Davidson College - Quips and Cranks Yearbook (Davidson, NC)

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v V f 9 B — tHcrc M iwever incorrecl this may be, remember, it will not be my fault as 1 tell the tale as t ' was told to me, — not being here at the time, I cannot prove the statements herein con tained, — only, I can re-commend them as coming from a venerable body, whose words ought to cany weight on any subj I Misty, damp and melancholy had been the day, and night came on earlier than usual and found me deep in my arm-chair poring over well-thumbed books and weaned with the monotony of things in general. The flickering fire cast checkered and weird shadows on wall and ceiling reminding one of a giant kaleidoscope worked by unseen fingers. At length, over the whole College grew a deep silence, and one by one the chance loot steps died away; save for the occasional sputtering of the coal, all was still. Setting aside my books and pulling my chair nearer the fire 1 began dreamily to ruminate over one thing and another, musing over the petty incidents of the day and the weari- ness of it all. Ah ' said I aloud, how fleeting things are ! Mow many others such as 1 have sat bv this same the and, while watching the glowing

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DAVIDSON COLLEGE — MAIN BUILDING

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coals, have planned and projected only to see all overwhelmed at last by the ruthless hand of Time. How insignificant man is, and how powerless ! Impelled by ambition, he strives day and night to accomplish his ends, only to be cast down and for- gotten at last. How much better off is the existence of the animal, who has no thoughts for the morrow and lives contented and untouched by the vanities of life. I had no sooner finished than I was suddenly- aware of the presence of another person in the room. Turning quickly around, I saw in the darkest corner a misty looking object bearing somewhat of a human shape, and yet thoroughly transparent, for I could see the wall right through it. I rubbed my eyes and coughed to dispel what appeared to me to be an optical delusion, but it remained in the same place. With my hair standing on m - head, I was about to ask who was there, when it began to speak. Miserable man, it said, why sit you here prattling as a child over your fancied ills ? What do you know of life and its troubles ? What do you know of the great men who have occupied the very room you sit in, grumbler that you are ? Thoroughly crestfa llen, I was trying to remem- ber the most approved methods of addressing shades, and at length cried out : O, your most transparent highness! Who might I have the felicity of addressing, — and-er- wont you have a chair ? Here I looked around, but finding that I occupied the only chair in the room, I became embarrassed. My visitor evidently THE DRUHtochTV ARCHITECTURE noticed this, and perching himself rather non- chalantly on my trunk, fixed his piercing eyes on me and began : Who am I ? I am he who watches over these venerable walls, ceaselessly, day and night. For sixty long years have I witnessed the annual arrival of crowds of verdant freshmen, for sixty years have