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

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HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF ' 99. The subject of evolution has for sometime occupied the thought and attention of mankind. But it is not the his- tory of man and his development that we wish to trace, we only ask you to follow with us, as we wind in and out along the devious path of college life, by which, a class is formed, a life is shaped, a destiny determined. Historians write of great men, of great achievements, of epoch making events. We wish to record the peaceful life of a peaceful class. In the early fall of ' 95 was gathered together, at David- son, the largest class of Freshmen that had assembled for several years. They came from all sections of our sunny southland. Some were young and gay, some of sober thought — it is needless to say that all were sober for a time. A common purpose had called them hither and fellow feel- ing soon arose in each breast. We found the campus fresh and green and the showers never lacking. The boys welcomed us as only boys know how to welcome. It seemed as if we wept in vain, for tears of sympathy fell from unexpected places when none but Fresh were nigh. Persecution unites more quickly than anything else, and soon even the greenest of the green know friend from foe. Ambition even then was swelling in the breasts of some and the desire to be quickly organ- ized took possession of us. Although closely watched we bided our time and were successful. It was decided that, after the Y. 1. C. A. reception on Monday night, following our arrival on Thursday, we should meet and organize. It is not the part of a brave man to leave home ; but that night we left the campus — future events fully justifying our cause. By the fitful light of the declining moon, under the gloomy shade of the railroad tank, a few hurried whispers, a spasmodic speech or two, an informal ballot and the class of ' 99 stepped into the arena of college life, an organized unit. Class spirit immediately arose and we decided to show to the college our unitv. This was done

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The hereditary hatred The ancestral thirst for hazing. Bunyan Shearer, great and mighty Looked upon them with compassion, Gazed upon the timid Freshmen, For their plight had roused his pity; Sadly looked upon the Sophomores. (Just one year removed from Freshmen) Called to mind the Fall preceding; Then reminded them of pledges; But they only howled and hooted, Only sang their war songs louder. Only vvaited until nightfall For the Freshmen to be sleeping, To be soundly, sweetly sleeping: Then upon the Fresh descending Came a deluge from the heavens, Came the water and the blacking Come the H2 S and cat tails. Come the many various tortures All devised by cunning Sophmores. They knew how to tilt a bucket They knew where to find the cat-tails They knew how to pull the big-toes Of the unsuspecting Freshmen. Thus the Freshmen came to college This their coming and reception.

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by the use of an improved yell. At first loud and bold the challenge rang out in the college hall. We were cheeky and we knew it. But as the ring of spectators thickened round us, one by one a dash for liberty was made and soon the class of ' 99 was widely scattered. Such a night needs no description. Here and there an unlucky fellow was picked up, an ebony color applied, and the victim sent on his way rejoicing. One picture rises painfully before us. It is a room on the first floor. On the mantel a lamp is burning, beside it stands a Soph. In the centre of the room, standing upon a table, one poor Fresh is vainly trying to recall the metre of Mary and her Lamb, while his room-mate begins to raise his voice in the immortal words of Brutus ; but there is a noise at the open door, a number of heads appear outside it, a signal is given, dark- ness, — and you may infer the rest. The Freshman need not bathe, such operations are superfluous and unnecessary. Those days passed slowly, but others came in which life seemed to go all too fast. Little by little we came to know and appreciate each other. Even those whom we at first shunned began to reveal themselves in a different light. We crossed bats with the Sophs, with the town and with the college all combined, and we crossed them not in vain. At foot ball we were unfortunate, as all Freshmen are. We had not yet learned to work well together. On Field Day we were not the last of all the classes. In our studies, if not brilliant, we were, at least, willing workers, and honor does not always belong to him whom fortune favors. Each commencement may be .said to mark a station in our col- lege course, but there are mile posts scattered here and there, where some good friend, some college mate stepped off the train forever. Memory fondly turns to more than one, even in our Freshman year, that left us never to return. Their lives lie along separate paths, but the ties which have been formed still bind us. One incident will serve to show how firmly lives become welaed together. One Saturday night preceding commencement, just as the clock struck