St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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Qbehicatiun. TO lhs EXCELLENCY, EDWIN WARFIELD, GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE CLASS OF 1905.

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Introduction A book's a book, although there's nothing in it, says Byron. Encouraged in a measure by these words, we offer to our friends and patrons this volume, as the first fruit of our literary genius. Without any attempt at apology, we would say that we are not wholly to blame for this act. Away back in 1896 a class of Juniors became so wise that they decided to embalm their thoughts in ink for the enlightenment of coming generations. As a consequence, each year finds the Junior Class confronted by the Rat-Tat problem. Such was the case when we returned to oollegeriast September, and, unwilling to ac- knowledge defeat without battle, we plunged into the task. You see the result. Believe us, we should never have attempted such work had we not felt it to be our duty. How- ever, since this book had to be published, we have striven to make it as interesting as possible to all our readers, and especially to the sons of Old St. J ohn's. We have tried to bring back to them the remembrance of the happy days they spent here, and to show them their Alma Mater as she is today. In our Miscellaneous Department we have been guided by the old proverb, Laugh, and the world laughs with you, weep, and you weep alone, so if it appears to you rather light and frivolous, bear in mind that the purpose of this book is to entertain,-not to reform. The grinds and roasts have been dealt out with a free hand, but with good will. They do not, in every case, represent the true character of the individual, we are pleased to say 5 so do not make the mistake of interpreting them too literally. In passing your criticism 'upon this book we would ask you to remember three things: First, that it is our primary work in the field of literature, second, that books can not always please, however good 3 and third, that we claim no special merit for this one. .With these few words of explanation we present to you this, the seventh edition of the Rat-Tat, with the compliments of THE EDITORIAL BOARD. 5