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

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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,

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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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THE Foxes Tak. I 9 and every member has felt and still feels that without either the true spirit would be lost. Dating its existence from the College's beginning, prospering as the College prospered, sorrowing as the College suffered, linked indissolu- bly with every movement which should make the name of Lake Forest re- spected and admired, it has a proud record which each one feels he must personally sustain, and a record which shows the key note of its history - Progress. THE NERVOUS HAN AND THE MAN OF NERVE. The Athenzean Society has always taken a leading position in local dramatic circles. Many instances could be noted, but of late years per- haps the best exclusively society play was given March 17, 1893, when The Nervous Man and the Man of Nerve, together with a minstrel show, was presented at the Durand Art Institute. The minstrel show was superintended by Mr. N. D. Pratt. Right here let us pay a tribute to Mr. Pratt for both the Athenzean Society and the entire College owe to him a debt of deep gratitude, for his valuable assistance has carried to success many an entertainment, and his interest has ever been strong and unliagging. In her alumni, too, the Athenzean Society possesses a patriotic band whose loyalty never swerves and whose talent may yet be found enlisted under the old banner in times of need. The annual reunion in November gives an opportunity to renew old friendships and to relate, with a patron- izing air, their exploits to the younger generation. And when to each of us comes at last the sad moment when we must sever our active connection with our beloved Society, and when we ascend, perhaps for the last time, the well-worn stairs and stand where we oft have stood, and our eye once more wanders around the old Hall which is hal- lowed by the remembrances of our happiest hours, and it falls upon the platform and the august President's chair in which some of us have sat, gavel in hand, then we feel that our time has not been wholly lost, and, as we pass slowly out, we close the heavy oak door behind us, and the Old Athenzean has faded from our eyes but from our hearts-never. C. 0. Paiusn, '95.