East Tennessee State University - Buccaneer Yearbook (Johnson City, TN)

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THE CHALK LINE June 6, 1930 22 1795, was chartered by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of the United States south of the River Ohio, as Washington College, so-called in honor of the illustrious President of the United States. This was the first real institution of learning west of the Alleghenies. Soon after his settlement at Salem, Mr. Doak had occasion to go some thirty miles toward Abingdon for family supplies. His wife seeing some Cherokee War¬ riors approaching, snatched up her infant son, John Whitfield, and fled to a place of confinement, from which she saw them plundering and burning the cabin. No doubt if the child had awakened and cried, both it and the mother would have been captured and killed; but she escaped to a blockhouse, where she met her hus¬ band on his return. Dr. Doak physically was above the average stature. He was a man of large muscular frame, and his ap¬ pearance was grave and commanding. His voice was stentorian, his eyes deep blue. He was a man of strong intellect and manly good sense, a man of dignity and great firmness. In his classes he often sat with his head bent backward and his eyes closed, but if a student made a mistake in recitation that student soon found out that he was very much awake. He was interested in civic affairs and alwavs voted. He was a great student and thinker. When he was sixty-five years old he mastered Chemistry and Hebrew. He prepared young ministers in Hebrew to take a creditable examination before the Presbytery. His great ambition was to prepare young ministers and missionaries for this great western coun¬ try to which people were fastly migrating. Dr. Doak first started his school with just a few helpers and in a log cabin. The trustees held their first meeting on the twenty- third day of July, 1795, at which were the following members: the Rev. Samuel Doak, President; Rev. Wil¬ liam Holt; Dr. William Chester; David Deaderick; John Wilson; John Waddell; John Sevier, Jr.; and Alexander Mathes. Col. Landon Carter was appointed to sell some land on Doe River, which Col. Waightsill Avery had do¬ nated to Washington College. The proceeds were or¬ dered to be expended for books, and necessary things needed to run the college. In the month of May, 1798, the President left the college and attended the General Assembly, at Phila¬ delphia, as a commissioner from the Presbytery of Abingdon. There he obtained a valuable donation of books, which he carried on horseback across the moun¬ tains, to his college. These formed the nucleus of the college library. A great affliction befell the President in the death of his wife. He married secondly Mrs. Margaretta H. McEwen. Tradition says that on a certain occasion when he was starting to visic his “intended ' a wag of a student placed himself under a tree by the roadside and pretending to be getting out his Latin, he read and translated aloud as follows: “amor omnia vincit. The ready and pertinent reply of the doctor as he passed was “cedamus amori. This tradition may be authentic. Dr. Doak presided over Washington College and preached at Salem Church about thirty-eight years. He resigned and moved to Tusculum in Greene County where he engaged with his son, John, in establishing a classical school, which later became Tusculum Colleg. On the resignation of the first President the trustees immediately elected his eldest son, the Rev. John W. Doak, as his successor. The Civil War came on and the college had to close. The buildings on the campus were turned into forts, and even stables where the soldiers kept their horses. The college suffered extreme injury as the re¬ sult of the war, and the conditions were very saddening when it came to a close. In 1908 the college united with its old “sister col¬ lege, Tusculum. This union proved to be unsatisfac¬ tory, and the colleges were separated leaving Washing¬ ton College of first class high school rank, which today is operating as a self-help academy, where poor boys and girls of these southern hills and mountains, may re¬ ceive an education. Washington College this year is celebrating its sesqui-centennial year. It has enjoyed a century and a half of noble prestige. No student can fail to come un¬ der the spell of its antiquity. The old oaks and beeches are full of it, and every square rod is historic ground. It is not