Slippery Rock University - Saxigena Yearbook (Slippery Rock, PA)

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PROF. A. E. GAUT In tub Skrvicb of His Country 2G

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“All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. His acts being seven ages, As Shakespeare has so likened the world to the stage of drama, may vc in our turn liken our class to the play which is to he presented upon that stage. I'nlike the play of man. our play is not in seven acts. Our play—the drama of our existence—can be fitly told in four. As the curtain—the Curtain of Dawn—slowly rises upon the first act. we see before us the lovely campus of Slippery Rock charged with autumn beauty. It is the year '14. and the month, September. A group of tiny folk have gathered around a happy fountain. It is a group of Freshmen who are talking about the trials and troubles of their first Algebra class. Hut their sorrows arc those of the present, and such sorrows, they think, are the keenest. Their voices die away, but the spray still springs from the fountain. Thus, in the midst of hushed silence, the curtain falls upon the first act of our history. Again the curtain rises. Again it is autumn, but it is a year later. The tiny Freshmen have grown into august Sophomores. Caesar is to them a joy, while Geometry is only a pastime—a study for leisure hours. Smiles grow on a Sophomore's lips, and so they grow on theirs. So amid smiles and Caesar— Caesar and smiles—the curtain falls upon the year T6. During the intermission, the orchestra plays a tuneful melody. It is the Song of Welcome—a welcome that greets the additional members of our third act. They, along with the older members of the cast, clad in loose robes of Purple and White, make a pretty entrance. As they gather on the stage before us, we see them organize for active work. Glad applause greets Clare Book, as he. rising to the position of leading man, accepts the role of Junior President. And now the Secretary. Florence Whitehead, calmly acknowledges the office of leading lady. Thus, being duly organized, the Juniors make ready for a class party. So. on March 10, 1017, the Juniors held their memorable party in the gymnasium. The lovely month of June finds the Juniors at their picnic. Here good cheer runs high; 'tis here that many drink of the cup of happiness. Then comes the Marshmallow and Weiner Roast in the Normal Woods. Never before did marshmallows look so big or unbuttered buns taste so good! Last, but not least, appears the night of the Junior IMay, and as the curtain rings down on The Old Peabody Few. it falls upon the successful year of the Juniors. Our play is almost over. For the last time the curtain rises upon the Class of 18. The atmosphere has changed. 'Tis a spirit of sweet solemnity that breathes everywhere. Suddenly the silvery tones of a bugle break in upon that silence. Its liquid voice seems to be calling.—coaxingly calling two Seniors away. We see that class fondly bid “Good-bye to President and Vice President, while somewhere in the distance we hear the refrain. The old llag shall never touch the ground, boys. However, the sorrows of parting pass away and we see the Seniors in their gayer moods. They are launching forth to the Com Roast at Cooper's Grove. What a night it is with the stars and glowing fire! The cold winter comes on—and with it the Sled Load. But winter blossoms into summer, the summer of our Senior year. The time is growing short .the play is almost over, and as that curtain descends, it falls with a tender blessing. It breathes a blessing, for thee and me, the members of old 18. R. R. C. 28