Ohio College of Dental Surgery - Alethian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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We were not all destined to illuminate our pathway with such intellectual splendor, for the majority were only mediocre. There were a few who seemed to undergoa state of mental degeneracy, but it would be an injustice and a gross fabrication to say they bore any resemblance to that lower type of animals, about which so much has been written in explaining Darwin's theory. The stillness of the hour was finally broken by the arrival of the Dean, who immediately began giving us a little hot air relative to the brilliant future for the dentist. At the conclusion of his remarks, a class meet- ing was called for the election of ofhcers, etc. The rec- ollections of that day' when Taylor Hall echoed with the eloquence of some of our distinguished orators in pre- senting candidates for the high ofhce of President, is still fresh in our memories, and we naturally wonder that some have not aspired to a seat in Congress. Even the unscrupulous wire manipulators, after exhausting all the schemes known to the ward politician, were doomed to defeat and when the votes were counted, there was called to the executive chair, a young man of sterling charac- ter 5 and one whose executive ability and diplomatic powers shed lustre on the honor of the class. After be- coming reconciled to our environment, we commenced a campaign which was signalized throughout the year by such indefatigable energy, that before the year had closed, it was demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt, that we were without a parallel. Preponderance of intellect was our distinguishing characteristic. Even the cultured and refined seniors with all the airs of dignity due them, paid us the tribute by saying we had within us the elements of power. Without doing an injustice to the class, there were a few who failed to observe the transformation which the process of evolution was doing, and continued to move along that low, intellectual plane, which inharmon- ized them from the majority. Occasionally a few would come to the lecture, feel- ing a little depressed after a nights indulgence in hilarity, and being unable to assimilate the lecture, they would fall into a state of somnolency from which they would be aroused, when the Professor would relate a practical joke. The question of students perogatives were deeply imbedded in the brains of some, and occasionally an al- tercation with the high chief would ensue, which gener- ally terminated by both persons making a few concessions. It had long been the custom for students to come to lecture at a later hour, thereby causing considerable con- fusion. The remark was once made by one of the Pro- fessors, that any one coming to lecture thirty minutes late, would be regarded as a minus quantity. Prompt- ness was afterward practiced, except when a quiz was announced, then the classes were usually quite small due to sickness, etc. The first months work was not produc- tive of very good results, for studious habits were hard to conform to. Dental nomenclature was not all we learned, for a little training in athletics was pursued in order to gracefully side step the juniors when they would make a daring charge. Cnr experience in the dissecting room was one in which much interest was manifested. As we gazed upon the ghostly forms which were subjects for the knife, we were a little reluctant in making the first incision, but after a little practice had been acquired, we wielded the knife with such ease, that even Dr. Matlock inarvelled at our skill. Some very brilliant thoughts were con- ceived relative to human anatomy. We have followed the train of events until we have reached the end of our first year's work, and as a fitting

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Class of 1904. NCE more the historian is called upon to record the history of a class, which, after three years of trials and tribulations, has at last reached the goal which only the ambitious can attain. On the human imagination, events produce the effects of time. If you will look back o'er the annals of tradition, you will find that history is replete with achievements of the past, and it is with feelings of pleasure that I write one more chapter in the unfinished book. In pursuing the task assigned me, I shall endeavor to trace the evolutionary steps which marks the progress of the class, from its incipiency to that culminating plane of distinction which we term seniority, The journey has been a long and monotonous one, and as the end has at last been reached, we can stand at the threshold of our professional career, and repeat the words of the immortal Caeser CVeni, Vidi, Vicij I came, I saw, I conquered. If it is not a deviation from historical accuracy, it was in October, IQOI, on one of those beautiful days characteristic of the season, that this band of conquering heroes left the parental roof, and wended their way to Cincinnati to be instructed by the members of the illus- trious faculty, whose portraits adorn the walls of this time honored school. It is eminently Htting and proper that our history, which will undoubtedly be read by posterity, should be so recorded, that when they study the facts which actuated us in aspiring to that lofty pin- nacle in the constellation of celebrities, they will