only to make truth-seeking but truth-revering men and women. All through the years it has stood for the highest development possible of its students, who should look back with great admiration, to those old pioneer ancestors of ours who have blazed the trail and established for us such an institution of learning. INFAMOUS SAYINGS FOR FAMOUS PERSONS B. Archer—60 days,—for not feeding a “balanced diet. J. R. Walker—10 days, for being too “dignified. R. McNabb—80 days, for “petting. J. Masterson—90 days, for “automobile riding. E. Howard—2 years, for having too many “dates. T. Dingus—99 days, for “talking too much in room 101. C. Shubert—3 years, for “keeping quiet in Apart¬ ment A. J. Henderson—1 year, for “studying in the li¬ brary ? Mrs. Boren—5 years, for “flunking too many stu¬ dent teachers. N. Robinette—3 years, for abusing social privileges. E. Ellison—30 days, for studying—car. R. Barry—60 days, for attempting to take- ' s giri. E. Coleman—90 days, for “cutting classes. M. Mundy—10 years, for “talking too fast. M. Robertson—5 years, for “making paths on the campus. D. Deakins—60 days, for parking on the grass. J. Miller—30 days, for being tardy to class. E. Choate—90 days, for gathering material for Chalk Line on Sunday. J. Brewer—2 years, for “cutting chapel. LI. Hodges—5 years, for paying too much atten¬ tion to-. E. Stanley—10 years, for “courting too much this term. H. Bowman—90 days, for losing a baseball game. M. Wilson—99 days, for talking in the library. U. Armstrong-—2 years, for talking to “alumni boys. R. Snodgrass—3 years for spending too much time in the chemistry laboratory. M. Lyon—6 years for “sleeping in class.

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June 6, 1930 THE CHALK LINE 21 SMOKY MOUNTAIN SCIENCE CLUB During the past two years, the general interest in science among the students of Teachers College has grown with remarkable rapidity. The Smoky Mountain Science Club has been one of the most outstanding organizations on the campus this year. We started out in the fall with a very able leader, J. D. Robinson. He was succeeded by Range Snodgrass, one of our most tireless and ambitious stu¬ dents. Then, Carl Lackey, a man with a purely scien¬ tific mind, stepped into office at the beginning of the spring quarter. Throughout the year, the club has sought to pro¬ mote a vitalizing interest in scientific thought and work. Lectures by visiting scientists, programs given by club members, field trips, motion pictures, contests, and va¬ rious other forms of study and research have character¬ ized our club. We also have a Science Club Question Box. This serves as a stimulus to arouse the members to concentrated work, so that they may be able to answer questions found in the box. Among the most interesting speakers we have had this year were: Dr. Schugt from Bemberg. Dr. Schugt gave us a very faascinating lecture and demonstration on “Glass Blowing.” Dr. Van Brackle, who lectured on “Oral Hygiene.” And Professor Brown, who gave an illustrated lecture on “Spring Flora of this Region.” One of the foremost programs of the year, was the memorial program in honor of the late Professor Roller, who was the guiding light of our science club in its youth. His name shall be lasting to Our Science Club, as one always faithful and generous, who endear¬ ed himself to us all. We feel that our club has an important role to play in the progress of the State Teachers College. We feel an increasing responsibility for keeping abreast of cur¬ rent research in science, and therefore, the necessity for a strong science club organization. We welcome new students, who are of scientific inclinations, into the club at all times. DRAMATIC CLUB No doubt the most entertaining, but the least known and talked about organization upon the campus, is that of the Dramatic Club. Many chapel programs have been made endurable by the members of this organiza¬ tion, who have entertained us. This club has been directed by Miss Irene Bewley at intervals when she has not been on her platform tours. Miss Bewley is a Tennessean who has national fame for her artistic portrayal of mountain characters, who has not yet been added to the Who’s Who list, for some unknown reason. Miss Bewley resides at Greene- ville, when she is not appearing on the lyceum programs, traveling with the Chautauqua, or making tours of vari¬ ous states. The Dramatic Club is exceedingly fortunate in having Miss Bewley to direct its plays, even