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

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LEE LAPLACE HARDING “Kickoff “The Pet Lamb of Watson House” S OME years ago this remarkable person appeared in the town of Lyme, Conn., and immediately proceeded to “tackle” every kind of job in sight, thus showing his football tendencies at a very early age. These jobs varied from plain “farmin’ ” to the distilling of witch-hazel. We under- stand that he cut his teeth on the latter, and from appearances we recommend extract of witch-hazel instead of Mellin’s Food. Of his early education we have only a few stray hints. He went through the district school and “downed” everything mathematical the teacher sent his way. This, no doubt, caused him to wish for other worlds to conquer, and accordingly he packed his grip for Rhode Island College and Doctor Hewes. When Harding first came among us, he was enlisted as an “Aggie;” but a very short trial of this course sufficed to assure him that it did not lie along his way, and accordingly he joined the Highway Engineers. They reminded him somewhat of his first love, Agriculture. His present occupations are playing football in season (and out) and keep- ing the Watson House girls warm. The former pursuit is his favorite and the cause of his nickname, “Kickoff.” He has been busy at Watson House ever since he came here, a fact to which is due his second nickname. His ambitions seem to be to raise football players and to find the minimum amount of energy ' necessary to tangle up a fellow’s bed and other possessi ons so that the fellow must spend the maximum of energy in untangling the same. The future of this personage is as yet a matter of conjecture. We have no doubt of his succeeding, if he will overcome a certain attraction for femininity; and one of these days we shall find him building good roads in some section of the country. Let us hope it will be here. 19

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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

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FREDERICK GEORGE KEYES “Fred” “ F. G. F G. KEYES hails from Rochester, New York. Not finding that place large enough to hold him, he came down to show us how to run the Rhode Island College. He has done very well in this line. In his Freshman chemistry, he was able to tell Doctor Leighton more about oxygen than could be found in Remsen. Next he tackled the orchestra prob- lem; and if we are to judge it by the amount of noise it can make, w$ should call it a complete success. His latest achievement in the chemical line has been the manufacturing of artificial lemonade. This has kept Dr. Leighton wondering why the citric acid bottle and sugar can were always empty. His love for English knows no bounds. It is so great that he will take English throughout his Senior year. For the last month he has appeared careworn and seems to have a great load on his mind. We greatly fear that he is develop- ing another of his brilliant schemes for the betterment of the social life at the college; but hoping for the best, we will try to see that he graduates with the Class of ’06.