Lawrenceville School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Lawrenceville, NJ)

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The Second Form year was a little more eventful than the first. It was then that we recruited the majority of our celebrities, some of whom came in the natural order of things, while others were donated by '92, How she spared them we cannot tell. They were, and for the matter o' that, they arf such jewels. For example: the mighty Smith, Hthat Jack at all trades, whose word is literal law g a stalwart Democrat who, the next year, when the party of the Fed's were in such sore distress, raised them by his power and was fast leading on to victory, when that awful mandate came and put an end to all further operations. A sad day when he leaves Lawrence for his far-off Pacific home, and long will his memory be green in the hearts of '93, We now began to appear in public without fear of our lives, and even to claim our rights. Not boistcrously did we do it-although our numbers would have warranted any amount of forcing and bullying-but in perfect good will and harmony. Wlieii we wiped an opposing football team oif the face of the earth, as often happened, we were not puffed up with arrogance and pride 3 we did not strut about for high and low to gaze upon. Happy, of course we were 3 but we preferred to conceal our joy in preparing for foes yet unconquered. VVe knew too well that the energy lost in gloating over victory, and the time thrown away in erowing over victims, are too often the causes of defeat which is continually waiting for all all important beings. In the spring of this year our representatives materially aided the baseball team in beating the Freshmen by a score of 6 to 3. Materially aided them ! Well, I might almost say that '93 did the beating herself, with the aid of a few picked men from the school g for be it known that of the nine players on the team, six were numbered in our class. This was only a starter in the list of what we did in athletics 3 we don't stop to mention the too-yards dash, the horizontal bar, the high jump, throwing baseball and numerous other accomplishments, because 'tis time to pass on to the fall of ,QI when the duties of the Third Form devolved upon us, Now a Third Former either knows at the beginning or very soon realizes his importance in life as well as the necessity of work, so We began to look forward and plan ahead things unthought of heretofore. In short, a manly feeling-one of strength-came over us, we were no longer capering kids, and to prove it let me cite one circumstance. It is an old, old story, and a long one too, but here it goes anyway. I8

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But not so with '93! Calmly and quietly did she begin, insignificant and unthought of were her baby days, but each day, each month like the builder's brick or stone, lent its help to raise her structure. For our greatest success as well as for the epithet that shall be attached to us, we look not only to our class alone, but to our latter days rather than our beginning. VVe do not know what that epithet will be, but let us be known by what we ourselves have done, not by what we couldnlt prevent being done for us. To Lawrence then we came September 12th, 1889, the year that crowned the school history of the class that has done so much to swell the reputation of Lawrenceville at the colleges. VVe need not describe our feelings at setting foot upon the ground here. Everyone who has been a school boy knows them. The sudden newness and our own curiosity were enough to make us forgetful at first of what we'd left behind us, but a few days sufficed to wear away the glamour, and then -, well, I think we can, with enough correctness, say that every boy, during the first few weeks, passes through a state of mental uneasiness which only devotion to work or possibly some acute means of enjoyment can allay. Qur First Form year passed away like a dream with no happening important enough to make it memorable, but judging from the latter end rather than from the beginning, we must have been, like Paul in the wilderness, building a solid foundation for what was to come, When I say we' I don't mean that all who began with ,QS are still numbered among us and 1 '2 protected by its strong arm-far from it-for what with the keen-edged reaper's O aj f blade called reass1gnment which plays its yearly havoc in every Form, what with the lightning strokes that have visited us as well F If . fi . l ift? 34, as all others during the thunder storms of love, and with the ,JD X thievish pranks of that butterfly, the summer girlg and last but Q saddest of all the vacancies made by the cold, gray hand of death, of the seventy f X odd that began with YQ3, only a scanty dozen remain to tell the tale, but around e-'Mfr that twelve is clustered a band, if not of as long standing, at least as loyal, as those who started us on our course. 2 I7

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VVhen the Masters saw how manly we were and how broad our shoulders were growing, they began to look upon us with an evil eye. They feared we were too light-hearted and happy for our ageg and what, to a Master, is more soul-destroying than the light-heartedness of youth? Now and then we could hear one grate his teeth and murmur beneath his breath as we passed by. Something was up. We knew not what. The extent of our intelligence was that we were in disfavor. O, they can't let well enough alone! Ye future generations take a fool's advice-a fool, because of the trials and tribulations that have been his--never do your work too well. If you must needs do your work well, then, with despair depicted in every feature, maintain a continuous grumble while you're at it, Keep that deadly smile far from your countenance, lest greater loads be piled upon you. Well, we jogged along for a week or more, when someone observed that the assignment in Latin was slowly increasing. Another week and a tottering lad cried out against the Greek. Slowly but with steady tread lessons in every subject grew in size. The English ! That note-book was a monster to behold I In a month the cords had been drawn so tight that we could stand oppression no longer. We rose in our might and made that memorable kick. Our brave men urged' us on with that eloquence that never loses strength till it hides itself in some far-off home behind the clouds. It was convincing. VVithout a wavering man we decided to face that genius, the Faculty, in its very lair and to assert our rights and claim the life which they had promised to protect, not to destroy, when we committed our delicate beings to their care. A committee of men, hardened to all that's rough, who, from constant experience of the wrath of the man who rules with an iron hand, had become thoroughly impervious to his attacks, was sent to challenge the aforesaid genius to open combat-of words. The challenge was accepted, but, as we suppose, fearing too close quarters, and being unwilling to desecrate their wonted sanctuary-where often they had knifed us, and in our ignorance we could not say a word-by an opposing voice, they led us to the chapel. They arranged themselves in the central block 19