Millersville University - Touchstone Yearbook (Millersville, PA)

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CLASS HISTORY. 15 quote a rather obscure passage from the diary of Caesar: “They came, we saw, we conquered!” and naughtv-three had been ushered into the presence of an admiring world. When again the swallows homeward flew, when the purple grapes hung in glistening clusters, the nodding corn whispered prophecies of golden plenty to one another, and Earth once more robed herself in gorgeous vestments of gold and crimson to go forth and meet her hoarv-headed lord, Time, found us again across the threshold of Minerva’s temple, deeply drinking from the ever-flowing fountain of learning. But, stay, what marvelous galaxy is this our amazed eyes confront? Do we dream, or is indeed this dazzling high school band that dazes us by its marvelous beauty, its daring wit, and boundless intellectual energy, a destined part of us? The gods, out of the fullness of their illimitable generosity, add this one more blessing to our already countless advantages. We welcome them with open arms; at least some of the sterner sex may have done so. Together with this new acquisition we gathered under our protecting wing the class of “naughty-two.” They had not yet attained to those higher spheres of advanced learning; they still laboriously toiled about the foot-hills; and we, catching now and then a glimpse of them through the cloud, were moved to pity by their painful struggles and extended down to them the hand of friendly encouragement, hoping to inspire and uplift them. Heaven knows what a dire, well-nigh futile struggle we had. Our consciences, however, thanks to our ardent exertions, are at rest; we did all possible to be done for them; but, alas! they would not! It was not in them. About this time Laurence, Grover and Horace discarded knickerbockers and took on the insignia of manhood. Right here I might take the opportunity to discuss the infinite amusement afforded us by the weird, peculiar antics of that body of human beings now popularly known as the class of “nineteen-four. Knowing the callow inexperience of these simple-hearted children, and knowing further their utter inability to cope with any semblance whatever of equality with our tried veterans, for their own benefit and instruction we let them enjoy themselves, playing their innocent little game of “naughty-three” unmolested. How joyously they skipped and played about the campus, letting

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Class History. WILLIS W. HACKMAN, S THE new century was heralded in amidst the clamorous din of myriad trumpet blasts, and the hoarse, thundering plaudits of countless multitudes, while the world paused in ecstatic awe among the turmoil of gigantic enterprises and the curbing of Titanic forces, a new standard dedicated to the interests of education and higher thought suddenly burst out upon the startled world from out the chaos of the race's making. And ’round its daring motto stood gathered a valiant little hero band, pioneers of higher education. Little did the world dream of the vast possibilities, the limitless potentialities, the endless resources of that Spartan band—a band within whose ranks breathe such sterling characters and noble souls as Herbert Spencer, the massive-brained; Grover Cleveland, the unquenchable; Sheaffer and Horace Mann, the untiring champions of noble ideals and higher standards of education. To its inspiring folds flocked the great, the noble, the divine Augustus of “the golden crest, still outbreaking the sacred odors of Lebanon’s cedars. Need more be said? Well could the shades of Czesar, Cicero and Virgil groan aloud in fear and envy, and gnash their teeth at sight of us, and the ghosts of Jonson, Shakespeare, and all the proudest ranks of Queen Elizabeth’s intellectual giants, with one last agonizing wail turn over and die the ignoble deaths of broken-hearted, man-forsaken spirits. Soon massive-browed professors were seen to pace about with pensive, downcast eyes and care-furrowed brows; strange rumors floated about upon the tide of common report; a powerful organization, that gave promise of vast intellectual achievements, and destined to strain severely the mighty intellects of our faculty. Month after month rolled by, each more pregnant of the future than the last. It is needless to relate in detail our first meeting with the State Hoard. I shall but

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16 THE HAMMER. the cute little clears of nineteen five, six and ten play with them; all joyfully shouting: “We are the class of nineteen-three!” How we loved to see them go out and play with the Seniors; only they got hurt sometimes. Considered altogether, however, their pleasure was entirely harmless, besides being highly entertaining to us, not to say instructive; for many an illustrious example of rank immaturity did we witness, illustrating some pregnant psychological truth. Again the fountains played and the soloists sang of spring. The doctor trimmed his beard for summer, and by a peculiar unconscious acquisition of dignity, especially on the part of Swopie and Laurence, we intuitively knew that some great event was fast approaching; so that we were not at all surprised to find ourselves one beautiful June morning gazing into one another’s transfigured countenances with our hearts whispering to us that we indeed were not only in spirit, but in fact, Seniors. All that summer strange portentious omens and mysterious rumorings foretold a year of prodigies; and the fates foretold aright. Amid joyful acclamations we once more embrace the threshold of the ladies’ gate. Iiow we burned to unrein the pent-up energy of our teeming brains. We felt the untold joy of Seniors as we grasped the extended palms of the Profs and met the dazzling radiance of their joyful countenances. We felt within us a power, a force, a seething vitality unfelt before. How the hostile ranks of the Model School melted before our conquering arms! How we held them in servile submission, bordering upon absolute slavery, is now the property of general history. Before two moons had filled out their horns twice with silvery light, the halls of learning echoed and re-echoed with the fame of our intellectual achievements. The most reserved and conservative members of the faculty were heard expressing their impressions concerning us in most extravagant terms of commendation. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds. So sweeping and continued were our triumphs that had not our characters been exceptionally strong and modest, our brains had surely become addled. I have now come to that which cannot help but give pain to somebody. At quite an early period the class of nineteen-four,