Ohio Wesleyan University - Le Bijou Yearbook (Delaware, OH)

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J. J. RICHARDS. LENA WILLARD. R. 'l'. STIMMHL. lf. I-'1.ANNmAN. MARY B. WILKINS. ORA RVDICR. C. W. SULLIVAN. ANDRIANA GRANGER. ANNlc'r'rla BTCIFADIHCN ALLAN Crmsn. E. O. D1aCfxM1'. ll. A. Wxmxun.

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The class of '96 entered college ninety strong, but since then many have fallen by the way-side- Shows, Bogi, J. Il. and kindred causes have effected this. But, notwithstanding these little draw- backs, the career of the class has been brilliant. To recount our many accomplishments is an easy task. To refrain from boasting would be difficult. That would require the mental capacity of a Senior and the modesty of a Sophomore. Organized on the 28fl1 of October, 1892, we celebrated the monthly recurrence of our birthday by painfully bruising and pitifully besmirching the Juniors in a game of foot-ball. By way of practice, we had defeated the Seniors the previous Saturday. During tl1e Fall of this, our Freshman year, we received the most fateful problem of our college course. Given a square, cnt with a straight li11e and produce four squares-demonstration to be harmonious with Euclid, and a small pamphlet called 'Social Regula- tions. ' The proble111 remains unsolved, but we have done our best, Angels could do no more. 'lGeneral G, usually tl1e dread of all Sophomores, was easily overcome in the Fall campaign of ,Q3 by our cavalry, under command of Lieut. Allen. At this time, '96's eleven, supposed to play the aggrega- tion of '97, discovered the umpire alone to be its opponent. I:See Vols. III and IV of Profane History.:I With a score 12-10 in favor of '96, our manager, resenting manifest unfairness, withdrew his team out of the gridiron into the fire, so to speak, the game being given to our opponents. Believing that tl1e Junior head had assumed proportions which rendered the mortar-board unfitting, the Sophomore, ever ready to lend a helping hand, proceeded to perform the sad duty of cre1natio11. On Hallow-een, a mortar-board, large, empty and wooden, emblematic of the class, was burned in effigy before the Monnett Campus, while the Junior observed from afar. The 2ISt and 22llCl of February, 1894, are days to be marked with a 'twhite stone. On the evening of the 2ISt, '96 held her Sophomore reception. The young men of the class, numbering forty, assembled in the Monnett Hall parlors, tastefully decorated for the occasion in apple ,gwwz and whz'!1'. -College Transcript, Feb. 24tll. Of course, several of the Faculty honored us with their presence. That the occasion was thoroughly enjoyed is not to be doubted, with such hostesses it would be i111- possible otherwise. Even Professor Austin, so taciturn and conservative, acknowledged that he enjoyed it. But far more, he committed himself by using his phrase, copyrighted for all such occasions, The nicest reception I ever attended. To take a skeptical view of this assertion might result in a severe case of sore eyes. On the following day, the muscular part of the class asserted its supremacy. Surely 24

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we did not subserve a useless purpose when, alone and single-handed, we vanquished the Juniors and Freshmen in a 'fcane-rush. The remainder of the year, after this signal victory, '96 devoted herself to the common round of college duties. During the foot-ball season of 1894, the team of '96 again distinguished itself. Having defeated the Seniors and Sophomores, '96 lost in turn to the Preps., Freshmen and Sophomores combined. Sub- sequent challenges to the Freshmen Class evoked no reply, '98 being content with hw' victory. Such has been our athletic record, defeated once in foot-ball, never in base-ball. By earnestness in studies and by faithfulness in the class room, '96 has attained a proficiency unrivalled. In scholarships, she has obtained an honor held by no other class in college. '96 advocated the publication of a BIJOU. The result fujudge not lest ye be judged iI is before you, a lasting memorial to the brains and push of '96. When the Tralzscrzff election, that disturber of college society, approached, '96 was equal to the emergency. Not following mischief-working precedents, not willing that her members should, be separated into striving factions, '96 advanced the prime idea of the year. Our record is clean, and when the 5f3io.oo diplomas with the two-cent ribbo11 are handed out, and when the members of '96 have become alumni, when the old class rests in her grave, there .will be inscribed on her mausoleuin, SHE HATII DONE WHAT SHE coULD. To-day, the life and spirit of the class is abreast with the times. All our social duties are rigidly observed. Though I have all knowledge and have not love, I am as nothing, is an axiom exemplified in the present Junior Class. The class of '96 is a talisman for itself, a magnet for others. Feminine additions have been made to the class by desertions from '95 and '97, but none of the original class have deserted CFaculty calls exceptedj. The reason is obvious 5 we are the Leap-year class. As this, the last term of our Junior year, Hits quickly into the past, as SOIIIC of our number cast about for a mantle of Senior dignity-soon to beg as we breathe a sigh of regret for the Elysian year of college life-all but gone, we, glad in the past, hopeful of the future, will do as others have done, and will triumphantly exclaim, The king is dead! long live the king! Re! Ri! Ra! We're O. K.! '96, '96. Re! Ri! Ra! 26