Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

Page 33 text:

lowering clouds rolled away, and over the face of the deep brooded a twilight calm. So sank the Sophomore sun to rise on a misty Junior morn. With Junior came many changes to Clemson. A new President held the reins of government ; a new Commandant had charge of the War Department ' s interests. Under the guidance and leadership of these two men, college affairs moved off smoothly. Then began the tussle with Analytics and Calculus — but why mention these things? They should be excluded from every story, the aim of which is to please. With a few words we lay Junior aside, and, behold ! there you are — a Senior at last ! The beginning of Senior year is the turning point of a college man ' s life. Heretofore realization was submerged in anticipation, and hope for things looked for overbalanced a knowledge of things passed. It was a provident act — that of constituting man with an element of blind faith in the future. All through the years of the lower classes we looked forward to that time when we would emerge into the sunshine of Senior clays — near the top of the ladder. But, now that we are there, the alluring smile has vanished, the roseate clouds have melted into nothingness. No longer led to look forward to freer, happier college days, we glance down the tortuous, backward track. There, stretched out in long array, are our trials, with their tears and Their triumphs ; our mistakes — some of ignorance, some, we fear, of self-confidence. And we trust a few acts — a few deeds — worthy of commendable criticism, will be unearthed by future archaeologists and credited to us. Whatever we have undertaken, good or bad, has been the subject of our combined efforts — a fact that should excuse many faults. A spirit of thorough- ness has permeated the whole corps. Out of it has grown the present high standard of military discipline at Clemson. The one thing that had long been wanting here, was not a wise or skillful officer in charge — we have had that for years. It was a proper spirit, a just conception of duty by the corps — the Senior Class principally — that was needed. To that end the corps has gradually been drifting. It had to be done gradually, for sentiment, yes, even public opinion, had to be revolutionized, and that took time, and. besides, it took courage, even fearlessness, to accomplish it. What our class has had to do with the present status of the corps, we leave others to say. To the following classes we leave our heritage, be it great or small ; for our- selves we reserve the glory or the stigma, let it be what it may. 27

Page 32 text:

The Class ' 04 Motto: Doing the right as we sec the right. Sometimes we have the wrong conception of history. If history is such a collection of material as would make a complete story if narrated, then a class cannot have a history until all the material is ready. We do not propose going out of business. The Class of ' 04 is here to stay, and for that reason we shall not call this brief sketch a history. This has been a long, tiresome journey, has it not. boys? This is to you. who enlisted in ' 99. It is so discouraging standing at the foot of a ladder gazing at some coveted height. The sunshine and smiling warmth up there almost mad- den us. who hover under the shadows of dejection below. Of those days we speak hurriedly : of those trials and hardships we wish to leave no legacy to futurity. That father or mother who lias been our stay all these many years would feel deeply grieved were we to give our petty sorrows first place in this sketch. The year sped on. and summer came — how short it seems now. With it came the end of Prep. No one knows the joys that flooded our hearts when we laid aside the dog-eared Geographies and Physiologies. All the summer long we dreamed of the stores of knowledge Fresh had hidden for our benefit. We would be carvers of wood and pounders of iron, while our pens would put to shame the best efforts of Gibson or Christie! Vanity, Vanity, surely thou art a fickle goddess. The last year of the dear old nineteenth century brought us a goodly number of recruits. The firing line was wofully weak, but the timely arrival of the sup- ports was a signal for a grand charge, and away we went into Fresh ! Through wintry winds, spring showers, and summer sunshine, we trudged to the music of Reveille and Taps. When the finals were over we were no longer Freshmen. Every student who has experienced the pleasure (?) of beginning the Sopho- more ' s work at Clemson knows how to sympathize with novices. Reinforced by a few ' Soph rats — the reserve — we again assailed that staid, stately stronghold of chemistry, mathematics, and English. Victory loomed up invitingly hefore us : but something else loomed up. too. How many of our class will ever forget that memorable day. April 20. 1902? Of that brief, bitter struggle between love of class and love of college no one can ever full} ' know who has not been similarly placed. But a kind fate was leading us. and we trod this Gethsemane in safety, if in sorrow. If you are disposed to view our proceedings critically, think of Brutus ' words : Not that I loved Ca?sar less, but that I loved Rome more. The 26

Page 34 text:

William John Austin ( ' .- speak not; for silence has a language more divine. Austin first saw the light on September 3d, L879, at Honea Path, S. C. of which metropolis he has since been ;i resident. He is 5 feet 6 inches high, weighs 141) pounds, has black hair and blue eyes, and was always considered, by his classmates, as one of the quietest and most studious of boys. He entered Clemson in ' 98, after having received the rudiments of his education at Honea Path. He was one of the Textile Yaps. and was a faithful member of the Columbian Society Vernon Baker I hare scarce ever met with a man who k)ic: ' more or said less. BAKER was born at Gaffney, S. C, on No- vember 2Sth, 1883, and has lived there since. His height is 5 feet 9 inches, weight 140 pounds; he has dark brown hair and brown eyes. He received his early education at the Gaffney Male and Female Seminary and in the public schools of Gaffney. then joined the class a- a Sophomore in 1001, to become an Electri- cal Engineer. He was Captain of Company H, Sergeant-at-Arms and Vice-President of the Calhoun Society, and President of the Epicurean Club. He was noted as a hard stu- dent and a steady, earnest worker. Marshal Commencement, ' 03. 28