Lawrenceville School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Lawrenceville, NJ)

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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

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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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A of seats while we took our station on the left. A few explanatory remarks by the judge and the conflict began. Our grievances once stated they were upon us with all their mighty and irresistible force. NVe saw if we tried to oppose them, as a whole, we were lost. Our only hope was in some way to create discord among the powers themselves, and the apple was not far distant. At the suggestion of a bright mind, as quick as a flash, was passed along, K' Don't buck them as a whole, but each fellow pick his man. lVe were about four or ive to one, and the Latin caught it first. Each head of a subject was willing for his pet to be included for its blame in the sum total, but for that darling to be singled out and made a target for special grievance was too much. lt made him t' wrothyf' Then, too, when special complaint was made against a single subject-for example call it A -all the other subjects, B, C, D, etc.--hugged themselves and said z tt Of course ! VVe knew we were not to blame, It is plainly that t single subject' that is causing all the trouble. Then came the distressing cries from the victims of the subject HB. B sympathized with A, and together they began a crusade against all the rest. Hut in the meantime, complaints were coming in against the other subjects, and then each set about to prove himself innocent and another guilty. The apple had been truly cast and mightily they strove. Iiff had nought to do but sit by anzl watch the battle-element clashing against element, but nothing ever yielding. Our faces were like adamant, but many a poke or nudge was exchanged in that awful hour. At last john rang the gong and the strife was ended. VVe were sent empty-handed away. In point of lessening our work we had accomplished nothing but a change of schedule, which, if anything, made things harder. But we had raised our voices against it like men and had had the exclusive pleasure of causing and witnessing one of the grandest scraps that, in all likelihood, ever had occurred in Lawrenceville, or ever will occur again, at least in sight of the hungry eyes of underformersf' The medicine of a complete defeat in football having been administered to all the other classes in School, and especially to '92, we rapidly advanced to the Christmas holidays, of which it is unnecessary to speak any further than to state that a sojourn of three weeks in New York 20