Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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hotel echoed to the hearty bursts of laughter that rang from the throats around that festive board. Speeches were made, toasts responded to, songs were sung, and — for an historian must tell both sides of a story — a couple of puns of such a style were gotten off, that we felt compelled to throw the perpetrators out of the window; which was done without delay. In this way time sped; and although we did not break up until four o ' clock, every man, mirabile dictti ! was able to take care of himself. At the spring meeting of the Athletic Association, we added more glory to our already bright record ; carrying off more first prizes than the other three classes together. From this time to the end of the term we were kept pretty busy ; the usual cramming being necessary in addition to our regular duties. We survived it, however, as well as the examinations that followed, and with considerable pleasure looked forward to the long rest and more honorable position that awaited us on our return. The first of September saw us again collecting in the same Old Chapel, but with considerable more confidence this time; we had attained the rank of Sophomores, and other fresh men occupied our former humble position. As a matter of course, we felt it incumbent upon us to shoulder the burdens custom has laid upon Sophomores ; that is — To teach the youngsters how to act, To pour some fresh ideas o ' er their minds, etc. In our case, however, those burdens were extremely easy. The Freshies proved very docile, and soon obeyed us implicitly. They quietly left the room when we informed them that we wished to hold a meeting there. They — But it is useless to give details ; suffice it to say that, as a consequence of their modest behavior, we concluded there was no necessity for hazing. One of them, however, not content with our kind treatment, became somewhat obstreperous when out of hearing, and it was deemed best to pay him a visit; but when the committee arrived at his rooms, he received them so kindly, and treated them so hospitably, that before they were ready to announce their purpose they were in such good humor with him — and everything else, for that mat- ter — that they unanimously agreed to give him another trial. He took the hint, mended his ways, and has, we trust, become a wiser, if not better, man. l 5

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History Eighty -Three. A SECOND time the Class of ' 83 is called upon to prepare a history of its wondrous deeds and experiences. Wondrous I call them, and so they are ; for what other historian has had so many victories, so few defeats, so many pleasures, so few sorrows to chronicle, as now await us ? We are not compelled, as our predecessors have been, to lament the loss of most of our men, but, on the contrary, are able to point to ten new names that have been added to the number on our entrance list. Thirty-two we numbered on that September afternoon when we attended our first Chapel exercises, and wondered how many of the others that were there were Sophs, and what they would try to do ; but now we muster — only at Class-meetings, however — forty-two mem- bers in that same Old Chapel, the largest Sophomore Class that ever graced the records of our honored Alma Mater. But to our history ! Our achievements during the first term of our Freshman year have already been described ; it now remains for us to complete the history so admirably begun by our former historian. At the close of our Christmas vacation, we all returned to our several duties, — a thing almost unheard of before ; the Christmas examinations usually playing sad havoc in the Freshman ranks. The usual college routine followed our return, diversified occasion- ally by a trip to Allentown or a sleigh-ride to Easton. The first important event that occurred was our Class Supper, held at the Sun Hotel on the 9th of April, 1880. Space forbids us to do it justice. The tables groaned with fruits of all kinds, and the whole

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For the annual cane-rush, the Juniors, by dint of perseverance, worthy of a better cause, managed to infuse a little enthusiasm into the Freshmen ; but it was labor lost, for, with an equal number, we soon deprived them of the stick. and the right to carry it. Since that time there has never but one Freshman ventured out with a cane, and that was the day ' 83 went to the mines. At the fall sports, ' 83 again carried off more than half the prizes, and turned out two tug-of-war teams that took the palm of victory. Our bonfire on the 2d of September, although a grand affair for some of the boys, proved rather a sad one for others. The immense fire, together with the fish-horns and tin pans that were used, soon brought out the whole police force — two men and a dog, which, after some work and considerable swearing, managed to take a few of the culprits before the justice. Here they were requested to pay a couple of dollars apiece for their frolic ; and one of them, who protested, was per- mitted to brood over his troubles in the little stone mansion by the river. The trip to the zinc-mines was made with considerable more dis- play than usual. Two four-horse coaches were procured, and the start was made with all the clash and clatter that is supposed to have accom- panied the departure of the coach of our daddies. The mine was reached and duly inspected ; but while returning along one of the dark passages a cry was heard, and one of the fellows fell heels over head into one of the deep holes that had been left flooded. They say he was pretty full before, but, be that as it may, he was certainly in that condition when they dragged him out. However, having been taken home, and thoroughly warmed inwardly as well as outwardly, he finally recovered, and at present, we are happy to state, is able to be around. Here our present chronicle must end ; but let us hope that during the rest of our college life, ' 83 may be noted for that same solidity, kindly feeling, and genial fellowship that has characterized it in the past, and as the poet says : Deeper, deeper, let us toil In the mines of knowledge ; Nature ' s wealth and learning ' s spoil Win from school and college ; Delve we there for richer gems Than the stars of diadems. Historian. 26