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

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BfStOry of 1900 — continued But what use, think you, we nnide of the coveted opportunities for which we fought so hard. From the time we first took up our abode here, Dr. Grey and Dr. Harding, both liberal-minded men and ever anxious for the civilization of the world, had agreed to help us to the attainment of the much-desired learning. But even they had some of the patrician spirit, and did this only on condition that we would not usurp the privileges of citizens by using horses or attempting to travel the Highway to Learning. For the first year these conditions were shamefully disregarded, and indeed we were so much taken up with the fighting that progress along this line was nothing to boast of But the next year new men joined us, men of prodigous minds who took the lead in scholarship, and since that time our reputation has been almost unrivaled. In the third year one-third of our entire number were placed upon the roll of the honored, though there were some who failed to do us credit. It was under Dr. Shearer that we took up the study of sacred things. Somehow we were not sufficientl} ' civilized to appreciate sacred matters, and even yet there are few among us who seem to be destined to become religious leaders. Dr. Smith, always obliging, undertook to instruct us in natural philosophy. Now there were some few among us who, as is natural with the uncivilized, were much readier with their hands than their minds. These, in attempting to put some of Dr. Smith ' s natural philosophy into practice, came near burning the citadel Then there was a squad of young figbters who lacked patience and attempted to take Fort Math by storm, but from it there came such a volley of zeroes that they fled and are to this day in shame attempting to make amends, but all in vain. We hope that they may succeed before May 30th, when we are to go forth to give the world the benefit of all that we have acquired in these four years of labor, and make room for others. : Cbe River Pool ■ ' fe l fe»: ' «r»s Beside a reedy, gently sloping shore The inland river slowly flows along; From far away there comes the rapid ' s roar, By distance softened to a murm ' ring song.

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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

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Prospectus IjOOKING back over the ages we find that now and then the entrance of some one man upon his career has marked an epoch in history. What is to be the effect when this class of nineteen hundred steps into the world? Judging from the college record, we may venture a few predictions. Peaks King, whose grandeur of appearance and awe-inspiring presence are rivaled only by the peaks of the Himalayas, is soon, with the support of the mighty Persian, to establish an empire. Judge Walsh is to be Chief Justice. Now the Law, precise and well defined, contrary to vour expectations, will be no insignificant affair; nevertheless, in this well-governed empire vou need expect little disturbance of the peace and the Judge will be hard put to it to find employment for himself. But he is not to be outdone. From Aris- tophanes ' Wasps ' he has lately gained valuable suggestions, and the trial of the house-dog made such an impression upon him that we would advise our watch-dog Growler Robinson to be exceedingly careful about the performance of his duty. Hoffman, a born skeptic in philosophy and astronomy, as everybody knows, is to propound a new philosophy, that all things consist in music. Like other heroes, he is destined to give his life for his cause. Enchanted and transfixed by the nmsic of the spheres, he must wither and be swept away bv the Windy singing the requiem in the same old monotonous tone. Hoffman is a modest man, and we may well fear that he will be slow to put his views before the world. But Humphrevs, who has no such feelings and doesn ' t believe in letting anybody suffer for what they ought to know, has already accepted the new doctrine, as he does the thoughts of all wise men, and will e ' er long publish the treatise along with a dictionary of the terminology. Poor Lake Cely can never know of all this. He slipped his dam on English examination and ran dry. Thomason is another unfortunate. He went out one moon-light night looking for some- thing that wasn ' t lost, and in some mysterious way got inked to such an extent that it will be necessary to keep him out of civilized parts. In all probability he will be sent as Satrap of Ethiopia. To Hewitt, always known as a man of valor and untiring energy, is to be assigned the herculean task of silencing Charlie McGinn, the man who looks like a bear. Morton has shown himself a man of ability along so many lines that we fear he will never find his sphere. Perhaps he may set up a meat market, and pull the wool over the eyes of many a fair servant girl while he sells her goat and calls it mutton. Thompson has become so much attached to Dr. Smith that he can never leave him. So you may expect to find him at Davidson studying physics for some years to come. There is no doubt that this prosperous land of ours will become over-populated. Then you may expect to find Sticky Hill firmly stuck in the Dismal Swamp providing a dwelling place for the posterity of his classmates. Finally, fellow classmates, may the lustre of our light nor the ardor of our spirit never be dimmed e ' er we meet again around our dear old Hall where it shall forever be symbolized. Listen to the Mocking Bird w-hile he sings the everlasting praises of nineteen hundred. 26