Southwestern Louisiana Institute - Lacadien Yearbook (Lafayette, LA)

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UISTOin ' OK SKXIOII ACADKiMK CLASS. T sooiiis as but n day since we the class of ' HJ (Mitcrcd tlic doors of Soiitliwcslerii to take the studies offered to us by tbis institution. P ut, in reality, live lon ? years liav(; ])assed; five years of bard earnest wor-k, in wliicb we liavo met difficulties and luive mastered tliem, and because of liavin mas- tered tliem, we luive become stron ' er in will, in intellect, and in our anil)ition to overconu any obstacles no matter wbat tbey may l)e. For some of us tlie road has been loni; er and I ' ouijlier than for others, but as we approach the end we know full well that it only leads into a much harder one to travel, which in turn, leads us on to a land from which no traveler returns. A mere record of passin,i ' events can scarcely be called history until it is looked at thru the telescope of years; but who can tell but t liat some day this short record may l)e the means of tracing the life history of one of our members who has become famous? On September 16, 1911, a part of our class came to this school from different sections of this great state and some from other states, but all with the same view: to broaden our minds by education so that we might better our condition in life, and at the same time, that of our countrymen and society in general. Of this part of the class there are few remaining, for most of them either tlirough their misfortunes, or their lack of ambition to measure up to the standard required of them, have been dropped from the roll of our class and in most cases, from that of the school. For these mem- l)ers we entertain a deep sympathy and deplore the fact that they can- not share the honors we shall receive in May. The other and larger part of our class entered Southwestern during the month of January 1912. They, but for a few exceptions, are still here and constitute with us and a few members that have joined the class since, the class of ' 1(5. As I write this history a thousand memories rush tlirough my brain. I can see with my mind ' s eye the old familiar faces of the upper classmen smiling at us for our timidity and taunting us with the term Freshie as we passed them on our way to and from classes, I can see myself with my classmates pondering over some crazy example in Algebra or fuming because we could not plane a lilock of wood straight. How clearly do I see the jubilant faces of my classmates and how distinctly do I remember their wild exclamations of rejoicing the day we defeated the Senior Class of that year, in indoor baseball, there- by winning the pennant and the school championship. But, ah! how

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fiitar (Elaas 05fitrpra President Elisal)otli l)oiil)o Vice-President Jeanne Comeaux Secretary and Treasurer . . . Harvej ' Tlopkins Editor Louise Alleman (ylass Poet Harvey Hopkins Class Propliet Wallie Scott Class Historian Alex Swords

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striking- the contrast between tlie faces of tliat day and the sad, scared ones that might have been seen coming into the examination room, the morning of the first exam. After four months of vacation, we returned to Southwestern, glad that we were together once more and resolved to study harder than we had studied the previous year. How exultant we were over the fact that we were no longer despised Fresliies but distinguished Sophs., with the privileges of associating with the higher classmen, or torment- ing the new-comers — provided there was no teacher around to protect the poor innocent things — as we had been tormented the year before. Then came the grind of every day work, and with the raising of the standard of the institution one-half term, setting the date of grad- uation and the goal to which we aspired, farther away. This however did not discourage us, but instead, it acted as a spur to urge us on to greater efforts; for we reasoned, Do we not profit by it? A wise greater efforts; for we reasoned, J3o we not profit by it? A wise shall attain unto wise counsels. This we did, and have not oiny profited by it from the fact that we have had to study more subjects, bat this one disappointment has helped ns to bear those that followed, and will no doubt, help us to ))ear those to come. During our third year here we began the study of sciences, and for many nights the black darkness of the massive walls of the dormitories were broken here and there by a narrow beam of light, telling the story of some poor boy burning midnight oil, pondering over some long equation in chemistry or trying to drum into his head Charles ' and Boyle ' s Law. Thus we went thru chemistry; some days struggling with a problem, some days choking almost to death while performing an experiment with chlorine or some other poisonous gas ; and now and then punctuating the drudgery by an explosion or an accident, and oft times both. In our fourth year we suffered another raise of standard, causing the date of our graduation to be moved still farther from us and more and harder subjects thrust upon us. During this session we did all kinds of work, from testing milk and cream and inspecting dairies, to making tools in the forge shop ; and the girls, not having the privilege of working in this inferno, got their share of burns and disappointments in the cooking or domestic science department. It was in the latter part of this year that we had to wrestle will Physics and Trig.; and