University of Rhode Island - Renaissance / Grist Yearbook (Kingston, RI)

Page 25 text:

WALLACE NOYES BERRY “Puss” The Kid Crespito” T° attempt to give a full history of Berry’s strenuous life during the short time that we have known him would necessitate the writing of at least two large volumes! As, however, we wish to make mention of a few college events, and at the same time keep the book within a thousand pages, we shall be obliged to give only a very brief outline of his life. He hails from some cranberry port on Cape Cod, where his early educa- tion consisted in fighting mosquitoes and picking cranberries. Having become proficient in these arts, he weighed anchor and set sail for parts unknown. The R. I. C. offering a good harbor, he decided to cast anchor there. So early in our Freshman year, we found him among us either criticising the cranberry sauce at the boarding hall or doing stunts with the electrical apparatus at the laboratory. Thus early in the course we learned to look up to him, and we have been looking him up more or less ever since. Under the watchful “Father Hills, he was kept from influences which might lead him astray ; but in some way he became entrapped in the meshes of the fatal net, and since that time our quiet, studious atmosphere has had few attractions for him. Electrical engineering is his hobby and a subject in which he always draws an A, as he usually does in everything else. He is a recognized authority on boats and boating, besides being the author of several books which are mentioned elsewhere in this work. As for his ability as an athlete, it is necessary only to say that he is the captain of both the football and the baseball teams. Thus we leave “Crespito,” the man who is sure to be one of the big four. «£ 17

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BENJAMIN HOWARD ARNOLD ■ ' Muggsy ” T O give anyone the task of writing up the history of “Muggsy” for the past three years is unfair. To ask one to do it in so short a sketch as this is unjust; yes, more than this, it is an outrage. Why, many a man who has had a far smaller opinion of himself than has Ben, has had whole volumes dedicated to his deeds and misdeeds. At best, I can only rouse your curiosity concerning him. It was three years ago in September that the future “Muggsy (Who would havethoughtitthen ?) togetherwith the rest of the class, arrived in Kingston. His early life here ran rather quietly, as the books with which he sported; but last summer — it grieves me to tell this, but in strict candor I can keep nothing back — Ben went to St. Louis and there wandered down the Pike. “What a fall was there, my countrymen!” Even the embryonic, silky souvenir mustache which he brought back with him from the exposition could ill requite us for the change in our once staid and quiet classmate; and when he accidentally pulled out a hair, thereby making it so one-sided as to cause him to sacrifice the pride of his heart and disfigure his face, we fondly expected to see our old Ben when the brush-fence was removed, but alas for human expectations! Much of B. H. A.’s time has been spent in the printer’s department and to such good advantage that from being a “printer’s devil,” he has become a devil of a printer. In his studies, although he “fussed” a while with the highway-engineering course, he has settled down to become an electrical engineer, his taste runrirg to shocking occupations. Ben’s favorite amusement when not cutting ice is cutting electric wires, for which purpose a pair of plyers may always be seen worn on his hip. Not only brilliant but industrious, thoughtful and good-natured, standing well among his fellows and enjoying the confidence of his instructors, in the opinion of the present scribe, Benjamin Howard Arnold, of East Grenwich, Rhode Island, is destined for a useful and successful future.

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MARION GRAHAM ELKINS Aunt Marion ’’ A NYONE happening upon our campus at the beginning of the fall term, 1901, might have seen a small serious-faced girl, timidly grasping the hand of an old and experienced alumna. Such was our first glimpse of our now tried and true friend, Marion Graham Elkins. Very early, she manifested a zealous desire for the schoolroom, and, exhaust- ing the fount of knowledge in Massachusetts, turned to our little R. 1 . C. as a fit place to become a co-ed. A year under the fatherly hand of “Tip” convinced her of the advantages to be obtained from membership in the Class of 1906. Once here, no entertainment, however brilliant; no dance; nothing but a moon- light sleighride, could tear her from her inseparable friends — books. What should we do without grave, serious Marion to remind us of our duties and our dignity ? It is fortunate for us that we have one such member. However, after four years of daily intercourse we are forced to believe that she may not be as serious and timid as she first appeared, since she sometimes condescends to talk with a shy, happy youth, purely on business matters of Y. W. C. U., of course, for she has always been an active member of that organization, and has done honor to the office of president the past two years. Here she rules with an indomitable will, confident of the wisdom of her position. This little characteristic is also clearly shown when she says to a favored teacher, “Oh! just like all the men.” As for her compliments — be- ware. Dodge them if you can; there is something behind. Never before was the saying better illustrated, that “Still waters run deep.” Bugology having claimed her to the exclusion of all her friends, we should not be surprised, at some future date, to hear of her in the wilds of Africa, seeking to discover the habits and haunts of a hitherto unknown “Coleoptera.” 18