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

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Rlstory of HOC k p- J w fe J cilS!! AVIDSONIENIS had for half a century held an undisputed reputation as a ' W H ' ' °f learning and culture, and had enjoyed a long reign of peace, when suddenly in September, 1S96, its inhabitants were alarmed by the Eu »T- e=iK« ■ approach of an uncivilized horde, demanding not only admittance but r iW S I tlie full rights of citizenship. These were the sons of Nun. Some three thousand years after the glorious exploits of their ancestor they had become dissatisfied -with their condition of ignorance and barbarism and had determined to win for themselves the rare privileges, which they had heard were enjoyed at Davidsoniensis. or die in the attempt. Accordingly they chose for themselves a leader whom they found worthy to bear the name of Cato. The inhabitants of the city had for so long a time been engaged in the pursuit of learning that they were entirely unused to hostilities and were greatly terrified at the formidable ap- pearance of the enemy. The military forces, composed entirely of the lower classes, called Sophos-Moros, were hastily called together and put into campaign order while the barbaric host was still on the other side of the river. All the bridges were immediately burned, contrary to a recent law of the city, thus com- pelling us to ford the river. The sight of the torrent aroused some little fear in our host, but we could not afford to turn back, though there were among us many tender youths who had great difficulty in steming the flood. All came safely to land, and we soon learned that one of the great leaders of the enemy had been exiled for violating the laws in resorting to this means of delaying our advance. We had not long to wait for a fight, for there was pluck in the inhabitants. But what was our surprise when we encountered, not cannon-balls nor rifle-balls, but base-balls, fired by a well-trained battery. Jennings was put in command of a division with orders to charge the battery. After har- ranguing his troops, and being assured in turn that they too were well trained in this mode of warfare, he made the assault and speedilv routed the foe. They retired in disorder and dismay, and demanded the support of the patrician classes, which was cheerfully granted : but again they were defeated. Then they sent letters to the neighboring province imploring aid, but all in vain, for Jen- nings and his men held their ground. Then it was perceived that Jennings was not to be conquered, so they gave over the fight in that quarter until the next season and turned their forces against our second division under Brown. Moreover, they perceived that their weapons and tactics were at fault, and they changed both, using foot-balls and entrenching themselves where the land was well marked so that our retreat or advance could be carefully watched. But Brown w.is on the alert, and although his men were totall)- un- skilled in this mode of warfare, he himself had learned it before and he drilled them daily. In the first skirmish he was defeated, which he perceived to be due to the fact that our men were much superior in stature to those of the enemy.

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Roll Of the Ronorcd—continucd Walsh, Walticr Miller, Charlotte, N. C , Judge. 21 years : 145 lbs ; 5 ft. 8J in ; Course A. B. Phi. B e II Second Supervisor, Society ■97 ; Secretary, Society ' 97 ; Vice-President, Society ' 98 ; Second Critic, Society ' 9S ; First Critic, Society ' 99; President, Society ' 00; President, Class ' 97- ' 98 ; Class Historian, 96- ' 97, ' 98- ' 99 ; Editor Magazine, ' 9S- ' 99, ' 99- ' oo ; Commencement Orator, ' 99 ; Chief Marshal, ' 00 ; Toast Master, Class Banquet, ' 98 ; Secretary, Tennis Associ- ation, ' 97- ' 9S ; Member Class Foot Ball Team, ' 98- ' 99 ; Member Class Base Ball Team, ' 98; Member Scrub Foot Ball Team, ' 98- ' 99 ; Member Class Track Team, ' 98- ' oo ; Secretary Y. M. C. A., ' 9S- ' 99 ; President Y. M. C. A., ' 99 ' 00 ; President Glee Club, ' 98- ' oo; Monitor, Class. Spring ' 97; Vice-Monitor, Kail ' 97, Spring ' 98 and Fall ' 98 ; President Student Body, ' gg- ' oo; Editor Quips and Cranks. ' 9S- ' oo. Winn, James . nderson, Decatur Ga., Windy. 22 years; 170 lbs.; 6 ft.; Course A. B. Eu. Bell President, Society ' 99 ; Reviewer, Society ' 99- ' oo, I two terms); Commencement Orator, ' 99; Editor Magazine, ' 98- ' 99 ; Editor-in-Chief M.AGAZINE, ' 99- ' oo ; Declaimer ' s Medal, ' 97; Marshal, ' 00; Member Class Foot Ball Team, ' 9S- ' 99, ' 99- ' oo ; Leader, Glee Club, ' 98- ' oo ; Mandolin and Guitar Club, ' 99- ' oo ; Class President, ' 96- ' 97 ; Vice-Monitor, Class, Spring ' 99, Fall ' 99 and Spring ' 00; College Organist, ' 98-99; Editor Quips and Cranks, ' 98; Editor QuiPS AND Cranks, ' 00, (resigned). Yonan, Ahabeg David, Oroomiah, Persia, Sallie. 21 years; 175 lbs.; 5 ft. 10 in.; Course A. B. Eu. Member College Foot Ball Team (four years) ' 96- ' oo ; Class Foot Ball Team (four years); Captain Class Foot Ball Team, ' 98.

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BiStOry of HOO — continued In the next fight he resorted to strategy. The left wini. ' under the command of Wallace feigned an attack, while the right under Nettles passed to the rear, and the heavy armed under Rankin charged the center. The victory was ours, but the fight was soon renewed with doubtful results, and finally abandoned until the nest season. The forces were disbanded during the sumniernionths. When hostilities recommenced it was found that some of our men had deserted, and the men of Brown ' s division, now under Fitzpatrick, emboldened by their successes of the year before, had become overconfident and were defeated, though the fight was a hard one. It was as night was coming on that they were driven from £) the field. Not so with Jennings and his men. They were as indomitable as ever, and the enemy had to give up the fight in despair in spite of all the aid they could get. It was well for us that they did, for by the next season many of our men had left us. Some became weary of the struggle, others had heard of cities which they considered more desirable dwelling places than Davidsoniensis, and still others, we regret to say, had shamefully turned upon some newcomers who were seeking what we had sought two years before. These h»d to be exiled. At this time we had a light-armed corps in the field which was devastating the land. The enemy set apart a day in the spring on which these should be pursued and captured. But when the day arrived, after pursuing them for a thousand paces, they looked up and our colors were still flying in the w-ii:d. By this time we had made great progress toward civilization. Most of those who had in- habited the city at the time of our evasion had passed away and those who remained were un- equal to the task of expelling us. The city was now filled with men who had come in after us and bore us no ill feeling. So it was that hostilities for the most part ceased. Nevertlieless, there always existed a hostile feeling between our men and the remnant of those we had found here, and the next year they challenged us to combat. Although we were so much reduced in numbers that it was a difficult matter to get a force on the field, we met them. We shall never forget that day when we were forced upon the field in a drizzling rain, when the men could hardly stand in the mud, when all were predicting our defeat without sympathy, when all was confidence ' n the ranks of the enemy and their exultation was expressed on every face. Nor shall we forget the fire and determination in the eyes of our men as they bravely lined up. There never was such a spirit felt among us as when the enemy withdrew, having failed to conquer us. That battle in the rain laid one of our heroes, for a long season upon the bed from which he had risen to enter it, and when the challenge came again there was no one to fill his place ; even though one of our one- arincd veterans offered his services. 24 cSi