West Virginia Wesleyan College - Murmurmontis Yearbook (Buckhannon, WV)

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classes seemed a little strange at first — so strange, in fact, that they were hard compared to those of high school. If there was any homesick- ness, it was largely a homesickness for the ease of the classes one knows in the public schools. English, botany, chemistry, U. S. history, Bible, eco- nomics, physical education, algebra — all names one had known before, but never had anyone known for what they stood. That ' s college for you — full of surprises and not always pleasant ones. Then came the fall convocation. The new president addressed the stu- dent body for the first time. From the platform he was no stranger. He was the person one had met in the halb. He already knew one ' s first name. He was the one who moved about so smoothly and yet organized so well. That first talk of his was typical. Here was a new idea — a new way of thinking — hard to compre- hend fully because it was new — but it looked good. It looked good for Wesleyan. Now the school really knew where it was going. The year had begun. Whatever one may do later, one doesn ' t rest back in one ' s chapel seat during the first convocation. There is much to be heard. There is much to be seen. But there is even more to be felt. Here for fifty-three years students have sat and listened to chapel programs at least three times a week. There on the back of the scat is the name of a college president.

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And others had duties around the college. Take the office force, for instance. Not many would envy the johs that Cornelia Hughes and Mary Gould and Annie Frances Reed had to do. They did them, though — and they did them well. Is the President in? How much do I still owe the colleger What are my mid- semester grades: To G.G. N. A freshman girl is usually rather proud of herself. She has come a long way. She has accomplished much. The very fact that she is in college makes her prefer not to look up to anyone, unless it he to a very tall anil handsome young man. But every girl looks up to G. G. N. It ' s just that Mrs. Neil is the sort of person one admires. There is dignity about her. There is poise and charm and culture. Any dean of women earns many nicknames. She knows from the very beginning that to do her duty is to merit criticism of an unpleasant as well as pleasant sort. Rut never has Grace Gardner Neil had a nickname that did not carry with all else a great measure o,f affec- tion. That means that there is charac- ter there — unforgettable character and charm. It was a pleasure to watch her at work — so varied are her inter- ests and her tasks. From the moment she shook hands with her girls for the first time, she was surprising them with the variety of her talents. It seemed that it was a full time job for anyone to teach all of the sophomores to speak well — at least, it appeared that way to a freshman. But then, there she was conducting receptions, pouring tea — and coffee — as for- mality would prescribe. She knows how to do the good thing well. Such is the nature of an artist. From a formal reception to Arsenic mid Old Lace. Yes, that ' s Mrs. Neil. That play will never be forgotten by W ' es- leyan. There was skill there. lien it came to discipline, she could make it seem almost pleasant, for there is wisdom in her discipline. To G. G. N. That expresses simply our affection. She was there to see the freshman girl off during her first week and she was there to see her through. Truthfully, she was there to see the whole college through, for loyalty to Wesleyan is tar from the least of her virtues. And now to get back to school. Just where it began, it is hard to remember, but suddenly everyone was caught in the midst of it. The

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Beside it is the name of one of the greatest of professional football players. That name is not familiar. She may be a housewife. That man is preaching somewhere in Pitts- burgh. She is a teacher. )ne won- ders who put that gum under the seat. It ' s certainly been there for five years. The cocky sophomore who made a group of freshman sing on the steps of the Administration Building seems innocent enough now. He ' ll be all right, but it takes time to get used to FORMAL DINNER AT AGNES HOWARD HALL him. And the study of phrenology becomes a pastime for the girls. hen the boys get their military haircuts, their heads are suddenly revealed as knobby and odd. Perhaps criminals are not really as ugly as they seem. It may just be the hair- cuts that give them that wild and dangerous appearance, bar up front sit the seniors. It must be a strange and good feeling to think that one is nearly through. They never act as though it were an honor, but one doesn ' t doubt that they feel it. Later, the freshmen had their own assembly. It was then they elected their clas-, officers. It seemed to be just as it should be. There were people in that class who were already proving that they were admin- istrators. Bill Kincaid was made president. He was soon hard at work. Kyle Swisher was vice presi- dent; Sue Ashby, secretary, and Gene Gaston, treasurer. It was a smooth election, too. Of course, Dick Workman ' s ticket was not chosen, but he didn ' t take it too hard. One ot the favorite hobbies of a freshman is joining. There are enough things about the campus to keep an ambitious freshman busy for one whole semester if he just spends his spare time in nothing else but joining. There were the religious or- ganizations, the YWCA, the Min- isterial Association, and the Student Volunteers. There were the clubs — the Betty Lamp, the Pan American Chain, the International Relations Club. One can have his choice of many others, too. But the most em- barrassing task of all was making up