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

Page 33 text:

Elmer Erancis Smith “ Capl ” One cold, wintry morning, somewhat over twenty-one years ago, the little town of Franklin, Connecticut, was awakened by the an- nouncement of the arrival of one who was to become well known to all of us, namely, “Smithy.” From Franklin “Capt.” moved to New London, where he received his early education, attending the public schools of that city and finishing by graduating from Bulkeley. Having decided to secure a higher education, this marvelous specimen of manhood entered R. I. C. as a Freshman in the fall of 1905. It was easy to tell from the start what course “Capl.” intended to take, as he immediately showed a fondness for “sparking,” the most important branch of the subject he intends to choose as his life work. “Smithy” made the wise ones sit up and take notice when the basketball season came on and he was elected captain, the position that has been his, undisputed so far, during the past three years. Again in baseball he showed up in good form and won a place for himself on the varsity, which he has held ever since and will probably hold throughout his sojourn at Rhode Island. In football “Smithy” made good at quarter : and if it had n’t been for an accident, would probably have played on this year’s eleven. Whereas before “Capt.” was a quiet sort of chap, a change seems to have come over him this past year. We can’t imagine the cause, but he leaves us every now and then for brief periods. It might not be a bad guess to imagine that the cause of these deviations is his fondness for the gentler sex, but enough said. Explain them if you can. In years to come, unless something unforeseen happens, we shall expect to hear of “Smithy” as one of the foremost electrical engineers in the country.

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“Lewis” Lewis Slack Slack, good people, came to us some years ago with admission tickets from the public schools of Cliua Village, Maine, and from the Mount Hermon biblical school of Massachusetts. However, he has lived in most all the New England states and traveled in a great many others, either on foot or on a bicycle. In early youth he learned the use of the revolver( ?) and the mightiness of the check book. Among his belongings to-day he has the wreckage of a monetary system and a young arsenal. His hobby is to be a civil engineer; and as it is only a question of time, no doubt he will be — some day. In algebra he has no equal, the same with French and English. Slack showed us he had good football ability, playing a strong, consistent game at end, using his head considerably , and earning an R. I. in his Freshman year. He dabbled some in basketball, but gave it up on account of an inability to distinguish between the two baskets. That he is practical is seen in the numerous lab. experiments performed by him. Some phenomena noted by Slack have astounded us. Last summer, after spending much time and money, he discovered for the medical world that Sissonitis is contagious. As a host, Lewis is at his best. Too much cannot be said of his genial hospitality; and sooner or later there are very few R. I. students who do not have an opportunity to accept it. His class spirit has manifested itself in several well-laid “’09” feasts, while the “Ockish Brotherhood utter silent prayers of thanks for the numerous good times enjoyed on Slack. As his home is in Kingston, he is able to entertain thus. Yes, many a heart has he succeeded in winning through the stomach. Lewis is very popular, being a member of the Canoe Club,” “Blivy Club,” “Fussin’ Club,” Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior classes. And so, friends, we will leave Slack, wise and otherwise, hoping to exonerate ourselves from any suspicion of thought by saying that those who know him best love him.

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Harry Robert Tisdale As all true dog stories begin with the dog’s name, this tale shall open in the same fashion. His name was “Tit and he was born in New London, where he was by some oversight of the authorities allowed to live to an age and state of intelligence almost human. This intelligence became apparent when he was permitted to use a large telescope one night when the high-school astronomy class was out. At the first look — the telescope being pointed at the moon — “Tit called out. Are those rings sun spots? After this discovery he made up his mind to go to college. A place called “Kingston,” and defined as “the place where Kellogg is,” began to dawn on his mental vision(?), and one morning he awoke as a member of the class of ’09, then unor- ganized. He has been a faithful member of that class ever since, with a firm determination to beat every other member of the. chemistry division in the excellence of his work. In his Sophomore year Harry (he is sometimes called by that name) developed socialistic ideas. He believed that expenses should be borne by the community. Therefore, ' when he butted the basketball with his head and it went through the transom of Room 14, he charged the damages to the room. This is only “Tit ' s” history and is not a series of knocks. Indeed, it would be hard to find anything to knock him about. What has he done? He did stay out very late one night, came in fifteen minutes after the lights went out. As he opened the door to his room, breathing a prayer of thankfulness that lie was safely home at last, there descended from that transom a miscellaneous co llection of boxes and tinware, which drew forth some very vigorous language from our dignified classmate. One exclamation of “How annoying! was distinctly heard some distance away. Soon, however, all was well again. But when all is said, we know “Tit” is a good worker and always will be. The question is, whom will he work next ? 30