Athens State College - Columns Yearbook (Athens, AL)

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History of the Class of ' 08 LASS ' 08! O, what memories of mingled pleasure and pain cluster around the name — memories that have become a part of our very self, memories that will mold our future life! It has truly been said that the school days are the happiest — not the most contented, for a schoolgirl is never contented, always hoping, always striving for some- thing beyond : but happiest in the true sense of the word — happy in the pursuit of something better. And yet who can say that the schoolgirl has no troubles — no heart- aches? For is it not then that examinations disturb her dreams, hov- ering over her like some avenging fate? Is not the peal of the bell dur- ing exams. like her death warrant? Truly, the bell is one of the college girl ' s worst enemies. Only once is it welcome — at meals; and even the breakfast bell on Saturday and Sunday morning is unkind to her. Another thorn in the flesh is demerits. True, a demerit is only a lit- tle thing; but, remember, ' tis the little things that count, and twenty- five such little things means home. But I am digressing somewhat from my subject. I am to write the history of the illustrious Class of ' 08. The year 1904 celebrates the birth of this class, which birth marks an important epoch in the life of Athens College. For has not the college trebled itself since 1904? dio can offer a better solution of this than the birth of Class ' 08 and the appearance of the new President? When quite young, we were christened rats by our honored god- mother, the Senior Class — whether on account of our very great impor- tance or our size, I do not know; but it took both the Sophomores and the Juniors to a-- ist the godmother in caring for us. Unlike other ' rats. we never did anything ridiculous or absurd; but. like other ' rats. we had to survive the usual amount of homesickness am! ' cases. However, we managed to get through 1904; and on May 25, 1905, those of us to whom the fates were kind went home with a treasured certificate of promotion to the honored distinction of Sopho- im r s. Page 16

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Greeting — Tree Day, 1908 ' ADIES AND GENTLEMEN, you are with us to-dav to aid us 9« in the celebration of the one day in the entire year which belongs to the Class of Nineteen Eight exclusively. It becomes my pleasant duty to thank you in behalf of the class for your interest in us manifested by your presence. You will scarcely be able to realize what it means to us who have, doubtless, trembled on the brink of uncertainty for these many months, to at last don the cap and gown. And hear me, ye Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman : woe be unto the one, great or small, who dares infringe upon our dignity! To-day we lay aside our childish pleasures and pastimes, and demand henceforth to be recognized and treated as beings superior in wisdom, knowledge, and power. It has long been the custom in our colleges and universities to cele- brate this day by disclosing the what has been and the what will be of the most potent, grave, and reverend Senior to the curious and sen- sation-loving public. Next, to dig a hole, plant the class tree or ivy, sing and yell as much as possible, and depart. As it would shock our unsophisticated underclassmen beyond measure, it will be impossible for us to follow the custom indulged in by our brother colleges ; but we can, and will, make a joyful noise equal in volume to their lusty yells. I shall not attempt to tell you anything of this talented class of ours, as both present and future will be revealed to you in language far more eloquent than I command ; but I would have you, my classmates, remem- ber that each one of us is to represent Athens College ; and in planting our tree upon her campus, let us resolve to ever be worthy of her. Let us seek to grow in wisdom and usefulness as the tree shall grow in strength and beauty. CLASS PRESIDENT. Pat e 15

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I must dwell briefly on the Sophomore year. To those to whom the little line beginning, The Freshman knows not, and knows that she knows not; The Sophomore knows not, but knows not that she knows not, is familiar, it will not seem strange why I fain would have passed this painful downfall without mention; for was it not, indeed, a downfall? We were no longer rats, no longer Freshmen, and in 1908 would grad- uate with the highest honors ever granted by Athens College. What person who has ever passed from Freshman to Sophomore can say that he ever felt bigger or more important than in the first few weeks of the Sophomore year ? The downfall ? I have only to mention the magic words Geometry, Latin, Chemistry, etc., and Class ' 08 will at least understand. In 1906 it was a happy band of girls that gathered in the chapel for Junior work. They had learned their lesson, and had fully realized that they knew nothing, and were now eager in their pursuit for knowledge. The Junior year passed like a dream. Nothing was too difficult, be- cause we worked ; and when at the annual Junior reception we ex- changed our modest lavender and white for the more distinguished crim- son and white, it was with a genuine feeling of pleasure and pride that we retired that night to dream of Senior caps and gowns to be worn on the morrow — that morrow of Senior joys and tears. Tears did I say? That was a slip of my pen ; for a Senior has her emotions far too well under control to ever even feel like shedding tears, unless it be at the thought of leaving Athens, and then it is only a feel-like. But, with all its pleasures and importance, the Senior year is not without its thorns. There are biographies to be written, theses of all sizes and descriptions, and last, but not least, there are privileges to be lost. It would take a genius to describe the many devices we contrive for losing them, but in time we all manage to get them well lost. Now we don our cap and gown and look forward to that day when, armed with hope and a diploma, we will go forth into the world on the true commencement of our lives. HISTORIAN. Page 17 2