though she cannot be with it regularly. The Dramatic Club has not only entertained the teachers, but has been to neighboring cities and com¬ munities to present its plays, and has also been heard over station WOPI from Bristol. There is no doubt that every member of this organization shall go far toward success, through their increased understanding of character and human nature. SAMUEL DOAK AND EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COLLEGE (This is a brief review of the essay written by Miss Dorothy May, which won the prize offer¬ ed by the Johnson City Rotary Club, offered to students of both Teachers College and Milligan College for the best historical essay). Washington College has the prestige of a long course of usefulness. Begun and nurtured by prayer and self-sacrificing endeavor, it has been a benediction to thousands, far and near, for a century and a half. Whether battling amid the untoward surrounding of frontier life or resisting the raids of Indians, suffering under the destructive hand of war, or sharing in the struggle of the people to regain what was lost, it has gone forward unswervingly, actuated by no incentive other than the high purposes which called it forth. An indigenous growth of this southwestern moun¬ tain country, the interests of the college have ever been indentified with those of the people, as its life has been a part of their life. The people of this section being for the greater part of Scotch-Irish descent, it was most fit¬ ting that the founder of the first institution of learning among them should be of the same lineage. The one to whom, in the Providence of God, this distinguished privi¬ lege belonged was the widely known and revered Samuel Doak, whom Dr. Ramsey in his “Annals of Tennessee” fitly styles “the apostle of learning and religion in the west.” His parents, Samuel and Jane Doak, emigrated from North Ireland early in the eighteenth century and settled in Chester County, Virginia. Here their son Samuel was born on the first day of August, 1749. He commenced the study of Latin when he was sixteen years of age. In 1773 at the age of twenty-four, he entered Princeton College, during the presidency of Dr. Wither¬ spoon, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde¬ pendence. About this time he married Miss Esther Montgom¬ ery, daughter of the Rev. John Montgomery of Virginia. Having received license from the Presbytery of Han¬ over, in 1777, he soon made his way westward and preached while in Washington County, Virginia, but later in 1780 moved still farther westward to Salem, on the Hominy branch of the Little Limestone, the present site of the college. Tradition relates the following providence as lead¬ ing him to locate at Washington College. “As he was riding through a woods, which then covered that vicinity, he came unexpectedly upon some settlers who were fell¬ ing trees. Learning that he was a minister they re¬ quested him to preach to so many of them as could be assembled immediately. He complied, using his horse for a pulpit and a shady grove for a sanctuary. They were pleased with the sermon and entreated the preacher to tarry longer with them. He yielded to this entreaty, and this lead to a permanent settlement among them.” After teaching privately for more than two or three years, Mr. Doak in 1783, was granted a charter by the Legislature of North Carolina. Two years later the people having separated politically from North Caro¬ lina, he obtained another charter from the assembly of the State of Franklin at its first meeting, held in Jones¬ boro in 1785. The State of Franklin was of short duration, but the school continued to grow and on the eighth of July,

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June 6, 1930 THE CHALK LINE 23 SAY IT WITH SONGS When the weather ' s cold, “Turn on the Heat. When you have a date be “Lovable and Sweet. Between tennis games and supper, “Singing in the Bath Tub. “There ' ll be no more school, “When My Dreams Come True. When I ' m asleep, “I’m a Dreamer, Aren ' t We All? When seniors smile on the way to exams, they ' re only “Painting the Clouds With Sunshine. What we advise for the girls who get shipped: “Go West, Little Girl, Go West. What psychology class exlaim, “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life. When the senior gets spring fever, we want to “Breakaway, says the senior to the teacher who is on the verge of flunking her, “My Fate is in Your Hands. What