Morris Harvey College - Harveyan Yearbook (Charleston, WV)

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The faculty, having once been Seniors themselves, realized our worth and gave us Senior privileges at the beginning of the year. They permitted us to go to the library w ithout permission, and did not compel us to study in the afternoon, unless we had to go to the detention class, and, of course, no Senior ever did that. We have appreciated these privileges, and have shown the faculty we were worthy of them. We let no grass grow under our feet, and in a few weeks our fame had spread abroad. Our representatives on the gridiron reflected the greatness of the class by their phenomenal athletic work. In the literary societies all were held spell-bound by our wonderful words, both spoken and written- In fact, there was no field of activity in school that was not occupied by some member of our class. We were the ones that first conceived the idea of publishing an annual. And it was the president of our class who was elected business manager of the first publica- tion. and who collected or rather attempted to collect money for it, until, to use his own words, he was, “A mere shadder of his former self.” Nothing gave the pupils of the Model Department more pleasure than to have us practice teaching on them. We have their word for it that we are the best teachers they ever had. They recognized our greatness and appreciated it. Never were they known to ask us a question that we could not answer — after having consulted our text- books. Scarcely did our class know the meaning of rules. For we were never compelled to feel the effects of them, except in a few cases, when of course, someone else was to blame. If all pupils had respected law and order as we did, rules would have been unnecessary. Never were we caught writing notes, or talking in the halls, and we knew the nature of demerits only by hearsay. We did every thing, even our studying, at the required hours, and at no other time. One of our remarkable characteristics was our wonderful love for note books and parallel readings. Never was a class given so many readings to do, but we read them without a murmur. We were noted for our speed in getting up note books the night before they were to be handed in, and when they were finished they were, of course, models of neatness- Wlien the mid-year examinations came we felt just a little anxious for fear some- thing like a Psychology or a Pedagogy examination might cause our class to decrease in numbers. Of course, should there have been an occurrence of this kind we would 22

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Grace Maxwell, Historian. H FTER much research I have been able to discover that the class of ’14 had its beginning in 1909; but as only a few members of that now famous class were present then, very little was heard of them. However, pupils from other schools felt a silent call to M. H. C. They knew not that they were to be members of the illustrious class whose history is here revealed- For a year or two we climbed quietly upward without organization, until, one day, we realized that we were in truth Juniors, and deserved to be recognized as such. Therefore our class was duly organized and Elbert Fulton, familiarly known as “Brownie,” was chosen to lead us through the year of failures and successes. We spent this year quietly in diligent study; but scarcely were we organized ere our in- fluence began to be felt; for a class such as ours could not long keep all its geniuses quiet. But I can dwell no longer on the achievements of our Junior year, for there is much yet to tell. At last there came a day when we became known as the Senior class. Our first meeting was a rather solemn occasion. We realized that we were starting on the last year in our dear old Alma Mater. But our gloom was somewhat lessened by the thought that we would soon be ready to startle the world with some of our very origi- nal ideas, and other knowledge that we had been able to acquire. Watt Stewart was chosen to lead us on to our final triumph, and we settled down to work with one aim in view, to make not less than the required grade in all studies, which was 85%, for — let me say it in a whisper, some of us had some grades on record that we were not extremely proud of. 21

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have known it was because the teacher had failed to realize what was important in the books, for, of course, there was nothing important in any Pedagogy or Psychology that we did not know. But we were not forced to form a bad opinion of any of the teachers for the class came forth with colors flying, and no visible marks of what they had passed through save sleepy looks, caused from a little study on the night before. The examinations over we started on our last semester, with a great deal to do and a little time in which to do it. But with our usual determination we started to work resolved not to let a little thing like time have any effect on us. I would that I could give you a history of each member of the class, but I must name only a few of their collective virtues, for space and time will not permit me to do otherwise. Some are gifted with sweet angelic voices; some are talented with oratory; some can read foreign tongues as easily as English; others are possessed with the ability of asking more questions in one hour than anybody could answer in a year. But why should I dwell on the past glories of our class? Much more might be said, perhaps both good and bad ; only the future can tell to what heights its members will climb. But rest assured, whether it he feeding chickens on a West Virginia farm, or president of the United States; we will fill either position with equal grace and dignity, and will never do anything that would in anyway reflect on our Alma Mater, or on our past glories. This little history I’ve related, The truth to tell I’ve striven ; If in any way I’ve deviated, I hope I’ll be forgiven. 23