Muhlenberg College - Ciarla Yearbook (Allentown, PA)

Page 30 text:

dKistorty of tf e ass o f’96. BY SAMUEL A. BRIDGES STOPP. “ The greatest understanding is narrow.”— Grew. We leave College with regret. S THE men of ’96 (a) advance to the last stage (b) in their college course and see before them the land whose heights they may yet ascend, in whose peaceful vales at eventide they may find a pleasant dwell- ing, reminiscences of days gone by, a spirit of thoughtfulness looking steadily and manfully at the issues now pre- sented, and a hope that contemplatively gazes beyond, desiring to lift the veil as imperial Time demands, come o’er our minds and lead us to a deeper realiza- tion of the fact that to us the summons come to enter the great arena wherein men daily wage the battles of life. It seems but yesterday (c) we stood on the threshold of this academic temple and in silent awe endeavored to penetrate the dark (d) recesses (e) and mysterious labyrinths everywhere pre- sented to our eyes. To-day, like Fatima of the olden tale, we would fain retrace our steps and begin again our inspection of THE EDITOR’S NOTES. (a) “ Seldom your opinions err — your eyes are always in the right.” (b) ” We cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.” (c) “ We are but of yesterday, and know nothing.” — Job viii, 9. Cd) “ Well may they say in the words of Locke: ‘‘Till we perceive by our own under- standings, we are as much in the dark, and as void of knowledge as before.” (e) South says: ‘‘Every degree of ignorance is a recess and a degradation from rationality.” 22

Page 29 text:

JOSEPH C. SLOUGH, . Allentown, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Sophronian Literary Society. JOHN F. SNYDER, ..... Allentown, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Sophronian Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; German Literary Society. GEORGE T. SPANG, A T Q, . . . . Lebanon, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Sophronian Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association. WILLIAM H. STEINBICKER, . . . Catasauqna, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Sophronian Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; German Literary Society ; Augsburg Society ; Missionary Society. MARVIN H. STETTLER, .... Allentown, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Euterpean Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; German Literary Society. SAMUEL A. BRIDGES STOPP, . . . Allentown, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Euterpean Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; German Literary Society ; Augsburg Society ; Missionary Society ; Editor-in-chief of The Muhlenberg. PAUL Z. STRODACH, A T ft, . . . Lansford, Pa. Entered College, September, 1893 ; Euterpean Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; Missionary Society ; German Literary Society ; Organist of Chapel ; Glee Club. SAMUEL G. TREXLER, ..... Bernville, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Euterpean Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; German Literary Society ; Missionary Society ; Augsburg Society ; College Press Club ; Exchange Editor of The Muhlenberg . L. DOMER ULRICH, ..... Selinsgrove. Pa. Entered College, September, 1894 ; Euterpean Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; German Literary Society ; Missionary Society ; Augsburg Society. WILLIAM M. WEAVER, ..... Birdsboro, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Euterpean Literary Society ; Franklin Literal - } ' Association ; German Literary Society ; Missionary Society ; Augsburg Society ; Press Club. EDGAR P. XANDER, ..... Lehigliton, Pa. Entered College, September, 1892 ; Sophronian Literary Society ; German Literary Society. JOHN M. YETTER, .... Marshall’s Creek, Pa. Entered College, September, 1S93 ; Sophronian Literary Society ; Franklin Literary Association ; Augsburg Society ; President of College Press Club ; Editor-in-chief of The Muhlenberg ; President of The Pennsylvania Inter-Collegiate Oratorical Union. 21

Page 31 text:

the marvelous chambers, the beautiful corridors, and the varied objects of delight in this palace of wonders, (f) But endeavoring as we may to make amends for the past, the mark or the key betrays our frequent folly, (g) and in days to come we may lament wasted opportunities (h) in our college course. The past year has been marked by few notable events in the history of ’96 ; in a mathematically precise statement of facts we cannot write its annals ; but in knowledge (i) acquired, wisdom gained, and experience (j) treasured up for time to come, in laying broad and deep the foundations of the noblest of all structures, that spiritual house wherein dwells what we call man, what words suffice, (k) what account is edequate, to tell the tale ( 1 ) of ’96 ? Character has been building, strength developing, and visions of the soul-life opening up varied avenues of culture and useful activity to these pilgrims at wisdom’s shrine. Soon “ the good old seniors ” of the college song will be “safe out in the wide, wide world.” In pleasant retrospect when the day’s business is done and the evening lamp is lighted, they will review the events of their college course. The days of their freslimanic verdancy ; the icy ' chill mingled with the creature comforts of that memorable sleigh- ride ; (°) the cremation of the arch-enemy, Titus Livy ; the (f) “ Wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.” But, ‘‘We cease to wonder at what we understand.” — -Johnson. (g) “ Folly in fools bears not so strong a note. As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote.” — Shakespeare. (h) ‘‘ The wise man will make more opportunities than he finds,” says Bacon. Mark well ’97’s Motto. (i) “ Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, have ofttimes no connection. Knowl- edge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men ; Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.” — Cowper. (j) ‘‘Whence hath the mind all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer in one word, from experience,” says Locke ; and Coleridge observed : ” To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illumine only the track it has passed.” (k) How well has Milton sung, “To recount almighty works, What words or tongue of seraph can suffice?” ( l ) Its really hard to tell who is at the tail of ’96. ( ) “ There are Dark doubts between the promise and event.” (°) [It was a chilly night— and how kindly did they take us in, while others home their footsteps turned. — E d.] 23