University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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OCTOBER, 1935 13 HIS FAVORITE PASTIME

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12 THE JAYHAWKER The nightshirt parade Dealing With the Origin and Evolution of One of K.U s Most Colorful Traditions by MARY JULE SHIPMAN IT WAS the victory of 1902. The game in the Big Six was played off campus, and the student body ran wild at the good news, thinking ways to work off steam. Somehow, late that night, the jubilant, hysterical crowd came up in front of Chancellor Strong ' s. For blocks Louisi- ana was awakened by the shouting. At last the chancellor himself stuck a sleepy head from a window. We ' ve won ! was the shout. Speech ! Speech! Without a moment ' s pause he walked out onto the narrow balcony overlooking the street, in the excitement oblivious to his own nightgowned person. Not so the student body. His few words were greeted with riotous cheers, followed by a dash to quarters to obtain garb similar to that of their leader. What ' s good enough for Chancy is good enough for me, was the cry as the night-robed figures marched about the campus delightedly the rest of the night. Thus was another of Oread ' s famous traditions begun. To be sure, a less romantic tale, involving the annual town and gown night squabble between the town toughies and college slickers, which necessitated non-damageable clothing being worn, has been cited. Another there is, a hopelessly pfosaic one of gradual evolution from the year one of K. U. memory and the celebration after the Baker game (the first of the season each year), with speeches by old Chan- cellor Snow to fill out the bill. This version, told by THE Irving Hill, one time hero of the Kansas football field, bears weight only by virtue of his name, we hope. Dr. James Naismith contributes that the celebration was discontinued for some years, then resumed in 1900 after the Nebraska game. His theory that night- ies were a gradual addition may well be supplemented by the opening paragraphs of this, my story. From such we will be- lieve our traditions emerge not from chance and lazy men too fagged to dress to go downtown. In 1904, remembers Professor Melvin of the history department, the snake dance was stolen from M U to add to the general glee. What wonder our name Jayhawker, once explained as they copped our stuff and flew by an en- raged Missourian, has stuck to us. Confined to the Hill at first, the exuberance of the crowd soon made them invade the town. After a noon rally, history has it, plans were made to march in cheering ranks over Lawrence, on the present route down Oread to Indiana, east on Eighth to Massachusetts and south to the park for speeches and refresh- ments. The old Bowersock and Varsity theaters were thrown open to the stu- K. U. BOYS DISPLAY THE LATEST THINGS IN NIGHTWEAR dents, the only stipulation being that all must be fully clothed before entrance. Only two casualties worthy of note are mentioned. In 1919 a street car on Massa- chusetts, driven by a motorman who was teased by the crowd, ran down these boys. Inquiry was held, and it was feared that the custom would die in agony. But Kansans are made of sterner stuff. Fifteen hundred of them rose to the occasion in 1920. A year later its proportions were such that Chancellor Lindley himself led the parade in a truck. In ' 24, Swede Carlson, alumnus, re- ports, dates were forceably hauled away from their charmers and made to join the mob. Take Youse, Haffaker, Ghetto, Rice, Roberts, Miller then add Pfuettze to the list of cheerleading fame. Mac ' s band is succeeded by Red ' s, and the march goes on. To what are we heading now, though ? A decline began in ' 26, when fresh- men were forced into the line by K Men with paddles and seniors were allowed to slip into the ranks of on- lookers with the women. Our he-men became followers of the army of pledges. The custom of holding the gala af- fair on the night of the first home game was broken in ' 33 for the first time in many years. Now this annual event is delayed until the night before one of our most important games to be played on the home field. More enthusiasm about the event is thus created by that time, and the big night is eagarly awaited by those who expect to be spectators. As to the fortitude of the participants, the time was when the boys ran in old-fashioned nightshirts even in a driv- ing rain. However, now a murky evening discourages some of the pajamaed sissies. A variety of the latest in bedroom wear may be observed at this fashion show. Flannel has proved to be the most popu- lar of fabrics not only for warmth, but also for the extra protection it provides when a paddle is wielded in keeping an orderly line. Vivid colors in all hues are displayed by the models, but the more loyal of them usually succeed in rigging up a combination of red and blue. Bath- robes are employed by the more modest of the boys; however, the majority are anxious for this chance to display their handsome physiques. (Continued on page 81)

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14 THE JAYHAWKER The head man A Biographical Sketch of the Career of K. U. ' s Distinguished Chancellor by DEAN MOORHEAD OLIVER GOLDSMITH once said, There is an unspeakable pleasure surrounding the life of a. voluntary stu- dent. He might have added that this pleasure becomes doubly enjoyable when the student achieves national fame and recognition as a result of application to his studies. Were we to imitate O. O. Mclntyre and apply a one word descrip- tion to Chancellor Lindley, that word must of necessity be student, for through- out his interesting career Chancellor Lindley has been first of all a student. To those of us here at K. U., nominally at least in the guise of students, it is exceedingly interesting to trace Chan- cellor Lindley ' s studies and to discover how he progressed through a field of study which had a beginning very similar to the life in which we are all now participating. Chancellor Lindley ' s formal schooling began in Bloomington, Indiana. There, while working day and night in his father ' s drug store, he completed his preparatory work at the age of fourteen. Although Bloomington was the home of Indiana University, circumstances were such that Chancellor Lindley was at first unable to continue his schooling. For three years after graduation he worked in his father ' s drug store, waiting for the time when he hoped to enter the Uni- versity. But these three years were far from wasted. The over the counter acquain- tances acquired during this time were many and valuable. David Starr Jordan, then president of Indiana University, was a steady customer at the drug store, and with him the young clerk formed a strong friendship. At first their meetings outside of the store were brought about by Chancellor Lindley ' s waiting inside the gate of his home until Jordan passed and then, seemingly by coincidence, by his joining Jordan and happening to be going in the same direction. Whether or not Jordan ' s suspicions were aroused by the frequency of these coincidences, he welcomed them, for, naturalist and counsellor that he was, he always was glad to talk to the youth at his side, to acquaint him with nature, and to discuss with him the many problems of a young boy ' s life. Then, too, there was a shoe-maker an artist in friendship, Chancellor Lindley calls him whose shop was the meeting place of a little circle of men who loved knowledge and serious discus- sions. In this circle the young student found a place, learned literature by ear, and fostered the conversational powers which he now possesses. When at last he was able to enroll in Indiana University, Chancellor Lindley discovered that these three years of work had better suited him for college by furthering his general knowledge and by whetting his desire to study. Memory of the benefits of these years today causes Chancellor Lindley to counsel students not to be discouraged if a college education is postponed a few years. THE UNIVERSITY ' S MOST DISTINGUISHED STUDENT