Colby College - Oracle Yearbook (Waterville, ME)

Page 12 text:

COLBY ORACLE l 9 I 8 , HIS YEAR we beheld what seemed to us the opening of a new era of social life at Colby. The new custom adopted by the college authorities of hold- ing general college parties is a great success from the point of view of the student body. These good times afford the men and women an opportunity to make and enjoy the acquaintance of each other in an informal way impossible at formal social functions or smaller and more exclusive dances. The mingling of the students with the faculty is also a factor for better understanding and sympathy. Colby is almost unique in the naturalness of her democracy, and this is but another manifestation of it. The students appreciate the kindness of the college in giving these parties, and without fear of dispute the QRACL12 ventures to thank President Roberts and his associates. Colby has given her best to defend democracy against tyranny. VVhen war was declared last spring the whole college was turned upside down. Every able- bodied man asked himself a question, not Shall I enlist F but Shall I enlist or wait for the draft ? The question was quickly settled in the minds of many, and some of us have come to hate the old ten o'clock which has taken away from us so many, many of our dearest friends. Wle felt we could not bear to see them go, but we would have been ashamed to say a word in opposition. They are wearing the blue and the khaki now in every field of Uncle Sam's service, and in many a training camp, and some already are in France. We who returned to college found ourselves depleted in numbers, but re-en- forced by a fine group of Freshmen. XNe shall never forget that first chapel service of the year. VVhat President Roberts said that morning was enough to stir the soul of the coldest to devotion to Colby and to our country. Many have left us since last fall, and as this is written Colby can boast of but twenty-three Seniors in the men's division. W'ho knows how few it may be when these words are read? Colby has shown herself to be in hearty co-operation with the fuel administra- tion in saving coal. The Christmas vacation was lengthened at the expense of the Easter recess, and a new schedule has been introduced during the winter months to save coal in the early morning. The inconvenience is worth while when we realize that our saving is helping to beat the Kaiser. A Colby graduate of last year writes, Any man in college this year who does not improve every opportunity is a slackerf, Il

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I 91 8 COLBY ORACLE. ' hiinriala CAREFUL comparison of this with preceding QIZACLES will show that there has been in the past few years a consistent shortening of the book and crowding of the pages. Fewer full-page cuts are found, and the pic- tures of the Seniors are smaller and less clear. Lack of money is the cause of these economies. This year the ORACLE is handicapped by the fact that there are in college scarcely one hundred and fifty fraternity men, while in normal years the number exceeds two hundred. lf the ORACLE is to be published and maintained even at its present standard, the number of fraternity men and women in Colby must increase as fast as the price of printing, engraving and binding. This pro- portionate increase has not been kept up in the past, and certainly cannot be looked for in the future, at least until the end of the 'VVar. The vanishing pointv is approaching. Try as we can not to be pessimistic, the outlook for an improve- ment in the QR-ACLE for the next few years is not bright. The plan now in prac- tice is remarkably well adapted for Colby. The management can reckon almost to a book how many must be published and what the income will be. This year we welcome to the ORACLE Association a new fraternity and a new sorority, Pi Delta Phi, and Phi Mu. The willing co-operation of these two new units in the publication of the ORACLE is a much needed help. Should not the ORACLE lay more stress upon its Literary Department? Dur- ing a year's work at Colby much line work is done in the English department, and this should have recognition. Ten and more years ago the ORACLE was a literary production of no mean merit, while two years ago the sole literary con- tributions were two articles by the same author, supposedly humorous, but breath- ing a sneering contempt for Colby and Colby people. Though it is impossible this year to publish all the articles presented, the ORACLE has tried to present a little of what Colby people are capable of produc- ing. Diligent search fails to reveal anything written by George Wfatson, '17, other than a class room criticism of a recent book. Mr. Wfatsonfs literary tastes were of the highest and we present this little bit as the only example of his work to be found. I0

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