University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 30 text:

1904 Prophecy. iNE night I fell asleep and dreamed that I was on Mount Olympia. The fierce winds howled among the naked trees and broken crags; the thun¬ ders roared in the dark, ethereal elements, and I groped about in the dark¬ ness, guided only by the vivid lightning flashes that seemed, at times, to rend the heavens and ignite the universe. Presently, I found myself on the brink of a vast chasm. White vapors rose from the fathomless depths and horrible rumblings were heard, which shook Olympia from her very foundation. In a moment I realized that this was one of the prophetic shrines to which the ancient Greeks were wont to come and consult the Oracles for every important undertaking. The sacredness of the surroundings and the hallowedness of the place filled me with wonder and amazement. My limbs trembled, and for awhile I could not speak. Finally, with faltering voice, 1 cried to the Prophetess of Fate, and begged her lift the sacred veil and reveal unto me the hidden future of the Class of 1904. Instantly, a dense cloud of vapors arose, and in the midst of it could be seen a beautiful Goddess, clothed in shining robes and seated on a golden tripod ovei the chasm. The winds were now hushed, the roar of the thunder ceased, and all was quiet. “ Our god,” said the Prophetess, “ is propitious, and has revealed unto me the future of your glorious class.” At this juncture, a sound was heard above us. I looked and, in a vision, I saw one robed in a long, black gown, and he wore a cap upon his head. “ This,” said the Prophetess, “ is Earl White Chappie, who has just had his picture made for the Cardinal.” I looked again and, behold! there appeared one with a glittering sword in his hand. He wore a dazzling uniform and a cap around which was a golden band. He raised his sword with a proudly commanding gesture and gave command, “ Forward, march,” and I recognized the voice of my old friend, Samuel Conrad Swearingen. The scene changed and I saw, in a lonely, secluded spot, two maids. Their faces were wrinkled and worn with a look of disappointment. H looked a long time, but, being unable to recognize them, asked who they were. “ These,” said the Prophetess, “ are Misses Droke and Burney. They could never find any one whom they would marry, and now they come here to seek com¬ fort in solitude.” The fourth vision revealed a tall, slim man astride a little mustang pony.

Page 29 text:

15- Now, when the end of thei r sojourn was nigh at hand, which was the sixth month of the year, there were found many of these youths and maidens whose names were writ on scrolls of parchment in letters of gold. 16. For they had strove diligently and had been faithful unto the end, yea, verily they had sought truth and had found wisdom and understanding. 17. And they anointed their hair with oil and clad themselves in fine linen and made a great feast. 18. And, when the great feast was over, each youth and each damsel took the scroll of parchment whereon his name was inscribed and departed to his father’s house amid much rejoicing and thanksgiving. 27

Page 31 text:

Beside him was another man, but he was not so slim and tall as the former. He rode a gaunt-looking mule, whose gait was slow and unsteady. Upon closer obser¬ vation, I saw that each had an old and worn pair of pill-bags. “ The former,” she said, “ is James Walter Walker, M. D., and the latter is C. X. Williams, M. D.” “ Next ’ she said, “ I will show you Mr. Chas. Fox Wood, who married one of the college girls soon after his graduation. I looked and there stood one clad in blue overalls, and holding firmly in his grasp the handles of an old rickety plow, to which was hitched a little, sorrel pony. In another vision, I saw a rugged landscape covered with hills and mountains. And all along the slope of one of the steep mountains was a number of men with rods, levels, transits, etc. Upon inquiry I learned that this was a corps of Civil Engineers, surveying a route for a new railroad. Among the number were engi¬ neers from almost every state in the Union, but the chief engineers were the famous Stanford, Knott, Pratt, McCrary, and Ragland. The scene vanished and there passed in rapid succession four massive struc¬ tures upon the fronts of which appeared in order the signs, New York Electric Light Co., Chicago Electric Light Co., Philadelphia Electric Light Co., and St. Louis Electric Light Co. “ These plants,” said mv informer, “ arc owned and controlled by McAlister, Bloom, Risser, and Webster, respectively ’ The scene changed again and there passed two Mechanical Engineering offices; in one I recognized E. V. Leverett, and in the other T. R. Quarles. And another vision appeared and I beheld a group of four beautiful maidens and a handsome young man, sitting in a circle around what appeared to be a teacher’s desk. These were Misses Vaulx, Blanchard, Davies, Shellenberger, and Mr. R. J. Nelson. “ The next vision,” she said, “ will reveal those of your Class whose future can not be determined by all the powers of our magic.” The vision changed, and I saw my friends Harding, Mullins, Morrow, Phillips, and Cook. This time I saw a very costly furnished room in which were a number of wise and learned looking men. I asked the Prophetess what this meant. She replied that this was the United States Senate Chamber, and among the number therein are your old friends T. E. Rutherford, J. S. Abercrombie, and J. R. Wilson. In the next vision there appeared a scene which somewhat astonished me. There was a long and crowded street in one of our largest cities. On one side was a little, short, dumpy fellow shouting, “ Evening News, five cents,” and on the other side, further up the street, was heard the sharp cry, “ Peanuts; five cents a 29