Columbia University Teachers College - Tower Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 75 text:

HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1916 The duty of the class historian would, indeed, be onerous were she constrained to follow in painful detail all class-room activities through a four years pursuit of knowledge and efficiency. That I-Ierculean task shall be left for other pens than mine, no weightier themes than Ath- leticsf' Dramatics, Society Events, shall be touched upon here. The class of l9l6 came together in the early part of the year, organiz- ed under Lucy Cooper's able leadership and amiable smile and started off on its four years. journey. Freshmen, as a rule, are beset by difhculties and we were no exception to this rule. Some one said she felt like a dew- drop in the Desert of Sahara those hrst few months. Since there is nothing improper in admitting such experiences, after a lapse of four years, I can, now, safely say that she was not alone in her plight. As we were an experiment to the college, we quite naturally wished to prove a successful one, so we put on a brave face and plunged into activity, which took the form of a dramatic production, some athletics, a dance, a little cramming and examinations-with their usual crop of Hunk-notices! Out of all these activities emerged the Sophomores, a sadder and wiser class. Athletics and Social Events marched side by side in our sopho- more year. IYe agreed with that learned man who said, Learn by doing. In the early part of the year we indulged in tennis, hockey and basketball, and in the latter part, we were in the Society Notes stage. The produc- tion of ''All-of-a-Sudden-Peggy'' won us fame and our 'Soph Cotillion won us popularity. This last event was everything from thrilling to disas- trous. You can imagine the thrilling part, the disastrous part must be told. In the language of a would-but-couldn't-be poet: The hour was nine, the orchestra, hidden in a bower of leafy ferns and sunset roses, crooned soft music, while the dancers waited in impatient silence for the ar- rival of Her Majesty, the president, who was to have opened the dance at eight o'clock. Minute after minute slipped by. Presently the news of her kid- napping came and struck terror to the hearts of her classmates. She finally arrived, breathless and heated. and the '1Cotillion was a success. 'What had happened ? you ask. Sh-h, not so loud-Freshman !'y is the answer. Wfe now entered upon our Junior year. One of those extraordinary events Cof which I am permitted to speakj coming in this year was the cir- cus. Anyone who was present will tell you that it made The VVorld's Greatest look small. Everything was there from elephants, toe dancers, freaks, side shows, to peanuts and pink lemonade. Page Seventy-two

Page 74 text:

CAROLINE IOHANNA VVORTMAN V Household Arts Education ' . 38 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. I Wood and water, wind and tree, Wisdom, strength add courtesy, jungle favor go with thee! Class Basket Ball Qlj. t HONORARY MEMBERS 1916 DEAN JAMES EARL RUSSELL DR. FREDERICK H. SYKES MIss LUCETTA DANIELL MISS GRACE GREENVVOOD MRS. EVELYN S. TOBEY DR. ELIZABETH C. CooK Mlss NIAY B. VAN ARSDALE Mlss JANE I-TALES Page Seventy-one

Page 76 text:

If I were to go on and tell of all the unusual things 1916 did that year, the Tower would look like a dictionary. Thinking of your comfort in per- using said book, I refrain. Usual or unusual-1916 captured the inter-class championship for hockey, to the chagrin and amazement of some other classes. Victory would not desert her chosen daughters. Spring came and with it, Junior week, for which plans had been afoot the year before. The college authorities very nearly gave us a vacation that week but found it unnecessary. Wfe took it! All sorts of things hap- pened that week, splendid, glorious, wonderful, thrilling, expensive and heart-breaking. It would take a book to do justice to the junior Prom alone, not to mention the receptions, teas and theatre parties. Exams finished the year, but not us! Wfe came back the next year, irreproachable as Seniors. VVith the dignity and propriety befitting our high rank as Seniors, we garbed ourselves in cap and gown and went about our business as pro- spective pedagogues should, scorning the frivolities of the freshmen and the improper ways of other under-class men. Our four years' record as a class had been so unusual in its brilliancy that we were, much against our will, persuaded by the college to write it up as a book, which could be used as a guide to other classes planning a four years' journey such as ours. This stupendous task required a great deal of brain matter, but, having accumulated a superfluity of such, we were able to accomplish the task and present the information in the Tower. Read well and profit by it! VVe have come to the end of our journey. As we prepare for Com- mencement we are reminded of the words- With a sudden swift realization That still there are things we don't know VVith a queer little ache in us somewhere And a last look around us-VVe Go! Page Se'z1e1z ty-three