Carleton College - Algol Yearbook (Northfield, MN)

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FIRST LETTER HOME MY DEAR MAMA: Nobody knows how forlorn I was as I stepped off the train feeling, so strange and out of place-but several young men and girls stepped up to me and said they,d show me where to go. I was glad Ihad not thrown away my lunch box and that I had enough things to give them all a chance to relieve me. We walked up through town and stopped at a place called Uncle Henry's -and as we walked up to the Hall one of the girlspointed to me and said, 'There goes a slow racef' I didn't know what they meant but I didn't want to seem ignorant so I didnlt ask. I tell you I donlt ask many questions so they think I know it all. The girls are very nice to me. They give spreads for me and do so much. I heard someone say they were working mel'-what do you suppose they meant? I tell you they I7

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REMINISCENCES OF OLD CARLETON BY AN ALUMNUS. I don't know what to tell, forthe things that seemed immense to us then, with the glamour of youth enveloping them as in a mist, may seem commonplace enough in this day and generation when the classes do not burn Cxsar, issue rams, and the like. Then too is it safe? Are the Ueventsu ancient history enough for the powers that be to appreciate them? Then again will the influence be good on these model young people of the present who al- ways ask permission before taking a young lady from Gridley Hall and not affezf, who always 'idistribute their affections, and who never break quarantine? What a charm even now those blessed college days have with all their Clay dreams! When the writer came to Carleton some deeds of the recent past were regularly told to edify and stimulate the freshies. Prominent among them was John D. Taylor's exploit, fam- ous to the then inmates of Gridley Hall. It seems a spirited cat was captured by the spirited John and a tin vesselglued, for effectiveness' sake, to its tail. Thentabby was conveyed up a 1'ire escape and set at liberty in the still hours of the night tif such ever are in the habitat of a hundred school girlsl in the upper hall of Gridley. No man knoweth to a certainty the re- mainder of the tale, but it is confidently predicted that Dr. Richardson, who played a promi- nent and humane part in rescuing poor tabby from man's cruelty, can furnish de-tails. Probably the best joke both in cleverness of design and neatness of execution which the old college witnessed for many a year was the Hdrive on Professor Pearson's oft foh, how oftll repeated illustration of the wonderful changes wrought by time even in the sacred haunts of Palestine, which to his mind were exemplified by the railway operating between .loppa and Jerusalem. It was I-Iallowe'en, and the Professor was expecting pranks, and so from time to time might be seen fand was seenl to issue from his house for a reconnaissance of his prem- ises. Between times an observer might have seen the Professor's buggy issue from the barn and go forth for its adventures. Next morning it was seen standing on the top of the old ob- servatory Coh, the tugs it took to get it therel with a strip of canvas stretched from end to end bearing the eloquent legend Joppa to Jerusalem. Professor Pearson took the joke ex- actly as the majority of people do when it is Hon them. To this day I can see Dr. Wilson wending his customary Way to the Obs but stopping again and again in convulsions of laughter as he glanced at the tribulations of his fellow. I believe the Faculty sat on the case, but failed to fathom the mystery. Nowhere in town had canvas, paint or brushes been bought by students, etc., etc. It were not well now to reveal who sacrinced football trousers, ink jar, or tooth brush to make that famous sign. Let the dead past bury its dead. 16

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can't get me to do their mending for them. The boys come and call on me and take me places. At the reception I wore my blue dimity and I guess it looked fine. I went out to re- freshments with a fine looking young man-he talked real sensible too-and I told him all about you and Liza and Tom. He seemed real interested. He had beautiful light hair. Tom would call him a UCotton-top. He was lovely, had blue eyes and laughed at almost every- thing I said. He introduced me to a cute boy, one of his class-mates, who was his chum. I know I shall like him he is so enthusiastic. I hear that most of the girls like him. I heard someone call him Dago, but he didn't seem at all like one to me. The girls hang pictures here with brooms-we have to be in by dark. I was so scared today-some of the girls were talking of quarantine-I tell you I'll go right home if any contagious diseases break out. I forgot to tell you I need more money, don't forget to send it. Your homesick daughter. HIS FIRST LEETTER HOME DEAR PA AND MA: I got here Tuesday afternoon. A crowd of fellows was at the depot yellin' as if they was mad. I hadn't more than got off the train when a couple of galoots with yellow badges says, UAre you a new student? I can't see how they knew so quickg everybody looked new to me. One grabbed my satchel and I followed him. We hiked up the street until we got to the college, and say-the college ain't one building, it's seven. I told a drayman to take my trunk to Gridley Hall and the kids have been guying me ever since because Gridley is the hall for the girls. The fellow with the ribbon on took me to a room where there were a lot more fellows and a black-board with a list of rooms to rent on it. Everybody knew everbody except me and I felt kind of queer. Wished I could see somebody from Podunk. First thing I knew I was hustled off about seven blocks to see a room. Fellow said seven blocks would be a nice walk for me. I've got to pay 3.51.00 a week for a room with a fellow named Jones. He's a Soph and all Hred stuck up. He won't guff me much, I'll bet. I ain't so green as I look. But say, you ought to see the place where we feed. It's swell I tell you. Girls and boys eat in the same place. I got at a big table with thirteen girls. Grub was good but I wasn't hungry. Theyive got some funny ways here. The bread plate sat in front of me and I helped myself. The girl next to me said, Pass it to the head of the table first. I hadn't 1 8 '