Vanderbilt University - Commodore Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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Cornel. 27 Fouling forth artificial clouds it very effectually cheeks the rapid flight of tie- innocent, unsuspecting, sunbeam before it reaches that infernal trap called by the polished Frenchman, heliostat; hut by the Vanderbilt boy, hell-you-start. This literal translation is eminently appropriate inasmuch as the cessation of optical experiments means the beginning of a quiz in senior physics which renders the lack of sufficient light on the '{ subject both evident and embarrassing, besides, the machine .just referred to has no other aim in life than to direct the sun's rays through a nickel prism and other less ex- pensive apparatus, until they have completely lost their identity, been rudely torn asunder, and made to interfere in a manner at once perplexing and unfriendly. When this analyzing and paralyzing process is finished they fall helplessly into a score of note- books. where their mangled and tangled remains find an unwelcome resting place until the intermediate judgment day. In this connection we might mention the forges in the main building under the V. M. C. A. hall, and adjoining the chemical laboratory, furnishing a youthful hades to the one with unutterable facts and figures of speech, and aiding the other in the gen- eration of agreeable odors. Nor must we overlook the new building for mechanical engineering, the corner-stone of which was laid on the ninth of May in tin presence of the American Society of Mechanical Knginecrs. This will be the stamping-ground of that branch of the en- gineering department termed by the vile punster the school of take-in-knowledge. Here is the cradle of genius. Among their many brilliant discoveries is an antidote for the blues. When the smithy and the Smith of conic-section notoriety unite in casting a decided gloom over their Annie Laurie brows; when patience has been stretched beyond the elastic limit, and memory has taken a permanent set, throwing aside the T-square and musical triangle, they recall the immortal definition given by a mortal member of their class: “A molecule is a very small particle of matter invisible to the naked eye, in fact it requires a very tine microscope to see it at all. Before closing this article we cannot refrain from entering a protest against that popular superstition that a civil engineer runs an engine simply because a pharmacist runs a farm. Another erroneous opinion is that a surveying instrument is an amateur photographer’s outfit, because tin engineering student knows too much about the neg- ative. some other fellow having gotten the aflirmative. To those young iu the cause, those who have just begun to climb tin rugged height on whose summit is a Vanderbilt K.. we would say that the dignity of your chosen profession is not altered in the least bv inappreciation arising from ignorance. You have entered upon the only field which broadens with advancing civilization. Your mission is to so develop and improve your .

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20 “T “ © Cornel. Er i eerir Department. .v ',..V + f ' . ■, i N |M79-£0 llu school of engineering was born in what has since degenerated into the Law-room. Hoginning life under the degrading influences of these early asso- ciations, the vigor and energy character- istic of its growth has been somewhat surprising. The year follow ing its birth it commenced operations on a more extended scale in Science Hall. The basement of this building contains the testing machine, steam plant, wood and metal shops, The first floor is occu- pied by the vice-box, museum, lecture-rooms, and gas-works. The drawing-rooms and par- lors are on the third floor. Supporting the rear end is an imposing chimney, giving an air of business to the campus, and an unfailing supply of smoke to the air. It performs, however, a still more important service in locating the It 11., science having fully established the fact that smoke follows the ugliest creature in the community. I nder these circum- stances it does seem a little strange that our theological brethren receive such copious showers of soot, contrasting so painfully with their spotless purity, and forcing a reversal of the ends of their culls every Sunday Thus, by swelling the Wesley Hall laundry list, home industries are encouraged. Hut one other function of this phenom- enal smoke-stack need be noticed to convince all fair-minded persons that the least Iuepossessing Attachment to the engineering department is more useful than ornamental.

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28 T'rv Gomel. country that by reducing plnsicul labor to a minimum Kilim's curse shall be removed, and then shall be a maximum of intellectual and spiritual activity. It is yours to hasten the time when there shall be no more night; when the sunlight of Niagara and the moonlight of the tides, transformed and transmitted in electric thrills, shall dispel the darkness in every city of the laud.