be so impressed by our untiring zeal, that they will inculcate in the minds of the youth of their day, the noble precepts of this grateful class I would very imperfectly execute the task assigned me, were I not to soar in an atmosphere of eulogy in emulating the deeds of this class, and in so doing, it will be necessary to go back to the palmy days of our beginning. In tracing the process of evolution by which Freshmen illiteracy has been transformed into senior enlightenment, the historian must deal with facts as he finds them. The story abounds in figures of speech which range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and I trust there are none so censorious as to heap undue criticism upon the writer. Our inception as a class dates back to October 6, 1901, and since then it has been one continuous story of achievements, brought to fruitage within the walls of the O. C. D. S. It was on the morning of the above date, that this aggregation of intellectual giants assembled in Taylor Hall, to be perfected into a class organization. College spirit had not yet manifested itself, and the stillness of the hour was occasionally broken by the respiratory or- gans abnormally performing their function. While we were enjoying this serenity of mind, the studying of faces revealed the fact, that mechanical genius was not the only mark of intelligence we possessed, for it was quite perceptible that some possessed brains remarkable for their profundity of reasoning. It is no exaggeration in saying their intellectual accomplishments shone with such brilliancy, that even the Professors looked upon them with fear and trembling lest they might ask some question unknown to the profession.

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close, we will conclude this year's campaign by recalling our experience during the final examinations. The halls were a scene of confusion for everybody manifested a disposition to be sociable, especially after racking our brains over some perplexing question which we failed to note in our Pony The above facts terminate the first year's campaign, and knowing that we were on the threshold of another year, we paused before entering the junior portals, to study the physiognomies of those embryo dentists who are destined to follow us. After close observations had been made, it was the concensus of opinion that their idiosyncracies were a deviation from the ordinary. Our junior year opened amid scenes of wild enthus- iasm. VVe were all jubilant over the fact, that this class whose history abounds in achievements reached in the prosthetic lab, has at last been entitled to recognition in the infirmary. The usual cotirse of procedure was pursued in the election of oflicers, etc., as in the preceding year, and after equipping ourselves with the necessary instruments, everybody got busy and the year was signalized by un- tiring devotion to books Everything was progressing very nicely until one day the clouds of war began to gather on the horizon, and to the casual abserver, it was quite clear that the Freshmen were preparing to do battle. Our diplomats exhausted all the diplomacy known to man in trying to effect a reconciliation, but it was of no avail. We withdrew our representatives, donned our armorial togas, and ignoring our obligations to the faculty, we assembled in the lobby to begin hostil- ities. The command was given and in a short time, both sides were fighting hard for supremacy. Our opponents saw we were invincible, and had it not been for the timely intervention of him, whose presence is the signal of peace and order, Taylor Hall would have presented a scene most horrid. The class also enjoys the distinction of having a few pugilists It is not netessary to enumerate their victor- ies, for their success has been so phenomenal, that all the memories of the foxy Fitz, the clever Corbett and the invincible Jeffries vanish like a dream. The class as a whole were awakened to a realization of the fact that as we ascended in the scale of evolution from the depths of obscurity to the heights of senior renown, we would be obliged to conform to such rules of professional ethics as would be approved by the facultygso we assumed an air of dignity that was so becoming a junior, that even the seniors tried to imitate us. Some conceived the idea that in order to have a good rtin of patients, they must present a pleasing per- sonality, so they familiarized themselves with the best parlor etiquette, kept posted on the latest styles, and the result was they became so popular with the fair sex, that their record in the clinic was phenomenal. Please do not infer that these were the only stars who distinguished themselves, for it was a junior who conceived the idea of giving a students dance. The gentleman is deserving of the highest commendation for originating this idea, for this event alone has caused all the preceding classes that have marched from the corri- dors of this seat of learning to sink into oblivion. It was also a junior that conceived the idea that studying anatomy from a practical standpoint was preferable to memorizing those anatomical terms found in Gray. He was frequently seen at the People's Theatre. I think it was a Freshman who attempted to converse with a dummy in front of a cigar store on Central Avenue one night, he was requested by a policeman to move on, for he hurt the proprietor's business.