Miller School of Albemarle - Blue Ridge Blast Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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So great was the success of that first number, that at every public meeting of the Society Since, a number of the Blue Ridge Blast has appeared. ' 'At the beginning of the present session, the Longley Literary Society for girls, was thoroughly established and at once assumed a coordinate place by the side of the .Vawter in the intellectual life of the Miller School. About the first of October a joint meeting of the two Societies was called to consider the proposi- tion of getting out, under the auspicies of the Literary Societies, a school annual. The idea met with instant favor, CO1H111l'EtCCS were appointed, and the matter as- sumed a definite shape in a very short time. W7 hen the question of a name came up, one name, and only one, was in everybody's 1'1'1l11Cl-BLUE RTDGIE BLAST. Atthe first Anniversary Program of Vawter Literary Society held last December the old Blast, young in years but full 'of honor, passed quietly and peacefully away, and a new BLAST, which you are now reading, took its place. Such in brief is the story of our beginning, and may our ending never come nearer. . In many respects this Annual differs from the usual run of such publications. It is in a large measure historical, and it serves to let the outside world know what is being done at 'one of the grandest institutions in this country. The en- gravings were made especially for the. BLAST,,H11Cl each one tells its own story. The sketches were made by those' who have been or are now students of Miller School. Having no fraternities, the School has no- politics- college politics H- and each article in the book has gone in solely on its merits. Acting on the adage that, V A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men, we, have not hesitated to do that which we hope will make the volume interesting alike to the old and the young. Furthermore, the Literary Societies of Miller School are unique in that the office of Treasurer is unknown in either. And yet two more handsomely furnished halls than ours can not be found in the State, and to pub- lish this book has involved the outlay of nearly one thousand dollars. The generosity of the Board of Visitors, through Captain Vawter, gave us our halls, and the enthusiasm of our members, backed by a firm believe in the loyalty and financial support of our friends, Alumni, and'Alumnze, has produced the first volume of the BLUE RIDGE BLAST. , It is impossible for us to name all those who have helped. Qui' friends are many and they are our proudest possessions. May their number never grow less! To all, therefore, who have in any way helped us, by thought, word or deed-to our contributors, artists, advertisers, publishers, and subscribers-the Editors take this opportunity and means of returning their most sincere thanks. All such have helped to make our task a labor of love. Finally, how shall we estimate the value of a book like this? Bv what stand- ard shall we judge it? Let us view it from the standpoint of that ihdelinable vet owerf ff ' ' . - . ' p ul factor men call college spiritf' VVe ale conscious of many mistakes 48

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gmt' Editorial EARS and years ago the preacher said, Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the Heshf, The wisdom of the preacher has never been doubted by any schoolboy, and older ones will no doubt say that this volume confirms the text. Wfe are perfectly aware of the fact that long editorials are seldom read and, if they are, they are certainly 4' a weariness of the fleshf, But this is our first chance and we must not let it slip, and we trust that the occasion will serve as an apology for the Editorial Staff, if not for the Editor-in-Chief. In September of IQO3 the first literary society was organized at the Miller School. In honor of our beloved Superintendent, it was named the Vavvter Lit- erary Society. For three months and more we were without a local habitation, and our meetings were held in the chapel. But at the very beginning the Captain promised us a hall and every effort was made to get it ready before the Christmas holidays. In this we were successful, and on the 19th of December, we dedicated 'K Union Hallf, and forever set it aside for the joint use of the Vawter Literary Society and the Athletic Association-a place for the contest of mind with mind and for the trophies won on the gridiron. and the diamond. The program rendered on that occasion was one which the Society has every reason to be proud of, and when one considers that it was carried out for the most part by schoolboys with less than four months' training, who had never appeared in public before, the results were simply astonishing. To keep the program from being too heavy, and to portray life at Miller School in a humorous form, a paper known as the Blue Ridge Blast was read. The name is due to Heath Lewis, and to him belong many of its attractive features. According to a statement on the first page, the Blast was Published by the X. Y. Z. Companyf-At the Sign of the Monkey. The editorial staff was as follows: DICK HIGIfIBALL LUDICUS ............. . . . Editor-in-Chief ROUND HII.L OLDHAM ........... . ..... Business Manager , AssocIATE EDI'1'oRs RICHMOND CHARLIE PRETTYMAN, Jn. EMANUEL YVALKING BUZZARD EZEKIEL BAD COLD JAMES MULLIGAN MULLBERRY R. LEE COWPUNCI-IER TVTANNIKIN L 47 I . ..n l .... I ' f M f

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and short-comings, but the head and not the heart went astray. You will pardon our faults and praise our excellencies. XVe have not worked for reward, save that which comes from a consciousness of duty well done. XVe have aimed to honor not ourselves but our Alma Mater. She has given us much more than we can ever repay, but we have gathered the best of our store and given it freely and willingly. The years come and go, youth passes into manhood, manhood into old age, and e'er the silvcr cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cisternf' man returns in memory to the days of his youth. In those days perchance he will open this volume and in spirit live again the friendships at Miller. Once more he will roam beneath her trees, 'Mid lawns so green and cool,', and join his voice to those long since joined to the Choir Invisible, and the hills and the valleys will listen as they sing- Here's to Miller School forever! Peerless may she beg Time nor Change shall sever Our love and loyalty. Once more he will hear the whistle blow and the mighty struggle for supremacy on the gridiron has begun, while loyal sons and daughters make the woods resound with the Nine Rah's. Once more Miller's nine has gathered on the diamond to the air of Dixie - . Oh, play away old Millerg play ball, play ball, Be on your taps, look out for naps, And hold down well your bases. Once more he -will see Maroon and Blue floating proudly from the top of the flag-- pole and on ail sides will rise in one grand union of voices- ' Every school in old Virginia Has its pennant bright and fair. Now, here's to the Maroon and Blue ! To our colors we'Il be true, For of all the flags, Our Miller Hag's the best. 6 -1 49 17?-1-'