Northern Illinois University - Norther Yearbook (DeKalb, IL)

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ELBIA WARXN'ICK LUTHER A. HATCH JOSEPH INE M.-xlzua JANIJELL 16 ANASTACIA DONOHUE A VERY SERIOUS MATTER

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FRED LEMAR CHARLES, M S. X iw 1' ADINA PA RM ELEE EMMA FLORENCE STRATFORD INEZ D. RICE, A. B. 15 ALICE CARY PATTEN, PH. B LIDA BRONVN MCINIURRY

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Zlihe 1Flormal School in 1Retrospect emo llbrospect HE Northern Illinois State Normal School is at last a two-year-old. Its second brood will soon M rn leave the nest and try their wings in independent flight. The trying days of the Hrst term in the l fall of 1899 when we shut ourselves in a few rooms and tried to forget the noises of the workmen are with the years beyond the Hood. And yet, our first day when we gathered in the study hall, talked together for a little t11ne, enrolled, decided upon the lessons ror the next day and separated to prepare for the first recitation -it all seems but yesterday. Dear, dear! And to what strange country do the hurrying months betake themselves? And the anxious days when we wondered where our people were to live, when we had room for two more but not for three- they are gone, too, thank heaven! And while we are thanks- giving let us not forget the Ellwood Syndicate that built for us the roomy and comfortable club houses. And do you not remember how soon we settled down to business and were an old-fashioned, genuine school, and all within a week? And the crimson days with their resplendent gorgeousness- when did another institu- tion have such a send-off? And dedication day, with the proverbial DeKalb weather, when our well-laid plans went all wrong, and the grove and the thousands of comfortable seats were left to the rain while we crowded into the gym. and stood up for two mortal hours and never complained? Good speeches they were, too - Governor Tanner and President Draper and Superintendent Bright and Senator Berry, Doctor Andrews. Colonel Ellwood and the rest. And the wonderful evening function with the lovely ladies in their exquisite gowns and the beauti- ful queen of the carnival with her charming maids? Well, it was a great day and the weather man could not spoil it, let him try ever so hard. , The first year slipped away so pleasantly and so quickly that the two ends of ittseem to be quite pushed together. Commencement came on as a sort of surprise and our sweet sixteen with their brand new sheep- skins which never were before, were out in the world ready to immortalize their alma mater. W'ith the summer school on hand small space we had for resting. Nearly one hundred and sixty were with us for the greater part of the live weeks, and at last when the wind-up came, near the close of july, we drew the Hrst long breath and hurried away to the woods to get that blessed renewal for the new year which is so necessary to the weary school- master and schoolma'am. . With the reopening of the school, in September, as many appeared as had been enrolled in the whole course of the first year. And such good pupils, too- So per cent. of them high school graduates. Aurora and Elgin turned out in force and several other cities followed suit, while the smaller towns were by no means unrepresented. The year has gone off charmingly. We have learned that northern Illinois stands by. It really begins to look I7