Livingstone College - Livingstonian Yearbook (Salisbury, NC)

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1928 The Maple Leaf 1928 Class History By E. W. McCoy Many are they who start in the race Many who start for the goal But some soon find they can ' t keep apace And, too greedy death takes his toll. In the Fall of 1924, there appeared on the campus fifty-four ambitious-looking youths to take their first draught from a college fountain. So great was the mere thought of being in College, that the all-important element of study was hardly thought of until these lowly Freshmen found themselves entrapped between the ma- chine guns of Mathematics and French, being shelled by Greek bombs, and inhaling the deadly gases of science. It was then that they thought the struggle to begin, but they later found that the struggle had not begun at all. The proud members of this class were eager to demonstrate their supremacy on the campus; hence they leaped at their greatest rival, the Sophs, in a foot ball contest. In the struggle that followed, the Frenchmen really fought well. The only reason they did not win was because they allowed the Sophs to cross the goal line, but could not cross themselves. This defeat was no great discouragement, however; it only sharpened the anxiety of these over-ambitious Freshmen to meet this enemy in some other contest. But before the opportunity came to measure arms with the opponent again, there came another combat — a mental one. It was tougher than the other; due partly to the fact that it called for a certain amount of thinking, (which Freshmen are not guilty of doing), and partly to the fact that there was no opportvmity to strike back as in the game of foot ball. This was the Semester examination. Examinations were not altogether new to the group of wearers-of-green, but the thought of going to a College examination knocked many of them out before they reached the fray. The contest however, did not prove so disastrous as had been expected. Then came the cheering days of Spring and: With the passing of the snow Everything got gay, you know - , And the Athletes short and tall Began to toss around the ball. The Freshmen thought that their chance had now come to revenge themselves for the foot ball defeat. Accordingly, a base ball game was scheduled with the enemy. After a very hard fought game, the Freshmen came out carrying the small end of a seven to five score. With the coming of the final examination, the twice-defeated aggregation became more silent — it was about to witness what for a long time had been on its mind, a final examination. Green and Lucky! Each passed with flying colors. The Fall of 192 5 found only part of the old gang back on the job. Ten nf those who wore the Green did not show up to claim their costume of Red . Never was there a class to which the word Fool could be so accurately applied. It was looked on by some as the wild gang, but it was very soon tamed by the proud wearers of the Green . In the Frosh-Soph foot ball game, the Sophs were let down easy to the tune of 12-6. It seemed that school had scarcely opened when the Sophs found themselves faced with a semester examination. And it was something really to be dreaded this time Page 24

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1928 The Maple Leaf 1928 ThoiMas McDonald, Jr., A. B. ' TD Madison, Wisconsin. Guilty of — Knowing:. Past Offenses — Varsity Football, Captain. 4; Eng- lish Club ; Debating Society ; Dramatic Club : Business ManaKer, The Livingstone : Circulation Manager, Maple Leaf : Athletic Editor, Maple Leaf ; Honor Student 3, 4 Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Sentence — Still married and still happy. Joseph S. Jackson, Jr., A. B. • Joe Wilson. N. C. Guilty of — A lot Past Offenses — Honorary member, English Club: Dramatic Club : Secretary, Debating Society : Presi- dent, Livingstone Y. M. C. A. : Chairman, N. C. State Council, Y. M. C. A. : Secretary, Negro Work, State Student Volunteer Union: Honor Roll, 3, 4: Editor-in- Chief, 1928 Maple Leaf. Sentence — If I rest I rust, and rust I must not. W. Mance Gilliam, A. B. Doctor . - Madison, Wisconsin. Guilty of — Never doing business in the street Past Offenses — Student instructor of mathematics in High School, 3 : President of Senior Sunday School Class : Debating Society : Dramatic Society : Student branch of N. A. A. C. P. ; Treasurer of the Christian Endeavor: Circulation Manager, Livingstone: Business Manager, Maple Leaf Sentence- - Be not afraid the truth you already possess will be spoiled by gaining new tiuth. W. H. MORELAND, A. B. Dutch Charlotte. N. C. Guilty of — Pleasing the ladies. Past Offenses— President, L Club. Dramatic Club: English Study Club: College Council: Debating -. Society : Varsity Football : Honor Roll, 4. Phi Beta Sigma. Sentence — Examine with judgment each opinion : if it seems true, embrace it : if false, gird up the loins of thy mind to withstand it. Page 2 3

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1928 The Maple Leaf 1928 for the newly organized faculty was throwing it at them mercilessly. For the first time since entering College, the Sophs began to get the correct meaning for the term study. On the morning of the examination, each armed himself with an aeroplane, poney, jack-rabbit, or a submarine, and went in to do what they called get away. After the fray, some came out smiling, some grumbling, and others crying. This terrific hook that sent many reeling to the ropes was soon out lived. The coming of Spring brought with it an added kick for the Wise fools . In looking over our base ball material, we saw that it was impossible for us to lose to such a squad as the Freshmen were depending on. As the base ball season got well on the way, the annual Sophomore-Freshman game was played. The Freshmen really put up a good fight. The spectators were held in suspense from the first pitched ball until the last. Cotton Mather the hurler for the Sophs, pitched a masterly game. For the first time in any combat of this type, the Sophs romped off victoriously. They carried away five-eights of the whole cake. After this victory, the Sophs, whose actions already resembled those of a fit can- didate for the insane asylum, became more rambimctious . Often their senseless actions were taken seriously by the authorities. This only added to the fun of the prankers. To such an extent did this frivolity go that the class room work was almost wholly neglected by some. Then with the nearing of Commencement, there came the usual raking and cramming period. But ah! many began to cram too late. Many of the all-wise ignoramuses were not onlv sent reeling to the ropes as before, but were sent to the canvas for the full count. Nor did the whole Summer vacation prove sufficiently long enough for many to recover. When in the Fall of 1926 the roll was called, it was reported that of the twenty- one that were absent, one had been called to that land where examinations were all over, and hard study was not necessary: William Weeden had died. He took his flight soon. Yes, ere had come noon; The noon of his life I speak of, . But deep in the mind Of those left behind There lingers a spark of his Love. The first part of our Junior year was spent in trying to become dignified. Some were successful in accomplishing this; others never did accomplish it. The class no longer interested in athletics turned its atention to more gainful activities. Of the 10 members of the honor roll of the first Semester, 2 were Juniors. The trial orations were participated in by E. G. Ellis, J. S. Jackson, W. M. Powe, and E. W. McCoy. The activities of the class during this year were confined almost wholly to the scholastic. We left in the Spring of 1927 hoping that our number would not decrease further during the Summer months, but on entering in the Fall of 1927, we found that only seventeen of the fifty-four who began were still in the fray. This class felt now more than ever the necessity of focusing its attention on its work; hence on the first appearance of the Dean ' s list, there were four Seniors out of a number of nine thaC composed the list. The second appearance of the Dean ' s list had grown from nine to nineteen, nine of which were Seniors. The third appearance of the honor list, that of February, found the Senior class represented by one member less than on the January list. One of the first responsibilities assumed by the class was that of training the Sophs for the annual Sophomore Freshmen debate, a feature that has come on the campus since we were Sophs. Whether the outcome of the debate was due to the coaching of the members of the Senior class or not will be told by the Fiistorian of the Class of 30 . Page 25