Athens State College - Columns Yearbook (Athens, AL)

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Class Poem To me has been given the task of a poem, Now humbly entreating the muse, I sing of the virtues of class thirteen, This class has no fault to excuse. I sing of our ideals so high and so great, Of the heights to which we aspire. And the goal of the future, we see from afar. Which has set our young hearts afire. We have studied the works of Hallam ' s great friend. Of Browning, the Mystic and Seer. Things that were once very dim and obscure. Seem wonderfully bright now and clear. Into the broad stream of current events, We have steered our bark on our way. Class ' 13 are progressive, my friends. They appreciate wonders of today. I speak with regret of our schooldays, past, Their comradeship sweet, and their dreams. And we, though young, have discovered the truth, That life is not all that it seems. But though in the future life ' s sorrows are ours. Though none of our hopes may come true. Enshrined in our hearts Alma Mater shall stand. And we ' ll love still the gold and the blue. (28)

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Indeed they would, and I always received the impression from hearing grandma Esther talk that although they were good students when they were Freshmen and Sophomores, yet in their Junior year they were exceed- ingly hard workers, each one with a different aim in life, in view. I ' ve often heard the dear old lady exclaim: ' Was the Y. W. C. A. ever conducted better than it was when Ruth Jacobs and Lizzie Buch were at its head ? And what girls could be more tireless at their books than Mattie May, Bertha Elizabeth and Ethel Mae Hightower? So even if the Juniors did have to forego some pleasures, which was very hard for them to do at that time, she said they were all the better prepared for their Senior year with its dignity and new responsibilities. Besides their regular heavy course, practically all the class had some outside interest to take up their time. Yes, some of the girls had diplomas from the schools of Oratory and Music, and then Esther edited the Oracle, and Cassie Belle the Athenian. I ' ve heard it remarked that they made a great success of both publica- tions. Another department grandmamma Anna said, in which the college as a whole were justly proud of the class thirteen, was that of athletics. For four years their basketball team won in most of the contests, and in all of them Zella was spoken of as the particular star. She would have evidently been a credit to any school. You know, with all their faults they must have been a congenial bunch. Goodness! There ' s light-bell! I wonder if they hated to hear it ring as badly as we do? A Senior ' s Lament There ' s not a bit of use a-talking — This is an awful life; There are times I think I ' d rather be A circuit rider ' s wife. It ' s Seniors, be more dignified; You ' re models for the girls. And, Seniors, hand your essays in ; Oh ! my head is in a whirl ! Instead of convict stripes, I wear The dismal cap and gown ; And all my woes and troubles, too, In good black ink I drown. (27)

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Prophecy |T ' S been ten long years since I ' ve seen a single member of Class ' 13, so I ' ve invited all of them to be my guests at a house party. All these letters, which the postman has just brought me, must be from them. Some of these have such queer foreign-looking stamps. There ' s one from South America. That looks interesting, so I ' ll open it first. Rio de Janiero, Brazil Dear E.stiier. — It made me so happy to hear from you, and how glad I am that we are all going to be together again. I admit that my business here really needs my attention, but I think 1 can break away. You probably remember I am still in search of the bird known as Polly. I think the Brazilian Polly Parrots are pretty, in- deed, but still they scarcely equal the Athens variety in real charm. I am going to bring one with me, a beauty indeed. I have named it Pearle, for it is the pearl of my collection. Then, too, it has a beautiful contralto voice so like the Athens species, which I mentioned above. In addition to my work as a parrot collector, I ' ve made a special study of chills, and their cure. I think I have found the remedy. Would you like to hear it ? Quinine and salt made into a strong tea and taken before and after meals. I find it is splendid. Expect me Saturday with my polly. Lovingly, Cassie Belle Robinson. Dear me, I had no idea her zeal would carry her that far. Oh, these fascinating poUys ! I ' m sure there will be lots of fun hearing Pearle talk. Here ' s a business like letter from New York. I wonder whom it ' s from. I feel like I ' m playing some kind of puzzle game. Well, the best way to find out is to open the letter, I suppose, so — New York, N. Y. Dear Esther. — I was so glad to hear from you again, and happier still at the prospect of seeing you so soon, and being with Class ' 13. This is not a busy time with me, and I can come so conveniently. You doubtless know that I am one of the most famous composers of sentimental and ragtime songs of today. Your eyes have no doubt filled with tears over the pathetic little gem entitled, When I saw your last dressmaker ' s bill, my Angeline, It is considered the greatest song-hit since Love me and the world is mine. I ' m so glad Mattie Mae will be with us, for I ' m sure she will be able to give my songs an artistic rendering, especially some of the coming ones. Thank you again for your invitation. Sincerely, Sarah Rives. How lovely I Sarah was always so talented, and had such beautiful ideas of sentiment. I must buy that sweet song right away, for she must not know that I ' ve never heard it. I ' m getting excited ; I believe they are all coming. (29)