Kenyon College - Reveille Yearbook (Gambier, OH)

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® ® Editors. ® CLAY VARNER SANFORD, A. A. editor is-c»«i»:r. WILLIAM BUCHTEL BECK, A K K . EUGENE BROOKS DOUTHIRT, + V . WILLIAM RUSSELL McKIM, h a X.. FREDERICK JAMES DOOLITTLE, A T A.. n U8IH CSS-M A N Aor. H. 8

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uism that a progressive man is sure to encounter in a public school position, told heavily upon the Doctors strength, and he hastened to escape this under- mining of his health by accepting the Peabody Professorship of Mathematics in Kenyon College, a position to which he had been elected entirely without his knowledge. For the last twenty-five years, Dr. Sterling has lived and worked in Gam bier, devoting t he best years of his life to the interests of Kenyon Col- lege. That this labor and devotion has been appreciated, the College has not failed to show. When the Bowler Professorship of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry became vacant in 1870. by the resignation of Prof. Smith. I)r. Ster- ling was elected to till the vacancy, and later in the history of the College the Trustees gave evidence of their confidence in Dr. Sterling's judgment and ability. For many years Kenyon College had been seriously handicapped in j»s progress by the form of its organization. The number of students had alarm- ingly diminished, until, at Commencement in 1891, but twenty seven students were left in the College, and four of these would go out with the graduating class. The future of the institution was enveloped in uncertainty, and its friends trembled for its welfare. But at the critical moment relief came in the form of a new constitution, which went into effect in August, 1801, and Dr. Sterling was called upon to act as President, in place of Dr. William B. Bodine, who had resigned. With the new order of things, however, came new life into the College. The tide of prosperity that had l een so rapidly ebbing, began again to flow, and Dr. Sterling, as President pro tempore, did much, by his wise, quiet, progressive jiolicy, to accelerate the current. The year 1891-02 was in every way a prosperous one, and at Commencement the Trustees showed their wisdom and appreciation by electing Dr. Sterling President of the College. With this election the « risis in Kenyon's affairs was passed. The autumn brought to us an increase of almost one hundred per cent, in the numl er of students, an enlarged Faculty, and an extended course of study. Here this sketch must be left unfinished, save bv the uttered wish of Kenyon's students that many years of Dr. Sterling’s executive wisdom may be secured to the College before the ending can be written. 7

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Editorial . ® % IE Z] HE REVEILLE lias awakened at last. Since ISSN we have been receiv- Vls ing annuals from our sister colleges, and by this time the Compli- ments of the Alpha, or Beta. PLEASE EXCHANGE!' has ceased to cause us any feeling of shame. Far from being a reminder that we are four or live years behind with our book, these few words come to us as old friends. Hut we must cut them off. One cannot have everything as he wants it. So we have tried to answer these requests by getting out a creditable publication. We have few complaints to make. The students have supported us well. Their concert last January captured for us a receipt in full for the old Kkveii.lk debt. Besides, comparatively few have asked us when our book was to come out, and this is a favor that previous editors can appreciate. Kenyon College, too, has awakened. It has undergone a complete purg- ing and reorganization. A new scientific course has l een organized, the pro- fessorships have been tilled by able men, the laboratories have been refitted, radical changes have l»ecn made in the demerit and absence system, funds have been generously subscribed by the Alumni, and, from the increased num- ber of Freshmen and the additions to the upper classes, we see that our boom is “on.” The literary societies, Philomathesinn and Nu Pi Kappa, have been reorganized and arc infused with new life. We are pleased to note, also, the founding of two or three societies, or sscial organizations. Among these is the Kenvonite Order of Holy Monks, though perhaps we should not regard a union so religious as social either. Every proselyte, on admission to the order, takes a solemn vow to abstain from all such worldliness as washing. This, they tell us, is not taken of their own fee will, but the extreme scarcity of bath rooms in (iambier compels almost total abstinence, so they take this measure merely as an excuse. They 9