Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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In May the Messrs. Reno left us, and we thus lost two good men at one swoop. Conrad afterwards went to Cambridge, where he is now studying law ; and in September, Jesse returned to Lehigh, but not to ' 82, preferring instead to take a special course; and though he is a special, we all hope to see him graduate with us. At the Commence- ment in June, the Wilbur Scholarship was awarded to Mr. Hopkins, with many complimentary remarks to Mr. Lawall, who pushed him closely, thereby raising the average. We claim that ' 82 took the scholar- ship with a higher mark than any previous class; and we make this claim, not with the hope that Hopkins will be nattered into giving us a supper, but because every other class has made the same boast, and we suppose it is the proper thing to do. At the end of the term, finding that we all thought a Class Supper with our reduced numbers would be a bore, and being anxious to get away as soon as possible, we resolved to go home without it. Thus closed the term. Those of the Class whose ponies had not kicked them to death at the June examinations, returning in September, found a host of strange- looking, round-eyed Freshmen perambulating the Park, inquiring for Mr. Rice and the other appliances usually made use of in such cases in getting off conditions. We patted them on the back, and gave them the usual good advice ; and at the cane-rush which shortly took place between them and the Sophomores, after delivering the cane into their hands, we yelled: Go in, Freshy! as per custom ; enforcing by the majesty of our presence fair play. Our lungs being weak, the Fresh- men lost their cane. We found the roster for this term very badly arranged, inasmuch as, in the morning, we generally had two spare hours separated by an hour of recitation, and were thus compelled to waste the greater part of these two hours ; while every afternoon we had to teach ourselves sur- veying for three hours. This arrangement crowded us so much that we hardly found time for the writing which the numerous and lengthy problems in mechanics and chemistry involved. When we came to plane table surveying, the class was instructed to provide itself with one piece of cloth-backed drawing- paper, but no one feeling it incumbent upon him to pay the bills of the class, the paper was not provided, and after a week of coming to the drawing-room, finding no paper there,

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History Eighty -Two. ' l MGHTY-TWO, being a small class, re quires a short history, and, not j wishing to relinquish a good thing, we will begin with the remark that another year has rolled around, and as Juniors now, etc., or, one more irrevocable step on the journey of, etc., or, time passes, and we are nearing the goal to which, etc., — in short, it is a year later than it was this time last year. A year later, and our noble class shows sadly the ravages of time. Of the twenty-two souls that embarked with us on this perilous voyage, all save ten are lost or missing; indeed, more than that, for, of these ten, several have been picked up from the wrecks of other classes. In January of last year, while we were yet Sophomores, we con- tested at Uhl ' s Brewery for the guardianship of the Class Mug, which we had had made previously at the pottery in Allentown. The result of this contest we agreed to keep secret, and notwithstanding the numerous detectives who have been set to work up the case, the whole matter is still buried in the deepest mystery ; indeed, so completely was the mug concealed on that memorable night, that we have since been accused of not knowing ourselves where it is, or what has become of it. This is, of course, the basest slander; the mug is safe and sound, and will be given to that member of the class who is the first to become a father. In April we published our Epitome, and it was, of course, a simply wonderful production, and far in advance of any previous attempt ; Best of all, it was a complete financial success, the first, we believe, which has been scored ; and future classes may now be spared the humiliation of asking some trustful Trustee to go security for their Epitome. 18

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receiving zero and going home again, our short holiday was cut short, and we resumed the study of surveying. A few weeks after this, when it had grown comfortably cool, we were told that each man would bring his own cloth-backed paper, and make up the plane table work during extra hours; some of us managed to find time for this, some did not. About this time one of our number was brought before the Faculty for an excess of absence, and, inadvertently telling the truth, received, a few days afterwards, the following note : Dear Sir : You are hereby informed that the price of chickens is risen. The sun shines and the little globe turns around. Hurrah for Hancock ! Heaven is just. . This note we publish through the courtesy of Mr. John Smith, author of Curiosities of Literature, who purchased it from the class for insertion in the above work, in the chapter headed Curious Epitaphs and Won- derful Death-Warrants. A translation of the note shows that it was intended to convey the idea that the individual to whom it was addressed should leave the University ! This brings us to the end of our fall term and of our History, and reminding the reader that he can never be con- sidered au fail unless thoroughly posted as to the exploits of the great and glorious class of ' 82. Historian.