Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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History ' Eighty-One. WE have arrived at the time when all the hackneyed expressions of our predecessors flash upon us with their full meaning, for the time has come for us to make the same statements ourselves. At last it begins dimly to dawn on us that we have seen our last cane-rush, our last election-fire, and our last Freshman Class (though some may remark that the last mentioned is not an overwhelming mis- fortune). To be sure, we can ignore the class that obtrudes the fact upon us ; but, believe me, there is abominably little consolation in that. How are the mighty fallen ! for, notwithstanding the vision of our Class prophet and our individual hopes in former years, our enemy the Faculty has not, alas ! permitted us to enter the Senior year with the largest class on record. How sadly do we recall the pang felt each year with increased poignancy, when we heard how they fell ! When on our return we heard of Billy ' s desertion to Lafayette, of Zim ' s voluntary surrender and. Dick ' s defection ; and now we feel indeed sadly broken up that our old stand-by John T. and Rick too have left us. Entering with a class of twenty-six members, an unusually small number for even Lehigh, the gradual diminution has left us with but one-third of them. It is perhaps usually the case that small classes make up for their paucity by their increased class spirit. It certainly has been so with ' 81. Did we not persistently refuse to be dictated toby ' 80? — though they

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B. F. HALDEMAN, E.M., Philadelphia, . . Sancon Hall W. J. C. LOOS, Bethlehem, C. T. MATSON, New York City, J. McCAFFERTY, Allentown, Pa., F. S. PHILLIPS, Philadelphia, W. B. STOCKTON, Phoenixville, Pa., LEWIS STOCKTON, B.A., Phoenixville, Pa., . Saucon Hall H. B. STRONG, Cleveland, O., R. B. WETHERILL, Lafayette, Ind., M. W. WITTMER, E.M., Pittsburgh, Pa., . New Street J. J. ZIMMELE, Bethlehem, ....

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were larger in number and stature than we. Did we not retain our canes, and with consistency refuse to permit ' 82 to do so ? Are these not examples of heroism for Freshmen to admire and copy ? And then our Epitome — But I shall stop before my list becomes tedious. In short, ' 81 has never been found wanting in any matter of Class or University interest. I shall not fatigue you with a detailed account of our deeds, warlike and otherwise, from the time of our arrival in Bethlehem. With regard to the warlike deeds, however, it is not denied that our class has seen fit to run away, such a course being decidedly justifiable. Perhaps, too, con- sideration for future days, as enjoined by the ancient couplet, He that fights, etc., had something to do with persuading us. We must have awed our opponents on that occasion by our dignified and masterly retreat, for nothing of the kind has occurred since. Since the last publication of the Epitome, we have lost five men from our class, of whom three have left the university. Dick is in Philadelphia, studying medicine. He always had a talent for original research [vide laboratory annals), and doubtless will make some stupendous discovery in anatomy. Zim still lights up Bethlehem and the adjacent villages with the fitful gleams of his fleeting smile. But Shorty, from latest accounts, was mashing (ah, keep it dark !) in his native village in the Ohioan wilds he loved so well, and building bridges, which, I take it, is a decided improvement upon the effete style of building castles. We of ' 81 are nothing, if not progressive ! Washington ' s Birthday was celebrated, under the auspices of our class, with more than usual eclat ; the orator, Mr. Wetherill, and Mr. Haldeman, the reader of the Farewell Address, both acquitting them- selves admirably. It was our sad misfortune to learn, by experience, how hard a mat- ter it is to please all ; for notwithstanding our efforts to get up a Mock Programme in good form, we regret that those probably the most con- cerned did not appreciate them, but, on the contrary, the publication was damned, with faint (very faint) praise by the graduating class to a man.