Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

Page 9 text:

E ?re no longer children. We have now entered the collegiate department, the goal of our prepdom ambitions. We have heroically met the responsibilities of this position, also the furious jealous) ' of the Seniors and Juniors, and ha e conquered We have been given this opportunity of making known to the world, our achievements, but as we are a modest class, we will leave it for others to tell how theNmety-si.ves. like a mighty- wave, swept up the campus, and on and up. over the college steps, over the prostrate forms of the Juniors, and still on and up. never stopping till it had reached the highest heights, and had triumphantly flung its gold and purple crest to the gentle breezes. We will leave it for others to eulogize our probationists, those heroic martyrs who underwent so many tribulations in maintaining the honor and principles of ' 96. We will leave it for others to laud the considerate and self-sacrificial spirit, d splayed by the Freshmen in changing the night of their banquet from the time immemorial twenty- second of February to the twenty-first: just in order to gratify the envious ?nd grasping desires of the Senior boys, who privately intimated to quite a number of our class, by the means of little white winged messengers, that they would like to ' ' borrow the loan of a part of our class for their banquet on the twenty-second. Although we are modest, it is kut just that we mention a few of our successes: While but infants we covered ourselves with glory by playing foot ball against the Goliaths of all the classes. Our literary work in the different societies has brought the flush of pride to the cheeks of our fellow classmen, and has won the fatherly nod of approval from the Seniors. If any one has any doubts as to the prepossessing appearance of the class R. W. French will present them with an elegant card board convincer Although there has seemed to be much antagonism between the Seniors and Freshmen, yet the Seniors have retained a great love for the better half of the Fre.shman class, and as they seem to reciprocate it, the remainder of the class wishes them a successful future and a God speed.

Page 8 text:

Bopt omoFE Exhibition. HE poet with eye in a fine frenzy rolling, might draw from a stranded seashell the story of the pathless deep, and with pebble ' s point engrave that vision on its roseate page. The pale night student of the heavens might draw from one sparkling orb the story of universal order and map the boundless heavens on a single sheet: but to make adequate eulogy on the transcendent virtues of the Sophomore class would exhaust the vocabulary of a Milton and scarce find compass in a volume. Come to chapel, strangers! And from the dizzy heights of pillared gallery, gaze down upon the assembled multitude. Note you those noble foreheads whose massive brows jutting like ledges o ' er the river of tho ' t, brooks no wave to dash confusion in their rugged face? These are they whose hands shall shift the rudders of the future and pierce the swellest rollmgs with her prow. And mark you those others there, whose large sinewy hands seem fit to pull down the ' sky-scraping horse hide ' into the diamond, or , paste ' it over the ' oyster ' , or those others whom nature has gifted with the sturdy frames of gladiators. Dost thou think the . rib Sheik will mow the grass in the Colum- bian Exposition to feed his neighing Selim while these present their short sharp swords and calmly entreat them to keep off the grass? Nay strangers, they are representative Sophomores, nor will any uncombed barbarian rudely jostle them on pain of vaccination. But these are gentlemen; those are ladies; and the rest are too numerous to mention. Albeit they will all be candidates for graduation in 95, subject to the will of the Republican faculty con- vention. And then we will stand before you, In all of a Senior ' s grace. While a smile of beaming intelligence Spreads o ' er each tear-stained face. And as the arrows of sunset Lodge in the tree-tops bright, We will spout our little orations, . nd as ever, be o — o — s ' ght.

Page 10 text:

Otjib 3r oTJzsroEST. HE class of 97 striving to act well its part has a brilliant future. As a matter of course during our first days within the College walls, looking at the Seniors with their silks and brcjadcloths, and the handsome bo}s and pretty girls of the Junior class, we were in truth amazed. But as the da5 ' S rolled by we began to notice ' 97 was soon to be the pride of Monmouth Coll ' ge, Although young in college years, let us ask what ' 96 would do without us. Who would aid them in their schemes and be willing to stand the consequences? Oh! that flag! Yet 97 is not made prominent upon the college premises, but we might account for this when we find there is no space left for us. We will move on how-ever, regardless of all annoyances nnd endeavor hereafter to keep free from trouble not concerning ourselves. Our socials are always a success and we can make a masquerade just what it ought lO be Of course some of the Juniors and Freshmen can mask too, and we were pleased to have them with us on one occasion, W ' e can say their ,; ' vV-A zot ' rc p-jrfect ; -iiUciii:ii They w ' ere very quiet. Our girls we know to be above all others. We call them our own, and are proud of them Yet we fear some will leave us by ' 96. Our boys, of course, are all right. Each working for that which will lead them to the most perfect manhood. The class being made up of the best young ladies and gentlemen, we trust will not be sepa- rated until as ' 97 they bid the College walls adieu.