Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

Page 29 text:

XDKR the laws of evolution that prevail at Lehigh, viz: survival of the fittest, and those failing to pass examinations dropped, a class is apt to grow beauti- fully less in numbers, however much it may increase in knowledge. ' 86 has been no exception to this, but its growth in other ways has not been so c. backward or monotonous, that its histo- rian will have to resort to romancing, glittering generalities, or fine writing. It has a history worth relating and if we but state the bare facts, w-e will be fair ro ourselves without being unfair to others, and also avoid the common error of extreme laudation. The history of a class resembles that of a man ' s life, except that it is divided into four periods, instead of seven, as Shakspeare has it. First, the infant, innocent and mild ; next, the happy, careless youth, full of pranks and jokes; then, the young man, earnest and industrious; last, the man, his work nearly c()m])leted, looking to the life beyond. To the last we ha e now arrived, and would (juestion what the outside world has in store tor us. From the nebulous mass of matter that was attracted to Lehigh nearly four years ago, was evolved the lusty infant, ' 86. The child, anoma- lously, had then its maximum size, and did as well as could be expected 25