what to say. However, I sometimes think we ought to have it and again we cannot take it from the community without a substitute. As a factor in causing industrial accidents” — and here, gentle reader, let us slip quietly away. Roland can talk for days and weeks on local option and prohibition. We may expect to find him some day twisting the political threads of our country, for Roland intends to become a lawyer.

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A tall, husky-looking fellow came walking across the campus taking long strides, equal to three steps of the average man, and balancing, in both hands, traveling bags of such enormity as to be termed “young trunks.” As he drew nearer I was able to identify the stranger as C. Morris Scheetz, return- ing to school after one of his frequent trips to the old homestead. “My days,” he uttered, somewhat out of breath, “I’ll surely have to cut out smok- ing to get in good condition for baseball this summer. Sure thing, I have to go some to live up to my reputation as catcher of the Perkasie High and Mercersburg nines. Remember our Freshman year class team? We played some ball.” His reference to the past brought back to my memory an incident that had also occurred the year before. “Do you remember,” I said, “when they took your trunk down town and removed your bed into the outer world beneath the open sky? (‘23d and Chew Sts.) Why did they do that?” I inquired. I had Scheetz puzzled and finally he answered, “I don’t know.” But we know why they played the trick; for jealousy is the root of all evils and it must be publicly confessed. He is possessed with the love-bug. But there is one redeeming feature that he has thus far been able to perform something which is con- sidered a miracle among the students, and that is, to love and study at the same time. Within the last year, however, his absence from the dorms, especially evenings, has steadily decreased and the class of 1917 still has hopes of planting the ivy. 76