Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

Page 20 text:

The Faculty Song Everybody works but the Faculty, And they sit around all day, Looking wise and dignified. And listening to what we say; Spot, Zed, Zeus, and Ajax, And all the rest, you see — Everybody works at this place, ’Cept the Fac-ul-tee. 16

Page 19 text:

Capt. W. T. Ratliff HIRTY-FIVE years is a long time for one man to preside over a board of trustees and yet Capt. W. T. Ratliff has been President of the Board of Trustees of Mississippi College for thirty-five years. He has given the College a great deal of his time and thought. He has also been ready at all times to divide his money liberally with her. His name, his face, and his loyalty ought to he remembered by the friends of the College for all time to come. Capt. Ratliff’s parents died in his early childhood, and he was reared an orphan. Through his early boyhood he did hard work on a farm. A few years before the war he entered Mississippi College as a student. In his early manhood he was married to Miss Mary Cook, a member of one of the best families in Mississippi, and a young woman worthy of her family and of the manly young man with whose destiny she linked her own. When the war opened, young Ratliff was thrilled with the desire to prove his patriotism on the field of honor. He therefore enlisted in the Confederate Army, where he became captain of the famous Ratliff’s Battery. He was one of the bravest and best of soldiers, a just and wise commander, and has always been greatly loved by the men who served with him in the days that tried men’s souls. After the war Capt. Ratliff was elected chancery clerk of Hinds County, which position he filled with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the people for nearly twenty years. Later he was sheriff of the county. His long official record is without spot or blemish. In the affairs of the Baptist denomination in Mississippi, he has been greatly trusted and honored. For many years he was the moderator of the Central Association. For a number of times he was elected treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, of which distinguished body he is now the honored president. Capt. Ratliff’s three-score and ten years weigh lightly upon him, and we hope that his face and figure will continue to be often seen about the College campus for at least another decade. Near the close of last session Capt. Ratliff , celebrated his golden wedding. The faculty of the College presented him with a beautiful gold watch, with the hope that he would have yet very much to do with time before entering upon eternity. The Senior class of the College presented him with a beautiful gold chain, expressive of their desire that he should still be bound to time and that he should he bound by golden links. We wish you hon voyage, dear Captain, As you sail toward the evergreen shore, And when you have reached the fair haven We’ll keep your name fresh evermore. J 5 2

Page 21 text:

|OT in buildings, not in equipments, not in endowment nor organization nor support, nor yet in its curricula and high standard of scholarship required and maintained, lies the chiefest greatness of Mississippi College, but in its Faculty. While we have no lack of pride in all these other features pertaining to our institution, yet to the noble, earnest men who compose our Faculty is due our deepest regard and highest tribute for the splendid worth of our College. Should you be asked to state what best fits a man for the greatest usefulness in life, you would do well to answer: “The possession of qualities. ” Qualities, mental, moral, physical — qualities, a briefer term for influence, capacity, ability, puipose, accomplishment, all so combined as to possess the power of impressing themselves on others in the formation of character and manhood. This hurts me more than you, my son,” is hard to believe while the rod is being applied; but every “prof” declareth that whom he loveth he chasteneth — and they say they love us, every one. And they do — through flunk and pass, through thick and thin. Because of their dignity we admire them; because of the prep hall we obey them, because of exams we laugh at their ancient jokes; but because they are men, noble and true men, pure in thought and purpose and ever ready in tender sympathy, to aid us, we love them. 7