Haverford College - Record Yearbook (Haverford, PA)

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Junior day being the greatest occasion of this year, the nom- ination of the speakers soon claimed our attention. But the fact was soon developed that our class contained, over and above the usual number, a number of men who were both able and willing to speak. Hence, with our usual regard for the feelings of each individual, rather than make an arbitrary selection, we decided to have two nights and give everyone a chance to speak. Thirteen men presented themselves, and of these six spoke the first even- ing and seven the second. Quite a number of good-natured con- troversies took place before the affairs came off, on the questions of wearing gowns, and of sitting on the platform. The first pro- ject was given up, but the second was adhered to and proved a great success. The hall was well filled on both nights, and the labors of the decorating committee were much admired. The first night was perhaps the greatest success, as it was not marked by a single blemish, but the second was made memorable by Percy Nields ' oration on the Federal Convention. Thus we demon- strated to the world that the class of ' 88 contained twice the average amount of talent. Lewis, Battey, Cox and Nields all tried for the Alumni Prize, but none of them spoke as well as on Junior Day. However, the contest was very close between Percy and the winner, and many thought that the decision should have been the other vay. On the eighth of May we held our second class supper, the custom having meanwhile spread to the other classes. With the exception of certain foreign birds, it was a perfect success, — Cor- bit officiating as Toast Master, and calling upon the members to respond to prearranged toasts. In cricket this year we had hard luck. We defeated the Sophomores by five wickets and thirteen runs, mainly owing to Collins ' work with the bat and the ball, as in the use of the latter he had become remarkably expert, having taken seven wickets for five runs against the Young America 24

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His sorrowing class passed appropriate resolutions and had them sent to his bereaved family, and the following beautiful sketch by Percy Nields appeared in The H.werfordian. The death of Edward M. Pope was an unexpected calamity to the college and to his relations. The transition from life and strength to death was so sudden that we are unable to realize the fact. The empty chair at class, the vain search for the calm face, and the voice heard no more, will force us to comprehend our loss. The signs of future usefulness were already apparent in a character of intellectual grasp, manliness and simplicity. His faculties were evenly balanced, and he understood with equal facility and accuracy the branches of languages, mathematics and science which he had studied. In no class will his loss be felt more than in the Greek, where his authority was supreme, and his elegant translations the pride of his fellows. He was by nature and inclination a student, and the sports in which he participated were always of secondary interest. His heart was pure and simple. He thought ill of no one because he saw some good in all. He never appeared to be what he was not. He made no pretense to learning which he did not possess. There is not a man in college who ever heard from his lips a word that was impure or untrue. His bearing, whether among his classmates or professors, was always of the same dignity and openness. He looked forward to the future with a calm hope. He did w hat many of us tr} ' to do : he lived out in his life the principles of a personal Christianity with a simplicity and at the same time a firmness that is rarelv seen. His class and those who really knew him will be made to realize that a strength has passed from them and from the institu- tion to which he belonged. 23

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Second. The Sophomores havini been defeated by us played the Seniors, and were beaten by only fourteen runs. But when we played ' 87, Morris and Stokes made such a stand that before it was broken the issue of the game was decided, and with the loss of two more wickets they excelled our score of seventy-two, and gained the college championship, which we had held the year before. After undergoing the trying ordeal of seven examina- tions, we separated once more, intending, with the exception of Nields, who went to Harvard, to return to college again in the fall. Senior Year. We entered upon our Senior year in the usual manner by moving up to the end tables and assuming control of the college. Lewis left his old quarters and moved up to Barclay Mall, where his palatial apartments soon became an indoor Bummers ' Re- treat, and in which he presided in state as head of a bureau of statistics, which latter he obtained from huge census reports, etc., and inscribed on vast rolls of paper, which, if used as cam- paign documents, would undoubtedly secure the election of Cleve- land. For the second time we played ' 89 for the foot-ball championship, and another very exciting game was the result. The work of our backs was magnificent, but the stubborn resis- tance of ' 89 ' s rush-line was too much for them, and also owing to the slippery ground, our men failed to score. For awhile it looked as if neither side would score, but finally Branson, by a few irresistible rushes, secured a touch-down, and the game was lost after a memorable struggle. Our Senior year was pre-eminently a hard-working }-ear. As it went on, Sharp began to gain an appreciation of the prob- lems of Astronomy, Lewis reveled in advanced calculus, Martin plotted dynamite outrages, and the Local Editor started a sample room. Our indomitable schemer, England, no longer