St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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I am one, replied the stranger, Whom you know, perchance, by fame On the register you,ll ind me, William Pinkney is my name. Many suns have shed their radiance Over hill and moorland plain, Since from these old walls I issued, Never to return again. Life's great battles have engaged me, Fame has saved for me her part g Yet whatever Fortune tendered, Dear St. john's lay next my heart. Now I've come to pay a visit, And I really want to know What improvements have been rendered In this hundred years or so. Friend, said I, I crave your pardon For my lack of confidence g I'm delighted to have met you- Come, welll see the sights at once. Out we went across the campus g The battalion was in line ! Every eye fixed firmly forward 3 Bayonetsi and sabres shine. What, cried he, means all this splendor? Surely they can't soldiers bei! Whoe'er saw such pomp and glory As we now before us see? I once had my band of freemen, Whom in Freedom's cause I lead, When cruel warls harsh, direful thunder Rolled around our nation's head g When Great Britain seized our seamen, Forced them into British ships 5 When 'To Freedom, on to Freedom ' Was the cry upon our lips. But, said he, U how times have altered! Then each had an old fiint-lock, Taking fully forty mules to ' Draw the hammer to a cock. I4Q But, alas! there's no use sighing O'er discomforts now no more g So welll think of nothing farther On the military score. Then we left the green parade ground To the shop our way we led, From which issued noise sudicient To awake the very dead. When at length the door we opened- Who'll describe the sight we saw? My companion stared one moment, Then let forth a loud guifaw. It was not the forge and anvil, Nor the open furnace door, Nor the lathe in rapid motion, That had caused my friend to roar 3 It was just a class of Freshmen Clad in U jeans H and outing shirt Who were learning their first lesson- How to gather up the dirt.

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cm EATED in my easy rocker I In my roon1 in Pinkney Hall, Hearkening to the noisy Freshmen, As they quite aloud did bawl, Clamoring loud against their classmates, Since they would not dare to skip, Greatly grieved because their fellows Failed to get the well-earned zip, Ideas, fraught with dreamy fancies, Through my idle brain did run, As I thought of wondrous progress XVidening with each rising sun. Thought I of great inconvenience XVhich our forefathers endured, Seeming not to them like hardship, Since to that they were innured. Then I thought how much more easy Is the common lot to-day, And how very thankful We should All be, this truth to convey. llbrogress of H G6l1flll'Qf I General ideas turned to special, Old St. john's 11ow comes to mind: Thought I, did our grand alumni All this easy comfort iind? Had they, when they trod these precincts, Training for the body, brain, Such as now the student finds it Under 'I'ommie'S peaceful reign? As I mused, my senses wandered 3 Sweet oblivion's gentle grasp Quietly laid hold upon me,-'- Sensibility was past. Then, behold I into my dreaming Crept a being odd and queer Q Hoary headed, tall and stately Did this wondrous sage appear. Powdered wig and ruflied collar, Breeches cut short at the knees, Silken stockings, buckled slippers I Saw you ever aught like these? 139 Timidly I looked about me, Scarcely knowing what to do 5 Then, divining my forebodings, Did he this queer course pursue : Drawing up a chair beside me, To my wonder and affright, Cooly turned he round towards me, Poor, forlorn, unhappy Wight I Hem, said he, I don't know whether You are heartless or insane Q Can't you see I'm very harmless? Now your own conduct explain? O, said I, please dont be angry, You are very welcome here 5 But of such outlandish attire Did I never even hear. That explains my situation g But be kind enough to tell Who you are, and what's your business, If you wish my fi ight to quell X -L -V I f - e - A fr' ,- 2 A-.-fri .'f:t -1. A i- :,g:.:::1-'z:.n:g'::vwr:-.. 1'::::1'-f:1--:::1r:-:.::,........: I I I I ,. 5. 1 '-. 'ii' I ...L as L. ...,.. I I I , I L, I I I I I I II wr 4 I I I I I 1 I I K. .I

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And, indeed they had it mastered ! But instead of in the place Where such articles are gathered, They had massed it on their face. But at length my friend grew calmer ' Grimy Freshmen are forgot, To investigate that power Tamed and bridled by james YVatt. 7 'Twas the engine caught his notice, And at his request I tried To explain this hidden wonder XVhich our shop with power supplied. Then I told how james, poor laddie, In his fan1ily's humble fold, Saw the kettle's cover raising By a power uncontrolled: How this simple truth the Scotchman Did with zealous ardor seize 5 For he saw in captive vapor NVondrous possibilities : How he then applied his genius, And how mighty his success, For the principles unfolded Now connect both East and West. Is it possible, rejoined he, That a common thing like steam Could have wrought such striking marvels ? Or is this a fleeting dream P 'Tis a fact, quoth I, not fiction - But we could not tarry there Q So at once We make our exit, To the foot-ball field repair. It was just about the hour When the iirst line-up was made, And we saw the brawny players All in uniforms arrayed. Hark ! the starting whistle sounded g Now the pigskin whirls in air l Then those twenty-two trained athletes After it began to tear. 141 In a state of great excitement William scanned the foot-ball ground, And at length when Douglas, half-back, Having caught the ball, was downed. And when one and twenty others Fell o11 him, a screeching pile, And wh en downl he cried, said Pinkney Down, indeed ! Well, I should smile! But do tell me, what's this rumpus O'er that yellow leather egg? From their actions, one might venture That they just had oped a keg. Nay, said I, that's so-called foot-ball g H 'Tis a pseudonym, he said : Not a thing is done by foot-work, But by butting with the head. After that I grew discouraged, Trying to describe the game g So I showed him a bicycle Which into the grounds then came. , ' -V E I , :,,,,,, ,-.