Hiram College - Spider Web Yearbook (Hiram, OH)

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I HE Junior Annual, along with college foot-ball and the 1 oratorical contest, is a product of college patriotism. The patriotic spirit is omnipresent in the American college. Here it finds its kindliest nursery. The spark of patriotism inherent in the human soul, is caught up by the cyclonic activity of college life and fanned into a flame that consumes the student with zeal for the various associations of which he is a part. By it he is bound to his athletic club, his class, his society and his college with indissoluble ties. It transforms what otherwise would be the irksome duties of the class room into occasions of delight and gives to all his social relationships a charm that is inspiring. It creates friendships that can never die; its power transcends commencement day and long after the student has left his Alma Mater it will stir his soul with deep emotions at the remembrance of college days. The history of our country also shows that when occa¬ sion demands, the patriotism of the college student is cap¬ able of heroic deeds in the senate chamber and on the bat¬ tlefield. It is entirely fitting that the publication of the “ Spider Web” should fall to the Junior Class. The patriotism of the Freshman class is not sufficiently developed for such a task; that of the Sophomores is too partisan; while the patriotism of the Seniors is too dignified to permit them to engage in a description of the jokes and merry scenes of the college year. The Juniors have reached that stage in the course where the intense class spirit of the Sopho¬ mores has become just sufficiently modified by the broad 15

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thought. It recognized the ability of those who were en¬ gaged in the preparation of previous volumes, and then thought of the maxim: “ Unless we do decidedly better this year than last, we are not doing as well.” Then oft- times the trying question arose, “ What shall we publish and what shall we leave unpublished?” But the dark clouds of anxiety were made transparent by the silvery clouds of consolation. The failures and suc¬ cesses of our predecessors are the rounds which they have placed beyond the height they were permitted to mount. On these we are expected and hope to mount higher than they. We do by no means say this to depreciate the noble efforts of our predecessors, but to show how their abund¬ ant successes have increased our responsibility. Furthermore, while we have been undergoing this anxiety in the preparation of this book, the public has been equally anxious to know what it will contain. Some will be disappointed, because they do not find the mention therein of themselves or others, as they expected. Others again will be surprised beyond expression to find certain things that they least expected. And now as we send this little volume on its journey, we shall expect condemnation as well as commendation. Yet we ask you at all times to bear in mind that it is the result of our best and most earnest effort. H

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patriotism of the Seniors to give both dignity and vivacity to the greatest college publication of the year. Of what value is the Bachelors’ degree ? is a question that is frequently asked and variously answered. A correct answer depends altogether upon the condi¬ tions of its bestowal. If it stands for a thorough college course it is exceedingly valuable; otherwise it is worthless. This degree comes down to us from the thirteenth century with quite an honorable academic history and at present is of more certain merit than any other conferred by Ameri¬ can educational institutions. The doctor’s degree in Ger¬ many stands for real worth, but in the United States its value is an unknown quantity. The manner in which it has been conferred has been so promiscuous and the motive so mercenary that its value has fallen in public esteem. Thus far the integrity of the Bachelor’s degree has been kept tolerably pure, and although the amount of work that it represents may differ with different colleges, it never fails to stand for work actually performed by the student. The honesty of this degree is threatened by a growing demand for shorter courses and lighter studies. In the minds of an ever-increasing number, four years are too many to spend in college halls, and time devoted to the classics and higher mathematics is as good as lost. It behooves students who stand for a high standard of work as a requisite for this degree, to resist every effort to impeach its integrity and assist every effort to maintain its historical dignity. i6