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

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it will be our aim to be strictly veridical, both for the sake of the truth-loving public and as a worthy example to all future historians. From these remarks, you have doubtless learned that we are not here to boast, you know too well the story of our glory. A plain recital of the facts themselves is sufficient to prove, even to the lllOSt skeptical reader, that for industry, scholarship, loyalty, social grace, physical prowess, and brilliancy of intellect, the class of '97 has had few equals, and certainly no superior. But we hesitate to give to history the deeds of the class of '97, from fear that they will undeservedly meet with the truly merited fate of all other class histories. We fear that the unblushing effrontery with which class historians have deceived the credulous public will have such a reactionary effect that they will be unprepared to accept, as unerring truth, the recital of the truly extraordinary achievments of the class of ,97. And we wonder if it would not be better to permit the world to remain in utter ignorance of our deeds, than to expose our history to the suspicions of a much-deceived public. But if we refrain from telling some of the events which have characterized this class, the ghost of truth herself will arise from the tomb, wherein she l1as been buried by other class historians, and will haunt us perpetually, for not making at least one effort to resurrect her. Therefore we will do our best to put this history in the meekest and most unpretentious manner which will be compatible with the magnitude of the facts themselves. That momentous action, known as the organization of this class, took place in the Fall of I893. After this organization, the class appeared with an original constitution and by-laws, a yell, class colors, some class officers, and H great expectations. The infant began to yearn for something by which she could distinguish herself. She did 11ot know exactly for what kind of glory she was best fitted. But she had that springing buoyancy of youth which made her confident that in any and all fields of action the class of '97 would forge to the front. And her confidence was not misplacedg for it was but a short time before it was a universally recognized fact that a new and important factor had entered the college arena with the class of '97. But here, perhaps, a word of warning becomes necessary, for if anyone has, 'by 34

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xl f ,M 1 - po- '. A-' 1.3 V '-Hr.: . ' '. mf Q I T-.: ' ' .A..'. '-mg. JL..:Lt'.. ':- nz.. I , luuil :-.lii 'L Cosuan. Elnsnmzv. Wmrmav. Cnmvxfman. KE0l'PI,lC. Mmvrz. CHERINGTON. Jmms, MGR. PAINE. Wnrrxc. Knmla. BIURLIN. lhuzsows, CAPT. Cnfuuc.

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this time, formed the impression that we are going to prove the superiority of this class by filling our history with accounts of ball games, prize-lights, banquets, etc., he is greatly deceived, and it will 11ow be our duty to undeceive him. The class of ,97 can play base-ball, she mu play foot-ball, she nm show her strength in tugs-of-war, she can show to the world the most beautiful banner, she can banquet herself in a manner, for grace and beauty, unexcelled. We could boast of these things, but we will not, for we desire it to be distinctly understood that, while the class duly appreciates all womanly graces and manly strength, we do not settle all our hopes of distinction upon them. And we deeply sympathize with those classes whose historians, in default of better material, are compelled to offer as a class history nothing but word pictures of ball-games and class-rushes. No, indeed! The class of 'QQ' has higher ideals, she has loftier aspirations, and farther-reaching designs. For this class is ambitious, she is extremely, energetically ambitious. But while we thus avow our utter disregard of the advice Fling away ambition,'l we must further say in self-extenuation, that by adopting the poetls later and better admonition, Love thyself las.t,'l we have a happy combination which makes impossible all class scheming, and gives rise to a spirit of class loyalty which does not make it diHicult to get members to take oiiice, so that 'some literally have greatness thrust upon them,' but leads a member to accept office in a self-sacrificing manner, not thinking of personal aggrandizement, but of the certai11 good which will accrue to the class and humanity from his occupancy of oflice. Thus you 'see the ammus which animates the Class of Ninety-seven-a spirit of loyalty, a spirit of progress, an ambitious spirit, which leads her to anticipate, and to await with hope tl1e great reforms, great discoveries, and great advances in intelligence and civil- ization which will surely follow the advent of the class of ,97 into the busy world. 35