Meredith College - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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ISABELLE GULLEY I am Sir Oracle. When I ope my lips let no dog bark. ' 4 Margaret Ferguson Born for success, she seems, With grace to win, with heart to hold, With shining gifts that take all eyes. 16

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Laura Cox Wise to resolve, and patient to per- form. Maggie Lewis We murder to dissect. Enough of science and of art. 15

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Glass History of ' 04. U ' HEN the news flashed over the State of North Carolina that the doors of the B. F. U. were at last opened, the Class of ' 04 checked baggage for Raleigh, and in September, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, four of the merry members of that class promenaded the long corridors of the Baptist Univer- sity and planned for the future. When darkness settled down over the city and everybody was tired and worn- out by the question, Who are you, and where are you from? the first silvery peal of a bell rang out, Go to your room! and away we went; but lo! no beds were found, and so we passed the night on the floor ; but slumber was sweet, and we slept and dreamed that she who makes her bed hard must lie on it. But now we hum on flowery beds of ease. Thus began the history of the Class of ' 04, closely interwoven with the history of the University. We have grown up with the institution, have passed through the Dark Ages with her, and heard her groans, not without sympathy and prayer ; but to-day the Class of ' 04 sees her supremacy and glories in her ever-increasing strength over all the female schools of the South, with the banner of progress and knowledge floating high. As the Class of ' 04 belongs to the University, so the University belongs to the class by a bond of esteem, honor and love, which no class can ever claim but the Class of ' 04. Yet the class has a history all its own, developed out of the battles and victories of college life. We were never taunted by those horrible names of freshman and sophomore, but were juniors and seniors from the day of our organization. We did not enter preparatory ; we have not followed in the footsteps of the preceding class, or inherited wisdom and fame from them, but keeping ever before us the thought, higher education for women, we put aside the prevailing idea of a three-year or a four-year college course as sufficient for North Carolina women, and have spent five years in college halls and classrooms. The Class of ' 04 were charter members of the literary societies, the first edi- tors of the University journals, first leaders in the devotional meetings, which have developed into a Young Woman ' s Christian Association, and first and last in the hearts of the Trustees, Faculty, and students. The Class of ' 04 will leave the University in her first glory, with grave ques- tions settled for all succeeding classes ; college colors fixed, magnificent society 17