Concordia College - Spire / Concordian Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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TKv ZLVA C DKklAN ' IB.

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l UUUOWUOUUUOOUttOOUUOOPOUOOUUOUOUJUPUOUUUUOUUUUgBBUUOHUUUUUUUUl Prima Of Days Gone By OUR life at Concordia began in September, 1912. On those sunny days of early autumn ninety-four hopeful lads, for the first time, crossed the campus with heavy laden suit-cases. On the faces of some of us was pictured the grim determination to be men, and to make the best of the sit- uations that might arise ; others were pale and resigned, thinking of mother at home, their future appearing homeless and hope- less. Within a few weeks, however, even the latter had adapted themselves to the new mode of living, though prac- tically all looked expectantly to the day when they would see mother again. After weeks of hard work came the days when the sun rises cheerless over hills of gray, and, darkly circled, gives at noon a sadder light than waning moon. Christmas vacation was at hand. Nearly all of us went home. After two weeks we returned encouraged to stick to it. We all went to work again, and soon we were at the end of the first term. When we returned for the next school-year our number was considerably reduced, and though a few new-comers cast their lot with ours, we were but sixty-five. Nearly all of us con- tinued in the pace that we had set ourselves during the first year. But again at the end of the term many thought, like in the foregoing year, that they had not chosen the right calling, and these therefore left us to seek their opportunities and successes in other directions. They doffed with ease their scholar ' s gown to peddle wares from town to town. In the third year, Quarta, we appeared with strong and seemingly invincible forces, to conquer Greek, and to make our presence felt at Concordia. Nearly all mischief committed during that term was accredited to the class ' 18. Shortly before the ever returning Christmas vacation, every Quartaner was in possession of a loud purple and orange jersey, and our first appearance in these at a basket-ball game, was claimed by the wearers to have been the greatest event of the season. An attempt was also made at a class literary society and upon it the sages of the class looked with pride and en- thusiasm. Some careless boys that year we seemed; but in our club we had the look and air of those who wisely schemed, and hostage from the future took in training thought and lore of book. The whole class had a common interest, and each individual member was supported by the remaining ninety- TKv £XZ VC DKMAN ' 18,

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lUUUUUUOuuuuuuuuoouuooooooouu B oobouguauuuuuuuuua s ouuoouuuououun With a more serious view of life we began our work in the fourth year. Some were soon parading about with chevrons on their sleeve in testimony of the fact that they had become well acquainted with Uncle Sam ' s firearms. After a few weeks of lessons the whole class gathered in the club-room for the election of the editorial staff of this annual. In the course of the year also our coat lapels were decorated with the class insignia. We became more reserved from day to day, pre- paratory to our becoming members of the ruling body of Con- cordia, and soon also came the time when most of us glided happily over to the unexplored land, Secunda. And when the following school-year shone, we looked upon a world unknown, on nothing we could call our own. We were to battle with Hebrew. Once more many discovered at the thought of it that their life work lay in another field. Con- sequently our number was again reduced. Those that had returned labored zealously with Livius and Virgil, Homer and Xenephon. We worked, we perspired, we endured agony. But we also enjoyed our Smokers ' , our social gatherings. We were active for our Alma Mater. Hand in hand with the class ' 17 we made many good improvements. The dormitory underwent a thorough renovation, due to the endeavor of members of our class. Much of the general interest of the Quarta year, however, had passed into oblivion, and in its stead sprang up small groups of true and devoted friends. No more beyond the circle of our hearth a welcome sound of toil or mirth unbound the spell, and testified of human life and thought outside. Also Mars received his first toll from our midst when two class-mates volunteered for the First Officers ' Training Camp. Now we have almost completed our sixth and last year at our Alma Mater. We number but twenty-four. Hebrew, Greek, Latin and the World ' s War took comrades from us for the last time, during the first part of this term. Those of us that remain may often be found meditating over the past. Often also the conversation drifts to the days gone by. But youth is not the season of dreams of the past, and we are soon awakened from our thoughts by our daily duties. We have not yet reached the goal, we are still striving onward. Our fondest hope is that all those, who at one time were numbered with us, may have enjoyed as happy a life as we did during our six years ' stay at Concordia. Class Colors: Purple and Burnt Orange Class Motto: Ever Upward, Ever Onward TKv £X7 S: DKklAN ' IB.