Fork Union Military Academy - Skirmisher Yearbook (Fork Union, VA)

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THE SKIRMISHER ' ? Y :ng V-75 -- a- I fi: I Rockefeller gave it a tremendous endowment when he died. Great girls' school 1 tell you. Prof. XYoodson gave up his position in the Academy long ago to take charge of the girls here. I was just about to ask him something more about the old teachers of the .Xcademy when a magnificent view spread out before us. XX e had at this moment crossed the top of the hill at the 'kJ1J1JCllllCl1l1C1'i. place. Qould l believe my eyes? A perfect maze ol streets and houses, as lar as the eye could carry, described the situation. ln the center ot the whole stood one object which at once appeared familiar and unchanged. 'l here it was encircled by imposing modern buildings-'the plain, modest old Academy lJlllltll1lgS, having been replaced by beautiful modern structures. boon we were speed- ing across a viaduct and through the heart of lfork L nion-but not the l'4l1'K Union I used to know. bkyscrapers loomed up where once were the lands marks of Pettit, Thomas and Weaver. While l was drinking in all this with my eyes, the auto came to a sudden stop before a magnilicent ten-story building, and the porter said: Hotel lfork Union, gentlemen. XValk right in. By gums! Could this be the place where Mrs. julia Snead used to keep hotel? So it must be. 'l here across the street was the old lfork Church and there was the campus in front of the Academy, though the old fence was replaced by a handsome stone wall. just then l recognized the familiar face and tottering form coming up the walk. Hello, l ejaculated, my heart in my throat, and grasped the hand of my old friend. Mit Bashaw, you don't remember me do you? XVe1l, no, your face looks familiar, but l don't just recall your name. Do you remember Oh, yes! You used to he at school here. XYalked a heap of guard duty. Didn't hurt you, did it? Good for the cold and other diseases, Dr. George says. XVell, do you know these here school teachers work only ten days in the month and get bigger pay than any of these other fellows who work six whole days in the week? They are the biggest set of makeshifts in the country. The dinner bell rang and I hurried in to eat a few bites and then take in the town. I entered a room filled with strangers, but heard a familiar voice across the room. Hello, Xl? 105

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-: 'r H EISK ia M is H ER Twenty Years Hence HAD just boarded 'one of those sumptuous trains, long 'fu an tznnous as the l'. l'. X . of the Lhesapeake and Ohio, and was watching a small white handkerchief waved by a loving hand M X from the front door of my home overlooking the City of L litton Irorge. X a.. when my attention wqasuattracted by the super-polite porter: I.ower 10 15 ready, sir, and I was soon li ist in the realms of dreamland, The road became as smooth as the placid surface of a lake on a breezeless summer day. The train was crowded with gaily-dressed people, and numerous porters went to and fro, attending to the comfort of the passengers. Gut for Ifork Union! Change cars for Richmond, Newport News and Old Point Comfort: XYashington, Philadelphia, New York and all points North and Ilast!'y I had forgotten that Fork Union was now on the trunk line of the Ches- apeake and Ghio between Xew York and New Orleans, and all trains from the XYest stopped here now instead of going on to Richmond. Great Scott! A Union Depot! By the Butless Billy Goats! The Great liastern! A trunk line from Newport News to Chicago! The yelling of the porters and the pushing of the crowd put an end to my ejaculations. Hotel Fork Union! Academy Hill! Snead's Inn! all sounded in lily ear simultaneously, causing my hair to stand on end. Heres your automobile to Hotel lfork Union! yelled a porter, and fairly hustled me into a seat in the veritable palace of luxury. and before I could realize what the situation really was I was off up a beautiful granolithic street. bordered by solid blocks of business houses and crowded with hurrying people. autos, street cars and all manner of vehicles, and here and there hurried bunches of cadets in their trim uniforms. Is this Fork Union? asked I, as I pulled off my hat and rubbed my brow to see if I were really myself. Yes, sir: never here before? asked my neighbor passenger. She has grown wonderfully in the last twenty years. Heres the 'Institutef said he, pointing to a magnificent group of buildings on our right. 'flohn D. 104 ,

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Ag-F ,f TF 3-1-f ff,f 1 THE SKIRMISHER Q V, J ' 1 H. ROE BARTLE Nnmox, v1RG1N1,x lfditm'-ill-Cllivf Board of Editors The Skirrnisher, 1920 Mxss MARY IJORD NURTON, VIRGINIA Sponsor '31