Elmhurst College - Elms Yearbook (Elmhurst, IL)

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Class Officers President— WALDO BARTELS Vice-President— ANDREW BAHNSEN Secretary— PAUL SCHMIDT Treasurer— THEODORE HOLTORF Historian— Herman GEBHARDT Class Poet— ALFRED MEYER 14

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CLASS OF 1914

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THE YOUTH OF MR. CLASS OF 1914 SOON the steady and ever onward march of time will have brought Mr. Class of 1914 to the end of his so- journ at Elmhurst College. It will bear him on its mighty course and leave behind all that has been dear to him, ex- cept what his memories and this book will preserve for him. Once, as the doleful thoughts of parting with his dear old home were troubling him, he requested me to write the story of his life at Elmhurst College. At first, realizing my inability, I was reluctant to accept this honor, but fin- ally consented after he had shown me how impossible it was for him to write it himself. On September 1, 1909, a great event took place at Elm- hurst College. A son was born, who shortly afterwards was christened Cla.ss of 1914. He was indeed a very promising infant. Providence had prudently entrusted him to the care of such men as Director Irion and Pro- fessors Breitenbach, Brodt, Lueder, and Stanger. These guardians gladly took charge of this new-born son and soon learned to know his different idiosyncrasies and moods fully realizing his life was undergoing a constant change and that a gradual and progressive development was es- sential to his welfare. They soon discovered that he had an almost insatiable mental appetite and that his powers of absorption and assimilation were astounding. His rest- lessness at times became so perplexing that often these men consulted with each other as to the best plans for directing the infant ' s activity. It was their aim not only to develop early his mental ability, l}ut also to mould his charactei ' and make it pure, noble, and upright. They therefore tried to be Christ-like teachers, giving him a suitable at- mosphere and drawing his attention to that only which was good and uplifting. The babe grew rapidly in its preco- city. Fearing that too much at a time would only be detri- mental to his welfare, the guardians decided to give him a vacation. He was sent to distant friends to enjoy himself amid the scenes of nature. Vacation days bein g over, Master Class of 1914, who had outgrown his infancy, returned with a proud and noble air of conscious worth, as if he had a conception of the im- mense latent ability which lay within him awaiting the op- portunities to develop. His interests had broadened and his mental powers increased. It was therefore possible for the guardians to take him farther into the field of know- ledge. They called Professors Sorrick and Wilkinson to their assistance. To exercise his memory and strengthen his reasoning ability, they lavishly supplied him with such food as German, Latin, and Greek vocables, conjugations, and declensions ; noteworthy events in history, ]3ast and present ; algebraic rules and problems ; and facts concern- ing biology. During this time the child entered the storm and stress period of his life. With ,a sad and heavy heart he said farewell to two of his worthy guardians, Professors