Gettysburg College - Spectrum Yearbook (Gettysburg, PA)

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BUI A CHAPEL their summer foliage, he saw Old !X»rm, its marble facade gleaming like frost m the moonlight. In its lighted windows he saw shadowed shapes of students, renewing, per- haps. old friendship and exchanging edited accounts of their summer adventures, or selling wabbly furniture to callow freshman. What a noble pile,” exclaimed Horace. “What dignity, what beauty! Mow al» o- Intely A-l is my future abode.” Soon Horace was to learn that Old Dorm’s stately en- trance. The Forum, is frequently wet by untold gallons of water thrown by “Rumjms Kudisill and his crew, hut at this time Horace’s enthusiasm was not «latnpened ( limbing the liattcred iron stairs. Horace | ushed open the swinging d«x rs with a sob of homesickness, for they reminded him so much of those in the family entrance at Murphy’s at home, and of the (mil of foaming near I licer with which his parrnt was accustomed to refresh himself on Saturday night. With conflicting emotions he found himself on the second floor of Obi Dorm. There was about the hall that atmosphere so jH.vuli.ir to college dormitories in general and )Id Dorm tn jiarticular. a musty odor com- I «m tided of antiquity and discarded fruit. The walls were scarred, the woodwork bat- tered. the stairs littered and worn: windows were cobwelthed and broken here and there. Horace found his room on the third floor from the numl er on the door and Joe the janitor let him in with his master key. Horace had written for a room with a southern exposure so they had assigned him one that faced the bathroom hi the floor inside lie found some mementos of former occujiants a long-suffering sock and a much-abused towel. As there was no furniture Horace had jilenty of room, so he set down his suit- case. and looked about. The room was somewhat | apcrcd with a com|H $ite design of gal- •N’ote—By request of the faculty 14

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COI.I.EKE CATES derthiitgs and heavy blankets? For proper ventilation, the window in Pennsylvania Hall arc so constructed that plenty of good fre h air is admitted when the steam is turned off, and (lien, in the winter time when the snow is on the ground and the snowball arc in the air, one's windows arc pretty apt to l»c broken, don’t you know Blushing, for he was a modest soul, Horace assured her that he was well provided with the warmer sort of woolly jiajamas. storm-proof internal overalls, and a store of blankets. At this point the charming tete-a-tete was interrupted by the Doctor himself, whose deep-throated laugh Horace had heard at intervals from the next room. “Doctor Granville—Mr Spoof of Appendicitis, Pennsylvania,” said Mrs. Granville in her best manner. Charmed. I’m sure,” said Horace, ne er more at his ease, as he shook hand with the genial mathematician. Well. Mr. Sjioof, what do you intend to take up? Horace spoke feelingly of his aspirations and of his philosophy of a life of service at some length. And when I do,” he said dramatically, Appendicitis will lie on the map.” Quite so. juite so. of course they will be very prom! of you. I think that now you ought to get settled in your room. Old Dorm is the largo white building to your left as you leave. The janitor will let you in. Tomorrow wc shall «ce about registration.” With these words the President arose as a sign that the interview was at an end. Thanking the Granvilles for their kind less and promising to return later. Horace took his departure Across the campus. Iirhind a lacy screen of trees just shedding IS

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loping hollyhock» an i mildew. Over the door was an antique applr l ase relief, careless- ly executed, hut showing evidences of a powerful technique. The window was of glass ami stained It was covered with a sign in huge, sprawling letters which read. “To Hell With Bucknell.” “What an extraordinary sentiment,” exclaimed Horace. What vulgar |iroplc must have previously occupied this room. 1 must not. I cannot, rest until that thing is re- moved. He attempted to remove the paint by rolling with the venerable towel he had found. but without avail. Looking oul of the window he saw a group of students coming up the Centre Walk. They were singing, in voices strengthened by yelling Fares. Ilcasc, all sum- wiiite itorsc incr. h»e Keg of Beer for the Four of L s. Horace did not care for that so much, for it seemed rather a sellish sentiment, but their next selection, Drop a Nickel on the Drum and You'll l»c Saved,” appealed to him. and aroused hint to a high pitch of re- ligious fervor. His meditations were interrupted by cries of Water, Wafer.” and he saw the scrcnadcrs scatter | cllmcll as the liags of water Iwgan flying front the windows of Y. M, C. A. Hall and spattering on the Forum hclow. Perhaps there is a tire.” said Horace who was accustomed to act quickly, ami rushed into the hall. He was met by several of the bucket brigade who asked him if he had any hags. No,” said Horace quite civilly. But if 1 can be of any assistance otherwise I am ready and willing.” Guess it's too late. They have all gone now. said a lxr-spcctacled youth whom his friends called Gloomy Gus. This your room?” Yes. sir. Won’t you come in? What’s the idea of all this larktic s.’’ asked one of the group. Pkoctoil We Want Light,” lie shouted at the top of a quite eflicient voice. 15