Hobart College - Echo of the Seneca Yearbook (Geneva, NY)

Page 8 text:

ECHO OF THE SENECA. 7 Sophs have done their duty by- the Freshmen this year, or at least they tried to, which of course amounts to the same thing. After the usual time spent in preliminary having, a day was appointed for the grand cane-rush. The • twenty-five Freshmen, by dint- of great exertions, succeeded In overpowering the six Sophomores, and after a fierce and sanguinary fight of about- two hours’ duration, they gained the victory. The grief and rage of the Sophomores knew'no bounds, and One of them was so angry that, that ho ——well, never mind what ho did Some time ago there were vague rumors of mid- night ambushes, of. kidnapped Freshmen, and of victims toiling all night at the oar and employing the next day in walking ’round the foot of the lake. Anxious to procure particulars, wo delicately inter- rogated several Freshmen, but each one stoutly denied that he had taken the voyage. Doubtless the Sophomores could “ a tale unfold,” but with a praiseworthy regard for our feelings they have refrained. There are a few facts which may prove interesting to the friends and Alumni of the College, and that serve to show that at. least we are moving and that not with a retrograde motion. We have a boat house and a navy organization, but the boat house contains no boats and tho organization exists—on paper. Even if we had boats, there has been hitherto no suitable place for a crew to train in during the winter months. This state of things is now to be remedied. At the semi-aumial meeting of the Hoard of Trustees, it was resolved to build aud fully equip a gymnasium, and in a few months tho resolu- tion will become a reality. The Trustees also resolved to build at the same time a chemical laboratory for the use of the students These are indeed news which the Editors fool it a privilege to com- municate. An oilier important matter engaged the attention of the Trustees. For some years past tho College has boon accustomed to give the Degree of Bachelor of Science to all those students who successfully pursued tho present so-called Scientific Course. Here- after any such student will receive simply an English Diploma, and the Degree of Bachelor of Science will not be conferred until the College has a Scienti he Course more worthy of the name. This should be a matter for congratulation among tho Alumni, who may now rest assured that their ranks will' be swelled by uo lazy ignore

Page 7 text:

ECHO OF THE SENECA. 6 EDI5F0 r IlivftF TpEvEcp©.4 ESCEND from the heights of lofty Olympus, 0 godlike Sen- iors; lay aside for a while your amorous pursuits, brother Juniors; Sophomores, relax your gloomy brows; Freshmen, come out of your holes and hearken to the voice of the Echo! At length the t-imo has arrived, to which in our Freshmen years we looked forward with pleasant anticipations—the time when it should fall to our lot to publish the time-honored Echo. But the trite quotation, “’Tis distance lends enchantment to the view,” strikos ns with considerable force at the present moment, and it is with characteristic modesty that Eighty prepares to draw over her shoulders the editorial mantle and to wield the editorial pen, Two years of our college life have passed away: two years of moderate study, varied by the usual amount of fun and scrapes. With regard to some of our number perhaps we might say, rather more than the usual amount of the same. Gladly would we forget that sorrowful day, when, weeping we bade farewell to two of our classmates, who were obliged to leave college for about eight weeks. We hope everyone understands it was ft severe attack of sickness, brought on by too close an application to their studies, which forced them to depart and renew their strength by rusticating awhile. From all her vicissitudes, however, Eighty has come out victori- ous, and now the dignity of Junior year throws a halo ’round her brow. The first work of the class this year was a vigorous attempt to re-establish all the venerable customs and traditionary rights which belong to Junior year. One of these deserves especial notice on account, of its lamentable failure. One bright morning in the earlier part of the term the class marched solemnly to chapel, each man provided with the traditionary plug hat. An awkward little mishap occurred, owing to which we grieve to say that not a single beaver at present graces the brows, of any man in the class. The

Page 9 text:

8 ' ECHO OF THE SENECA, inns, who, unable to get a College Degree any other way, elects the Scientific Course. The Trustees also ordered the publication of a Triennial Catalogue in Latin, containing the names ami a short sketch of all graduates upon whom degrees or- honors.have been con- V. f erred since the foundation of the College. Til is includes all the degrees conferred by the old Medical College; As straws show the direction of the wind, so these Tacts, unimportant perhaps in them- selves, serve to indicate the firm determination of the Faculty and Board of Trustees to place Hobart in the foremost, ranlc of A merican s Colleges. And that they may accomplish all th $ir designs is the sincere hope of us' all. Then added years shall bring but- fresh honors with which to wreathe the brows of the dear old Alma Mater.