Vanderbilt University - Commodore Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 33 text:

-sN THE COMETS 23 hoped to prove himself a true humanitarian in showing his willingness to become civil- ized. He had succeeded in capturing Kmin Bey whep last heard from—in other words, lie had met the enemy, and he was theirs, lie could not, therefore, put in appearance at Vanderbilt. Parks was a very visionary fellow, and imagined he was just the stuff out of which to make a line lawyer. He accordingly placed himself under the tutilage of a line faculty, and, having graduated, found himself, with no little pride, ensconced in a cosy law office, waiting and watching. This process, however, was not sustaining, and his brain was severely tested as to the plan by which he should eke out a livelihood. Sam Jones, now quite a venerable servant of God, and a most successful evangelist in the HUh century, came to Parks’ town soon after, and preached with such fervor and ardor that the hard heart became soft with divine love. His whole life was changed : he quitted the bar, became a minister of the faith, and is now a circuit-rider in Texas, where all his energies are expended in the efforts to save his dock. He has become very humble, and though not known widely of men, his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and the angelic choir sing of his charity. Who would have thought it ! .Ire we the architects of our fortunes? Arc we the shapers of our destinies? It, cer- tainly seems we are not. Iiifig, the light hearted, go-as-you-please, happy youth, who never had a care to sadden his joyous heart, always buoyant with some anticipated scheme, ora romp with •• .McGinnis,” came, too. Age has told on the old bov some, but that same genial nature is still there, as in “our days.” He looks funny, though, now, since; his forehead has had such a tendency to increase that it has well-nigh “taken in the back of his neck,” and the shining head beams with his little (?) smiles. Kigg was once or twice a promi- nent candidate for l . I!., hut, owing to successful chicanery, he was robbed of his just merits, for even his opponents had to confess that the degree was his, regarding true merit alone. He has not grown in stature at all—the same laughing, jolly fellow, except as to the departure of the hair aforesaid, lb; also took the law, but, singular to say, it did not like him. lie demolished his shingle with bitter tears of regret, and then bethought him of an idea that was just tin thing. In traveling in the West, as yet undecided what locality he would make famous by his residence, he stepped oil lor a week or t wo at Salt Lake City. This great .Mormon stronghold had peculiar charms for him. Shortly after his arrival he was visited, as a distinguished gentleman, by the .Mormon Priest, between whom and himself then; sprang up an exceeding intimacy. In time, the Priest died, and Kigg, having grown in favor with the people, was, with won- derful unanimity, elevated to that dignity. This was no less a surprise to him than to his

Page 32 text:

22 THE COMET NN- as to the condition of things European in the year 1870. He was intended for a career of business by his father, hut, with the knowledge which he had gained while at school, he could not afford to rob the world of his services. He entered the field of .journalism, where he vindicated the adage, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” ami became the head ot the rhiet party paper in the State. His was a clean, inoffensively partisan sheet, free from the blind and excessive championing of a thing because it was of the party to which it belonged,a model mirror wherein the events of the world were vividly shown. The world often recognizes merit, and Merriam was sent to the Court of St. .lames to represent the grandest nation on the globe. Here, his probity, sobriety and skillful diplomacy won him great favor. He resumed his editorial position after his term there, and made merry with the Class of ’Si) in their meeting. Morrison has become notorious for political wire-pulling, and is one of the chief members of the Democratic State Executive Committee. He soon graduated in law. and settled in one of the good counties of the “Old Volunteer State,” and was sent early to the eapitol to help save the country. He was very popular in his own county, from which he could obtain almost anything in their power; but, strange to say, he could not possibly make the people of his district believe lie was the. man for Congress, although he was repeatedly before the conventions—not seldom as a “dark horse.” lie was once almost nominated for governor, but some wire was pulled too hard, producing discord in his faction, and thus his gubernatorial aspirations were “kilt.” Not disheartened, how- ever, by these adverse manifestations of Kate, he maintained his accustomed perpen- dicularity, and went again to the lower house of the State solons, in which In lacked but one vote to make him speaker. “0, cursed spite,” etc. The poor fellow, maddened by the reverses with which his party had been meeting, dreamed a dream that was not altogether a dream, for it soon took definite shape in a diabolical scheme, compared with which nothing has ever been heard. The Class of ’81) must regret that one of their number acted thus, for it was on account of this very tlmsnoss that he was like to end. He, with some pals, stole the ballot-boxes in the most important wards of the city elections, thereby defeating the other party. Fraud was suspected, but the suspicion could not be substantiated. At length the unravelling developed the startling intelli- gence that.7olm Franklin Morrison was the prime mover in the scheme; excitement was supreme; Johnny saw his opportunity, and by his political technique, his inherent adroitness, so schemed as to liberate himself from all punition there. He was so nearly gone that his hair all came out; there are now no silver threads among the gold. No—naw-h-h-h-h ! Omohundro, being of rather an adventurous nature, early went to Africa, where he

Page 34 text:

24 THE COMETS- Humorous friends. Ho lias prospered singularly (rather plurally), and little “Toby,” a line, handsome lad of ten years, just the very image of his •Paw” aceompauied him to Commencement. This youth, “Toby, Jr.,” of whom there were about twenty-live, enjoyed very much the scenes of his priestly “paw-paw's” school days. Von see that “Toby, Sr.” had become very much married. To make amends for the disappointment which lie suffered as candidate for R. and, recognizing the eminence which he has attained, the Class conferred, without any dissent, the degree I). U., an honor which has never been given by any other class, and the only one given by this. Departing from the University, Wilson followed the avocation of a tramp, but as it was all calling and no bread, he reluctantly determined to go to work, however degrad- ing such a thing might seem. He, therefore, applied at some machine shops for a “sit- uation,” and was successful—in getting nothing. Next, he directed himself toward the East, where he joined an emigrant party and other cattle just embarking for the Fiji Islands, which had then become a place of great importance. Here he lived ami pros- pered a number of years. Having amassed considerable fortune, he returned to the United Stales and settled in California; there, plunging into speculation in some mis- taken El Dorado, like that of 1889, lie lost, poor fellow, all he had. Stimulated now by the hidden possibilities of the future, Ik became conductor of a wheel barrow in a gold mine, in which capacity his etlicient services won for him the applause of all his fellows. The mine was shut up, however, and he again was alone in the world. He soon engaged in grape culture, married, and is now prosperous. His son. Tommy ••Jones” Wilson (named after his Uncle Tom), came with him also. The hardships and changes which he has undergone did not fail to leave their marks, but he doesn't look very old. Winfield was our Theologue, and we left him filled with a desire to preach, in which he was sincere. After graduation, however, and a few years of ministry. Ins sincerity notwithstanding, he came to feel that he had missed his calling. Tins often becomes a sad realization to those just beginning the course of life, and many a one, after his prime, must turn back to the starting point. .So in this case. Winfield was always a great wag, almost a Jack Falstaff, without the superabundant flesh and his young Prima , but having much wit. The possession of this faculty dawned upon him, as lie lay one night bathing his pillow with tears, cogitating as to what disposition he should make of himself. He determined to try the stage not Shakespeare’s stage, on which we are all actors—but that for the amusement of the populace. He was not suited for a trage- dian, and therefore began traveling as an “end man,” with one of the finest minstrel troupes on tin road, in which he gained a great reputation for his quickness at repartee, striking originality, etc., etc. Though lie discontinued preaching, he did not leave the