Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

Page 16 text:

374 THE CLEMSON COLLEGE CHRONICLE Sir James was the second son of Sir William Gordon, and was a general favorite with all who knew him. For years he had been engaged to Alice Mordaunt, whose father owned property that joined Sir William ' s lands. Though James possessed only the meagre income of a second son, all of his friends predicted much happiness for the fair girl he had won. Shortly before the marriage was to have taken place, the eldest son, Sir Cecil, returned from his travels on the Continent. It was soon evident that the course of true love no longer ran smooth, and few were astonished to hear that Miss Alice had broken the engagement, and would soon wed Sir Cecil. James lingered in England until after the marriage was celebrated. Some say that he was in church during the ceremony, though not among the wedding guests. Shortly after he disappeared, and none have heard tidings of him until this day. The reason for this advertisement was that Sir Cecil had been suddenly killed while on a fox hunt, and dying without heirs, it was necessary to seek his only brother. Fate did not reward Alice for her perfidy; she could not purchase the happiness she had denied another. It is but just that she should suffer even as she made that youth whose ' Glorious, chivalric deed Shall not perish as long as men hold this creed — That the hero whose blood for his kind is shed Wins a deathless fame and an honored bed; A monument grander than sculptor e ' er gave, In the glory that hallows the martyr ' s grave. ' G. D. L., ' 03. Another Reply In spite of a natural dislike for controversy, I fed that I

Page 15 text:

THE CLEMSOX COLLEGE CHRONICLE 373 This advertisement met the gaze of Henry Robertson, manager of the Excelsior Mines, as he hastily glanced over some papers that had just come from Southampton. By the same mail, he had received unexpected summons to re- turn to England on important business, when the boat sailed for home. As the deepening twilight rendered reading im- possible, and as he did not wish to have the lamps lighted early, he drew his chair by an open window to enjoy the evening breeze. Musing, his thoughts reverted to the notice he had just read; one idea suggested another, until finally having, seemingly, arrived at some definite conclusion, he said half aloud, It ' s worth the trouble; I ' ll try it. Arriving in England, and having transacted the business for which he had been called home, Henry thought again of the possible reward in store for him. The following after- noon, he presented himself at the office of Bailey Brooks. On presenting his card, he was ushered into the presence of Mr. Bailey, the senior member of the firm. Having stated his mission, he drew from his pocket the photograph that for years had lain on the heart of Gentle- man Jim. The old solicitor adjusted his glasses, moved nearer to the light, and gazed intently at the picture before him. ' Yes, yes, he said, half to himself, ' ' that is surely the face of Alice Mordaunt as she looked before she cast love from her, broke a good man ' s heart, and sold herself into gilded misery — well, I suppose ' the jingle of the guinea helps the hurt that honor feels. ' Then turning to Henry, he thus began ; Young man, you have earned the reward offered for knowledge of Sir James Gordon. I deeply regret the tidings that you bear ; they can but bring sorrow to those who loved that noble boy. It is only just that I should tell you something of his his- tory ;

Page 17 text:

THE CLEMSON COLLEGE CHRONICLE 375 cannot do less than sustain the position which I have previ- ously taken in regard to social intercourse between students and faculty. This is a subject which well deserves consider- ation, and I am truly glad that the opposing views are being presented, because it will only serve to assist me in exposing the absurdity of the objections raised to social relations be- tween student body and faculty. It was with a view of bringing this phase of college life to the attention of the students and faculty, and with the hope of making the environments more pleasant and profitable for both, that I first mentioned it ; and it is in this same spirit that I answer erroneous and misleading views that may be presented on the opposite side. I do not pose as an unques- tionable authority on this subject, though I have given some special thought to it from the standpoint of a disinterested observer. I say disinterested, because, in common with nearly all of the students, I have received none of the sweets of society by visiting the professors, and I do not hope to receive any. I claim to possess no unusual insight into mat- ters of this kind, but I believe that I can modestly claim for myself the ability to draw as correct conclusions after five years experience as others can from three years experience. I regret to notice that my friend is laboring under a wrong impression. He has charged me with overlooking the argu- ment in his February article, and analyzing his phraseology and exposing his literary short-comings. I am exceedingly sorry that he has so misconstrued my reply, for I am sure I was only after the argument ; I did not intend to point out any defects in his phraseology, because I think that he uses fairly good English. If, however, there was some room for this construction of my reply, it might be accounted for to some extent by the fact that his note contained more elegant language and rhetorical flights than convincing argument. Coming to the arguments advanced in the April issue, my