Birmingham Southern College - Southern Accent Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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I IIDIIC m i [Dld I!! n Senior Class Prophecy HAD the pleasure of startling the loungers at the roof aerodrome of the Waldorf-Astoria by landing unannounced after a short trip from my home in the South. It was late in the afternoon of June 6, 1 929. I went at once to the lobby to register for my room and to take some refreshment after my tiresome trip. I was very much surprised to meet Herbert Byars, an old classmate of mine. After greetings were exchanged I accepted his cordial invitation to his home. On the way out I was much surprised to hear that he had become very successful as a surgeon in New York City. I was delighted to meet his charming wife, and to play with little Herbert Jr., for the sake of old times and pleasant memories. After dinner we were discussing old times, and Byars mentioned the fact that exactly ten years ago to the day we received our diplomas from Birmingham-Southern College. This led to a discussion of our classmates. I had, on my last business trip as inspector of the Aerial Mail Service, visited the town of Waverly, Ala. There I found the wife of the postmaster taking care of the office in the absence of her husband. I was glad to remember her as our classmate, Jessie Stead. She told me that their beloved pastor was Brother T. L. Hill, who was doing a great work for the church and the social life of the community. Dr. Byars had been astonished the previous week to recognize in one of the opera singers our friend and fellow student, Miss Louise McCormick. He went behind the scenes, and was told that her wonderful success was largely due to the capable manage- ment of Elmer Hinton. We are sure that this success was due to his wide experience during his college days. It had been my pleasure recently to visit the city of Birmingham. There I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Umsted Pitts fill the pulpit of the First Methodist Church in the absence of the pastor. Rev. R. K. Jones. Dr. Pitts was having some trouble in holding down the eloquent brethren of his District. But he hoped to moke a favorable report from Birmingham District at the end of the year. That afternoon I visited our Alma Mater, which had grown to be one of the greatest educational institutions of the South. I was cordially received by the successful president, Dr. Grace Jones. She had, after a time spent in advance study, and work along educational lines, been chosen to administer the affairs of this growing institution. It was here that I also met two others of my old classmates. They were Messrs. deYampert and Hunt, who had built up a business in the wholesale hardware trade that was the envy of the merchants throughout the country. They found it necessary to employ a special attorney to take care of their varied interests. This attorney proved (27) y LHJ 3 DC ME w

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banquet, and such momentous questions as Ish-ka-bibble, were debated in thunder tones; deYampert, e ' en tho vanquished, argued still. Marvelous musical ability was demontrated by Hinton, Hill and Hunt, when they sang Tipperary to the tune of Old Black Joe ; and the whole class was amazed by the ability shown in the readings given by the Duck University. Their wonderful experiences as Freshmen aided them in becoming the know-all Sophomores, for they then gave directions to the unfortunate Rats, and ably took part in all that college afforded. The ranks thinned as they marched through the period of Sophomorism, for some were vanquished by such hardened foes as Horace, others became entangled in the deep mysteries of Science, and many were chained in heavy tribute to Math. The entire class attained a certain degree of excellence in athletics, for they exercised m the halls, walking there, in a nd out of season. Hinton and Byars became famous among the fans of the diamond and gridiron, for Byars was elected president of the Athletic Association, and Hinton, manager of Baseball. Hill and Jones became famous tracksmen; Hill by his record runs for Chapel, while Jones attained his skill in running from Mrs. Moore ' s to Mrs. Walton ' s. Having learned the true value of one golden minute set with sixty diamond seconds, they settled down to work in earnest. It was in this year that they became less im- portant in their own eyes and more so in the eye.: of others ( rats, f ' r instance.) Their labors reaped rich results for Coulliette won the Ready Writer ' s Medal, and deYampert, the Oratorical Medal. George, deYampert, Jessie, and Grace announced their intention of making the course in three years, and, by their excellent recitations, displayed their ability to carry out their intention. All work and no play makes Jack a poor student. So work and fun, we found were easily mingled on the Royal Road to Knowledge. Versatility became the outstand- ing characteristic. Jessie Stead possessed the rare accomplishment of perpetual motion, and Louise that of always being in a pickle. Hill displayed a marvelous ability of falling in love, and then out again. While Pitts and Jones remained the fixed stars, never swerving from their orbit of duty. Their unfailing resourcefulness in the ability to bluff has aided them in many unprepared recitations. So with ups and downs — mostly downs, the class finally reached the exalted state of being Seniors, but — I am firmly convinced that the Faculty entered an organized conspiracy for the purpose of persecuting the innocent Seniors. Just think of the way they were chased from the halls to the Library, and the enormous amount of energy consumed in writing essays and debates. And to add insult to injury, the rats have actually tried to disobey orders. With so many hardship:-, no wonder the Senior Co-eds never giggled. The fun and frolic has been overshadowed by the big things they have accomplished. And through the years, they have risen from obscurity to great individual importance, only to lose them- selvse in bigger and better things. Now they leave part of their hearts to the school through which they have fought and triumphed. HISTORIAN ' 19

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IlL JLOjiC mm to be no other than the Hon. George Reynolds. He had eslabhshed a great reputation for himself in spite of his youth. He spoke of entering politics at a later time. I assured him that I believed his success would be great if he should do so. Thus Dr. Byars and I found that all of our classmates had fulfilled all the promise of their college days, and were doing their part in the world ' s work . )enior CI ass oem YESTERDAY Look back, dear Comrades, to thai yesterday When we started this journey together; Four years we have trudged along the way. In calm and stormy weather: Calm — when we heeded what instructors had to say. Stormy — when we played our lime away Not all are with us who started that yesterday. Some heard their Country ' s call. And are in Flanders field — far away. Yet there ' s still a tie that binds us all. Cemented by associations of many-a-day. TODAY And now, look into your hearts this day. There lies a mixture of varied emotions As we part, — each to go on his way To carry out plans and notions. In laying aside text-books, worn and sere. We feel relieved, — we are really glad ; But on leaving Alma Mater and teachers, dear. Regret comes over us and we are sad. Feelings of gratitude well up in each heart, We cannot express, — tears almost start. As approaches the day we must part. TOMORROW Tomorrow? Who can draw the curtain from tomorrow And reveal what the Future for us doth hold? That gift belongs to a Higher, Greater Power, — Yet surely we ' ve learned what we ' re so oft told. That our tomorrows are the product of our yesterdays. So let us be steadfast to the principles we ' ve been taught: Be honest, conscientious, noble m all our ways, Set an example that cannot be bought; And with grateful hearts and memories that stay. Let us light tomorrow with yesterdays and today. Trust on, and think tomorrow will repay. f