Lake Forest College - Forester Yearbook (Lake Forest, IL)

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rffa F0A'5sT1f1c. I 7 situated upon the Blair Lodge lawn. The regular time for meeting was fixed at 2:00 P. BI. on Fridays. There were no class scraps at Lake For- est in those days for obvious reasons, athletic teams were unknown, and the interests of all were concentrated in bringing up this infant in the way it should go. J. Dunlap Smith was elected the first President, but on account of leaving school he only presided at one meeting, Charles F. VVard being elected to succeed him. He, too, sad to relate, was called by his Maker when he had just entered the portals of a successful career. The other ofhcers were Anna Farwell, Secretary, Allie Smith, Treasurer, joseph F. Kohout, Critic, and the Misses Wfhite and Schuyler, Editors of the lipm Pff'1'm'1z!n. This paper, originated by the society's founders, has ever held, and still holds a warm place in every Athenaean's heart, and it is still issued at frequent intervals. It has been a true society paper, and there are few, indeed, who have not felt the weight of its fearless columns in well-timed hits THE SOCIETY I5 BURNED OUT. December 19, 1877, the College building was burned to the ground, and as the Athenzean was the College itself, it too was homeless. But, noth- ing daunted, a room was secured in the Old Hotel and work went on as before. Meetings were held there until june, 1878, when quarters were obtained in the Old Academy, which stood on the present site of the Durand Art Institute, and in the fall of 1878 the Society obtained temporary quar- ters in the new College Hall. THE ZETA EPSILON. The year 1878 was an eventful year in Lake Forest's history. The dis- tressing conditions caused by the fire of 1877 were righted through the efforts of Dr. Gregory, and the present College Hall erected. And in student cir- cles it was rendered historical by a split in the Old Athenaian and the forma- tion of the Zeta Epsilon Society by the rebellious faction. Laying aside the traditional reason for all such movements that they spring from a lofty desire for better literary work and more efficient training, it must be admitted that the rebellion was caused by nothing more romantic than a common quar- rel between members of the Athenzean. Out of the quarrel arose the Zeta Epsilon society. The leaders in this new movement were B. Fay Mills, John D. Pope and John Tarble. Not long before this, the ladies had de-

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I6 THE FORESTER. HERE can be no true college, and no true college spirit, unless there ex- ists among the students some form of organization which is exclu- sively controlled by themselves, and which tends to contribute to their mental and social betterment. These organizations form the links which bind students so close to each otherg these make possible the associations and staunch friendships, without which but a small part of college life is en- joyed, and perhaps above all they are the source of the most pleasant rec- ollections of a college career, and recollections which last of all will fade away when memory finally refuses to perform her duty. THE FOUNDATION. Such unions most frequently take the form of fraternities or literary societies, and their formation has become to be almost co-ordinate with the dedication of a college. Lake Forest proved to be no exception to this ex- cellent custom, and while its future was a very uncertain quantity even among its most hopeful friends and staunchest supporters, the members of the first Freshman class took the initial step in the formation of a society which should develop the social and intellectual side of their nature. This move- ment resulted in the formation of the Athenaean Literary Society. Novem- ber 24, 1876, but two months after the opening of the College, this pioneer band of young people laid the foundations for the first college society. A paper was drawn up similar to the following: At Lake Forest University the members of the first Freshman class whose names are written below hereby organize themselves into an associa- tion to be called the Athenzean Lite1'ary Society: Anna Farwell, Josephine L. White, Oriella Schuyler, Allie E. Smith, joseph F. Kohout, Alfred E. Barr, Eben H. Wells, Charles F. Ward, Harvey VV. Converse, XVarner XV. Dickinson, VVilliam R. Scott, J. Dunlap Smith. joseph F. Koliout was perhaps the leading spirit in the work of construc- tion, but he was ably assisted by Eben H. Wells, Charles F. Ward and Anna Farwell. The constitution was written by Eben H. Wells who even then showed signs of that ability, which undoubtedly would have brought him to the front ranks of his profession, had he not been snatched from life at the very moment when fruit was promising to appear. THE FIRST MEETING. The first meeting of the Athenae-an was held in one of the recitation rooms in the only building then owned by the College. This building was

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I8 THE FORESTER. cided to form a society of their own, so but fourteen trusty members were left to hold up the honor of Old Athenxan. THE EFFORTS FOR A PERVIANENT HALL. In 1880 efforts were made to secure a true home for the Society, as here- tofore the meetings had been held in recitation rooms, or in fact in any out of the way place which might be vacant at the particular occasion. The College refused to fit up a room for their exclusive use, but permission was given to use the gentleinens waiting room, and for the next three years meetings were held there, and in what was then Prof. Hewitt's recitation room. In 1883 Athenaean was on the high road to prosperity. The success of the College was an established fact and the Society began to feel that it was ill consistent with its age and dignity to be without a spot to call its own. The action of the Faculty could be no longer awaited and a res- olution was talcen to secure a hall for themselves. The top floor of the College was not yet completed, and the general aspect presented more the appearance of a barn loft than a college dormitory. One with a poetical turn of mind could do wonders with it, but if it be permitted to the humble writer to pass over this prolific subject so slightingly, he will simply state that a room was partitioned off just northeast of the present Zeta Epsilon Hall. Here it remained until the present location was obtained. THE PRESENT HALL IS OBTAINED. In 1887 the Society was again compelled to move on accountof its room being required for dormitory purposes when the fourth floor was finished, but in compensation the Trustees gave them the Hall at the north end of the building for a permanent location, which now is Athenzean Hall. The true energies of the Society now began to develop, and every effort was put forward to make the new Hall such as all could be justly proud of. A piano was purchased, and, as the resources permitted, new paper was put on, an oak door was added, which should serve both as a thing of beauty to the eye and an impassable barrier to evil doers, new pictures were obtained, and the result was a hall of delicate tone and tasty appearance. It would ill become this simple chronicler to attempt tofportray the scenes and events which have made the name Athenxan so dear to her sons. The name Athenaean has ever signified a judicious union of work and sport,