the seniors say on finals, “Why Do I Always Forget When I ' m Trying So Hard To Remember. E. E. H. THE CHAUTAUQUA The Redpath Chautauqua was a pronounced success this year. Everybody who attended the various pro¬ grams commented on their high type. Most of the pro¬ grams w T ere educational as well as highly entertaining. The Teachers College was directly responsible for obtaining the week ' s high-class of entertainment offered by the Redpath Chautauqua this year. We are plan¬ ning to sponsor the Chautauqua again for the year 1931. We are also being backed by twenty five leading busi¬ ness and professional men of Johnson City, who lent their hearty support in guaranteeing the Chautauqua people a successful season here next year. —J. O. M. ANNUAL SPRING BANQUET The annual banquet given at the close of the regu¬ lar school year, is an event to which we all look for¬ ward, since it is the greatest event of its kind during the entire school year. This is an event in which the entire school can participate and receive enjoyment. Here can be found freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors; athletes; debaters; honor students; faculty members; and even distinguished visitors. Those who have made outstanding records during the school year are honor guests at this banquet, and are recognized as representatives of the finest princi¬ ples of the school. They are the cream of the student- body and are recognized as such. To be an honor guest at this banquet might mean that you have been an honor student of the first rank and this means that you have made an “A grade on all subjects; it might mean that you have represented the school in debating; it might mean that you have been a worthy member of either the baseball, basketball, foot¬ ball, or tennis teams; or it might mean that you have won the writer ' s award in journalism. This is usually a formal affair, and demands that you visit Emily Post beforehand. We are not con¬ fined to our own dining hall at this banquet, but are en¬ tertained at the best places in the city, such as the John Sevier Hotel, where the banquet was held two years ago, or King ' s Cafeteria, where it was held last year. This year it was held in the First Methodist Church, the most beautiful and modern church in the South. This banquet is the last event of the regular school year, and is the last time many have the privilege of being together as class and school mates. Take for instance Meredith Pittard, who next year will be at the University of Georgia, far separated from Sevier Sabin, or Hobart Davis and Mary Louise Mundy, who no doubt will be together in the future, but never again as class¬ mates. Such events as this one will give us in later years, happy visions of our college days at the Dear Old Teachers College, the institution which, in the future, will be thankful we have the opportunity to call our Alma Mater. Following is a list of the honor guests at this ban¬ quet: Those making the first honor roll: Francis Jack- son, Ruth Massengill, T. S. Gardner, Mrs. Sneigoehi. Debaters—Mary Louise Mundy, Gladys Presley, Isabell Guy, Margaret Pouder, George Fox, Sevier Sabin, Robert Hickey, Frank Bryant, Raymond Barry, Robert Grindstaff, Price McCormick, Akard Sell, Charles Slade, Bill May. Writer ' s Award in Journalism: Una Armstrong, Rodney McNabb. Girls ' Basketball: Virginia Parker, Ted Williams, Rowena Watkins, Meredith Pittard, Mary Reynolds, Gladys Carr, Esther Choate, Halleen Snyder, Manager. Boys ' Basketball: Denver Dyer, Captain; Howard Dyer, Sam Galloway, Sam Ward, Arthur Isbill, McNeil Dew, Frank Lane, James Large, Clarence Bralley Manager. Baseball: Paul Nicely, Captain; Arthur Isbill, Howard Dyer, Denver Dyer, Coyle Acuff, Frank Thompson, Hobert D avis, Alex Kennedy, John Tread¬ way. Boys ' Tennis: Cordell Young, Rogers Porter, Clar¬ ence Bralley. —G. S. THE FACULTY Dr. Sherrod Sternest Dean Burleson Most forgetful Frank Field Most sarcastic Hodge Mathes Most affectionate Robert Cox Handsomest W. B. Bible Jolliest Wade Alexander Sissiest Dalton Brown Most scientific T. C. Carson Most accurate Dr. Collins Best dressed Billy Flynn Rogers Most conceited Dr. Wheeler Fastest Prof. Wilson Most intellectual Mrs. Earnest Best wife Mary L. Gordy Most dignified Helen Krepps Most popular Maxine Matthews-Most fiery Elizabeth Slocumb Most artistic Ruth Thomas Kindest, most sincere Ina Yoakley Dearest, sweetest, and most sympathetic Mrs. Slack , Most meddlesome