College of William and Mary - Colonial Echo Yearbook (Williamsburg, VA)

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M. A. Class History Ax ATTEMPT (ii n-coiil the iinportaiit events of Uir M. A. Class of William and lary niai ' ks ilii ' Lieginning of a new era. for this is the first organization of the kind, at William and Mary. To-day. I see before me the names and stalislies of four men — John Tyler. Billy Wrigglesworth, J. B. Terrell, and Ihe Historian, candidates foi- their master ' s degree wlio, five yeai ' s ago. wwr ushered into a new life, llow Ihey have occupied themselves during their stay at eollege is manifested in their works; consequently, the task of the Historian is short. They have had sorrows, they have had joys; they have had failures, they have had success; which is (rue life, for all life is a comparison, and withmit the hardshi]is, smooth sailing would mean failure. But they have diiink deep at the Pierian font; and sweet were the last draughts, for can ymi draw a jiicture more attractive than one in which the occupant stands upon the threshold of an undiscovered tielil with all of its ornate lieauties, beckoning the abmit-to-lie invader into its glorious laln ' rinths where there is a possibility at least of stories and ideas being finished and satisfied? Enough for the idea of research. But would it be saying too much to add that they are equipped with the |)hilosophy of religion and the ))hilosophy of life? If that be so, then they are valiuilile citizens and the praise is to our Alma Hater. They realize the value of high ideals and of social service and appreciate educational efforts. They, by now, have dealt sutliciently in the stock of humanity to com- prehend its constituents and to know their relative positions. But says Portia, If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels would have been churches and poor men ' s cottages palaces. ' ' Plere it is no small comfort to say knowledge comes but wisdom lingers, and it is this fact after all that satisfies the human mind. Knowledge slips away while wisdom and discriminat ion make the difference between heaven and eai ' th. ' I ' liey have learned in the words of Herhart that the wants of the future man must l)e incorporated into the teachings of children. They are nu ' n who are free from bonds of jirejudict ' . whose minds arc o|)en to receive the truth regardless of its source because the inti ' lligeiit love of right has made them so. However, it is not the intention of the Historian to mislead anyoiu ' in regai-il to the character of these men: gi ' anting, thougli. that the ' are serious fellows, let us examine a few facts. f(u- the smallness of the class and the close fellowship will permit this with impunity. If luy prophetic pen were indulged to the extent of allowing one gue s as to the future occu|)ation of these men. I would ay teaching. Whatevi ' r their occupation niav be. tui-n backward for a few years and recall an occasion when you met John Tyler in the College hall with knee trousers and number nin( shoes and say you refrained from asking those shoes liei-c they were carrying that boy. and see what the class says. I ' lUt time works 15

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mturt TO THE MONUMENT AT YORKTOWN Iiitii tlic ileatlilp s past with raptured evfs 1 gaze upon loufr-vanislied scenes afar. And live afjain amid the shook and jar Of strife and turmoil and a eountry ' s cries: 1 see upon Virginia ' s soil arise A nation born ' mid thunders and ' mid war; As fading out lievond the eastern bar Old England ' s dream of empire slowly dies. The message of the jiast forevermore 1 hear adown the troubled ages ' sweep: America, thou land of Freedom ' s choice. Rest thou awhile from Industry ' s dull roar, And hearken thou from Commerce, that thou keeji Thy heart responsive unto Freedom ' s voice. ' ' M

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soiiio wciiiilrous chiinj. ' i ' s ; and in n session or Iwd wlicn .l ihn ciiiiturcd llic llrnjaniin Stodard Ewi ' ll JMatli. Jk ' dal. lie sliowid tlu ' nniterial of which w was made. Still {jreater was tlio surprise when the fact heeanie known that the same gentleman was ileelared the winner of the William Barton IJofrers Seholarshi]), thus entitling him to the |)rivilege of a year ' s work at the Boston School of Technologv. So we might continue to reveal the evolution of this man. hut lack of space and time necessitates our hastening on to one .1. B. Terrell, th( distinguished man of college affairs. To him was awarded the Final Orator ' s icdal of l!)0;3-04; the l.iterarv .Magazine Prose :Me(lal of 1904-0.-). and Final Dehater ' s ledal of IDO.I-Od; so, von will not be sur|)rised to know thai lie reiiresenteil William and Mary at the State Oratorical Contest in f!)l).-)-0(i. l.ast ses. ion Dr. (larrett found he needed an assistant in Chemistry and I ' liysics, which position settled on . . B.. illustrating the old familiar adage that some have greatness thrust ii|;oii them. Ilowevc ' r, Dr. (Jarrett was so w-ell pleased with J. B. s work that he had him made Associate-Professor the following session, and now there only remains a thesis to be handed in by him before he will be declared a Master of Arts. In lOO. ' j-Ot; the associate T.itei-ary editorship of The Coloxi.vl Echo came to this man. which was filled so admirably that it necessitated his being elected Editor-in-chief of Ttie Coi oxiAL Eciro — wdiicli position he now occupies and in which jjosition ilic Historian will leave him, for having climlied to this, your imagination can furnish you witli some idea as to his accoiiipli liment between the acts. Finally we turn to V lv Wrigglesworth. ■ ' Xoiie knew thee but to love thee. Xone named thee but to i)raise. ' (ientle, w-isc, enthusiastic boy. has occu])ied every position in the gift of the students, yet his meek and unatVeclcd grace remains. He does not believe in advertising, a ])rinciplc ipiite contrary to our times, yet none the less discredited on that account. What you find out about him conies through your own research, for wdiich you may consider well invested time, the last of your work being the best. When Billy gi-aduated last year, as president of the class, a local philosopher, not knowing that lie would return, remarked. Some one will have a good teacher this year. So the story inins. aiul, if all were told, would C(mtinue indefinitely: hut if you have formed some faint idea as to the ability of these men, then the work of the Historian has been accomplished. If the meed of praise be too great, say the fault is mine and let it stand, for in four years of close acquaintance, shortcomings are more than balanced by common ties: so, if you are not answered, you will wait for experience or never know. 16