Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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Our scientific excursions of last year embraced coal-mines, gas-works, soap-factories, and print, glass, and pottery works, sugar-refineries, etc. We can now tell at a glance one from the other ; and the Class and Professor Chandler, to whom we are indebted for the trips, fully enjoyed them, and no doubt picked up much valuable information, While the scientific schools seek knowledge in the above-noticed way, the literary element finds its amusement in adapting old plays and stories to our every-day life. One of these amuses the Engineers very greatly. It is the story of the hen who had hatched out a brood of ducks, and, when the old hen led them out for the first time, they espied a pond into which they immediately plunged, to the alarm of the hen, who stood on the bank and clucked. In the new version, the old hen plunged in, while the ducks stood on the bank and chuckled. Of the many members our Class has lost, we hear from but few. Tom is still looking for sometliing to lay out cold in the scientific expedition line. Blk astonishes his old friends with his performances at the rosy. One of the big Freshmen in ' 29 ' hides his light, doubtless a dark lantern, in the dry-goods trade. The only useful thing taken by him from L. U. being his experience of cross- examinations, in which he gives Alma Mater credit for a good course. Russia has taken from us two of our number, but not the remarkable conundrum: How can a church climb a sycamore tree? Those of us who remain, taking different courses, and inconsequence, scarcely seeing each other, feel more now than ever before the necessity of social reunions, and fully recognize the particular advantages of our annual Class Suppers. That of last year, at the Eagle Hotel, was appreciated by all; and few of us but felt his possible jealousies and selfisliness vanish before the more important feeling, that for the welfare of ' 80 as a whole. On our return this fall, we were made the recipients of a very elegant supper, through the generosity of Mr. M. M. Duncan, in honor of his success of the Sophomore year, in being awarded the Wilbur Scholarship. The Epitome, whose publication devolved upon us last year, was in every respect cc|unl to the former numbers ; and the Class deserve credit 20

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Class of ' Eighty. THE beginning of the present year finds the Junior looking at his college covu ' se in a new light. He has just turned the stake- boat marking the completion of one-half the race, and now is pulling straight toward his prize, — the diploma. Formerly, how long he has been here was his uppermost thought; now he thinks how short a time there is left of his stay, and, speakin .; from the experi- ence of the past, how rapidly it will pass. As we bring before us the reminiscences of the past year, with what is pleasurable in them brightened by time, and all the unpleasant parts entirely dropped from sight, few of us but would live the year over again if the loss of a year ' s time were not the penalty. For we have enjoyed the year. Every part has been filled with its own pleasures, and though we often feel the need of a gymnasium and a few other things that have made themselves indispensable in all our colleges, yet situated as we are, and with the good health that is the rule with us, none of us can honestly complain of no chance for enjoyment. What troubles we have are soon laughed away, — ourselves joining in the laugh, — -and then we take back what we said of Faculty or of some of its members. The Sophomore year, generally the one in which the student considers himself a compendium of all knowledge, did not beguile us into any learned displays of ignorance. Not but that we felt our superiority over the state of verdancy from which we had just emerged, only we let our work speak for us, and particularly our original discoveries, which were many, especially in chemistry. Then the Class is modest, as our motto indicates. 19

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for maintaining a college institution in the face of great discouragement, and against a feeling that the cost would come heavily upon themselves, which last, happily, vvas not realized. As in former years, we have held our leading position in athletics ; and in the last two meetings we have won sixteen of eighteen prizes awarded. In the annual game of football with ' 8i, we were given one goal by a foul ; and though not as satisfactory to us as a well-earned goal would be, yet with the odds of numbers heavily against us, to have defended our own goal for nearly three hours showed the Class to have both pluck and endurance. Every year increases our love for the Class, and naturally too ; for working side by side, helping, and in turn being helped, we learn to understand and appreciate the qualities of each member. May the feeling grow stronger, and the success of one be enjoyed by all ; and may our boast be that we are members of ' 80, and may the Class be worthy of the boast I 21