Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

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•FOREWORD- 3 t presenting this volume of TAPS we have sought to make a permanent record of the scenes and events of this final period of our college career. Our purpose will have been achieved if we have succeeded in portraying in these pages the familiar scenes and events in such a way that it will only be necessary to glance through this volume in future years in order to recall the pleasant memories, sweet triumphs, and bitter failures of this memorable year.

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•THEME- Awbell is ringing. Grey-clad cadets are cluttering the Clemson Campus, pouring from the buildings, journeying to and from their fate or glory — classes. Freshmen are dashing to and fro, in fear of being late for the roll call; Engineers, with their leather cased slide rules dangling, are leisurely trodding the path to the Engineering Building, busily discussing the afternoon lab. ; Ags. are turning briskly in the direction of the Library and Dairy Building, wondering if they know enough to pass that quiz; the future doctors and attorneys (General Science) are gathered around the Main Building steps, smoking, wise-cracking, and casually tossing remarks about Picks Psychology; still more cadets can be seen cutting across the small parade ground en-voyage to the familiar grey walls of the test- tube-arrayed chemistry laboratory; the Architects can be heard discussing the reinforcement of floor slabs or Sids new problem; around the Jew-shop may be seen some Block C boys, laughing with Major, and some of Mack ' s boys detouring for a snack before settling down to work in the Textile Building. Things are wide-awake around the Campus during these five minutes, but soon the soft shadows of Calhoun ' s Cedars are undisturbed again, the lull is hushed, and the students are settled in the classrooms for another hour of learning — Agriculture, Engineering, Architecture, Chemistry, Textiles, General Science, or whatever it may be. In a school so large and with a curriculum so varied, what would be your decision as to a theme for the College Yearbook? Indeed, it is a most difficult task to adopt or create one to please 1550 cadets and to make smiles of contentment spread over the countenances of the faculty. Yes, the Staff has given the thought the most careful and serious consideration and with the hope of at least pleasing some of the readers — our decision for the theme of the ' 36 TAPS is Architecture; not so predominately represented, but enough to serve as a medium for decorative motif and still have some meaning and symbolization of the progress and continuous advance- ment of civilization by man since the building of the great Egyptian Pyramids 1000 B.C. up to our modern skyscrapers of this century. Needless to say, what is more symbolical of man ' s progress today than the massive buildings which dominate our cities, seeming to make the horizon which was once green pasture lands reach up into the heavens? The beauty and esthetic qualities of man ' s creations are not only found in Art, Poetry, and Music, but also in the Architecture throughout the country. Architecture is the oldest of Arts. The Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Italians all were influential factors in presenting forms which have long been preserved and admired by the generations that have followed. The ancient monuments are the glory of the ages; representing the fact that amidst toil and struggles of civil and rebellious strife there was still an outlet for the creation of beauty — Architecture. One could hardly speak of our Architecture in the United States as being American, inas- much as it is too old an art to be linked with one nation. The entire world contributed its part in making our historic buildings and monuments what they are today. Our ancestors in the Old Country were perhaps influential in this great building art, who knows? They saw, and no doubt realized the progress manifested from time to time in the temples of the Romans and Greeks, the fine Italian Palaces and Churches, the picturesque French Cathedrals, on down to our colossal build- ings of the 20th Century. Time passed, and with its passing, times changed. And speaking of the Americanized part of the theme, we could say very little that would not glorify and hold higher our esteem for our forefathers and kinsmen who braved the unsettled coun- try. They were at first too busy fighting Indians and struggling for existence in the new country to give much thought to incorporating beauty in their hastily-made log-cabin homes. They had courage, mastered the .- wilderness and hardships, and set up a government which enables us to i ' Jr enjoy Justice, Liberty, and Democracy. Should not we be grateful? Let us pause for a moment and give thought to what has gone before us — the hardships, the struggles and sacrifices which it has taken to make America what it is today. Perhaps now as we gaze at the massive structures which stand so firmly upon our American soil we can appreciate the signifi- cance for which they stand — Progress. No other nation has progressed in the last 100 years as our United States. Let us keep it so and strive to create instead of to condemn. Thus, my speech is spoken; I hope you can appreciate our viewpoint around which our theme is built. The progress of mankind, Architecture.

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s , ' , FOREWORD s J. X K-the following pages may be seen some simple rep- resentations of some of the periods in the history of Archi- tecture. Should I hesitate to explain it would involve too much archaeological detail and only make this volume con- fusing. So in simply presenting it to you may I say that I hope you will enjoy the efforts of the Staff in compiling this twenty- ninth edition of the Clemson TAPS. You were interested enough to begin this volume; it is only fair to let you form your own opinion about the book, the theme and contents herein — We hope you like it.