Florida State University - Renegade / Tally Ho Yearbook (Tallahassee, FL)

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Then the time came when there were not only men, but women on the college hill. The spirit of the west wind told me that the legislature had said that women too could come to college. In those days I learned to know more about that which men and women called the Florida State College. I began to think of it as my college, and watched with pride the erection of twin houses, East and West Halls. Although our forest had grown smaller with the passing years, there still remained a large grove of pines, of which I was a part. This soon became a favorite resort for all the college students. You are not the first, my child, to rest beneath my branches. I heard many secrets in those days, but with the wisdom which I learned from the wisest of trees, my father, I never told. I knew of the latest football victory, the hardest examina- tions ; I knew who were the finest men, the loveliest women ; I knew the most tangled love affairs. There were very few things about my college (for I thought of it as mine) which I did not hear sooner or later — but of all these secrets, I told not a single one. It was in the late summer of 1905 that the spirit of the west wind came to me greatly excited. He told me that the legislature had decided that the Florida State College was to be no more. This was a great blow to me, for I loved the college with great tenderness. But after a few days the spirit of the west wind came again, this time the bearer of more cheer- ful news. Although the old school was to be discontinued, a new one was to take its place on my same old hill. The men were to be sent to another city, while the women were to remain here. When the students began to return, I was very happy indeed. Al- though I missed the men very much, I rejoiced over the opportunity of making new friends among these girls and women. At one time, when nearly all the girls had gone away, a fire came and destroyed West Hall. Soon afterwards workmen came with their keen-edged axes and cut down many of my brothers, making our little forest even smaller. In the year 1908 they finished a new building which was called Bryan Hall. Less than a year after Bryan Hall was finished, there was a great deal of talk of a new Administration building, for the old one was much too small and was beginning to crumble. So in 1909 the workmen came again ; before they left, they had finished the Administration building which you know so well. Each year the college grew stronger and larger. Each year I bade old friends far ewell as they left the college doors; each year I welcomed new friends whom I soon learned to love, although I never forgot the old ones. As the campus grew larger, the workmen came more and more fre- quently — each time taking away some more of my pine brothers. But I had learned to love the college so truly that I would gladly have given up my life when it was needed. With the building of Reynolds Hall and the new dining room from 1912-14 I ceased to be on the outskirts of the campus. Our little pine grove was now in the very center of things. The whole life of the campus passed beneath my branches and I loved every bit of it. Before this time — it was in the year 1909 — there came as presi- dent of the college a man who was a lover of pine trees. He loved the music of the west wind in our branches ; he loved our gay candles in the spring; he loved the rustle of fallen needles in the autumn. Willingly, he PAGE 12

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THE WHISPERING PINE It was a lovely afternoon in early spring. The slanting rays of the afternoon sun flecked the grassy slopes of the campus with gold ; in the tree tops the birds chattered softly lest they disturb the stillness of the quiet Sunday afternoon ; the fragrance of the pines filled the air. I sought a place where I could sit and dream undisturbed. At length I found a seat beneath a stately tree; I leaned my head against its massive trunk and closed my eyes while I dreamed of the story which I shall write — the story of my alma mater. Suddenly, midst the whispering of the wind through the branches over- head I heard a voice which seemed to come from the heart of the tree. Could it be that the dryads of old still lived in the tree trunks? Again and more distinctly it came; Listen, my child, and I shall tell you the story of this college which you love so well. I am the spirit of this ancient pine, against which your head is resting. For many years I have longed to tell my story, but I have seldom found one who was willing to sit quietly and listen. There was a pause for a moment. Breathlessly, eagerly, I waited for the voice to continue. For almost a hundred years, I have stood on the top of this hill. I have seen and heard strange sights and sounds. When I was a young sapling, I was only a small part of a great pine forest which covered these hills as far as eye could see. In those days the dusky Indians stole silently over the fragrant needles which covered the ground. The Indians loved us; they sought shelter beneath our branches ; they could almost speak our language. No Indian would think of harming me or any of my piney brothers. After a while the white man came and drove away the Indians. They cut down many of my brothers to build houses and ships. Often I trem- bled for fear the day would come when I too should feel their keen-edged axe. Each year the great pine forest grew smaller and smaller as more and more white men came. Just a little way from this hill, the forest was cut down and a town was built. The white men gave it a name which they learned from their Indian brothers — Tallahassee. Little by little the town grew; each year creeping nearer this hill. After many years, the time came when the sound of the axe was heard on my own hill, and many of my brothers were cut down. Not until I learned that the white man cut down the forests only when he was forced to, did I begin to love him. When I learned that the dwelling which the white man expected to build on my hill was not a mere home, but a school for men and women, I was very glad. It was in the year 1857, so the spirit of the west wind told me, when the young men first came to school here. I was not on the campus then, but I had grown to be a very tall tree, so I could see all that happened there. The campus was small; there was only one house which they called the Administration building. I soon grew to love these men who were only grown-up boys, with the spirit of youth in their hearts. I saw them at play ; I knew their pranks ; I saw them at work, and I knew their hearts. A few years later when the war cry came, I saw many of the best and bravest lay down their books and shoulder their guns. PAGE l]

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would not destroy a single tree. Knowing this and trusting him as I did, my life was very happy indeed. As the years flew swiftly by, many organizations made their appear- ance on the campus ; they grew and flourished, or dwindled and died as the need for them was manifest. There were literary clubs, social clubs, de- bating societies, and sororities. But the three organizations which I have watched with greatest interest are the Y. W. C. A., Student Government, and the Athletic Association. The Y. W. C. A. began many years ago with a very small group of girls who were thinking about God. We, of the forest, yield to God our whole allegiance, so I was very glad indeed to see the young women of my college learning this same lesson. The path of this organization was not always smooth. There were many set-backs and trials, but blessed by splendid leaders and with God ' s help, its influence has grown each year. I can see, as you do not, my child, how much it really means ; how it has helped the women of this college. Then, there is Student Government. No, it did not come easily. For many years the discipline and rule of the college was entirely in the hands of the teachers. Some times, sad to say, the teachers were very unsymna- thetic, and it was the height of girlish ambition to get around the profs, as they called it. When the Student Government Association was formed eisrht years ago, it was not strong, for the responsibility of making and abiding by their own government was a new one for all these girls. Each year the students have become more and more dependable : disobedience has ceased to be a pleasure. The rules which students make for themselves are rules for which they know the reason ; are rules which they want to live up to. To all the woods folk honor is the greatest of virtues. So nothing could be dearer to my heart than the steady upward progress which my colleere students are making. The Athletic Association has done great things for the college, which no other organization could have done. I have watched its growth with interest. It has made women appreciate their bodies and learn to use them well. It has promoted athletics of every kind, and has raised the college athletic standards very high. On the day when the record for hurling the discus was first broken, there was no one prouder than I. Never has the campus looked more beautiful than on the 19th of Sep- tember, 1917. The ivied walls still shone in their summer green. The fragrance of fall pine needles was in the air. Then came the class which I love best of all — your class — the class of 1921. What has happened since that momentous autumn day, you know as well as I. I have followed every movement of your class with greatest interest — from the days of Freshman caps and pig tails to the latest dignified march in cap and gown. Your triumphs and successes through all four years are familiar to me, and as I look into the future, I can see — Suddenly I sat bolt upright. Why, I have been asleep, I exclaimed ! While I watched the lengthening shadows on the grass, I sighed deeply. The afternoon had passed in idle dreaming, and my story was still un- written. As I rubbed my hand against the tree, it came over me like a flash — the spirit of the pine had told my story. PAGE 13