Otterbein University - Sibyl Yearbook (Westerville, OH)

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Class History of 1907 Q29 lt was four years ago, at the bewitching hour of midnight. The lean old moon lmng in the east and cast a ghastly radiance on the world. Owls and bats were abroad, and llanshees, headless horses and barking dogs gave death warnings. Some little, dark forms stole silently into the dismal-looking' old laboratory and formed a circle around a brazier. Apart from them, in a dark corner of the room. sat a brooding Spirit. Her long, jet-black hair hung in disheveled strings over her face, while her small, bent form was enveloped in a cloak as black as night. Her voice could be heard occasionally as she mumbled some queer can- tations, reminding one of the moaning wind on one of those dark and stormy nights when witches and ghosts chase each other through the air. -lust in front of the Spirit stood an old dilapidated table upon which burned a live tire. Test tubes, porcelain crucibles and mortars were much in evidence and attracted the attention of the small dark forms who gathered in a circle and danced about the table of the Spirit. .-Xt all appearances pleased with the actions of the wee forms, the Spirit slowly arose from her invisible seat, waved her long bony hands mysteriously in the air several times. and with a weak, moaning voice declared that a great plan had matured in her cloudy mind and. B uttering words of doubtful portent, she sprinkled a magic powder upon the little black forms and upon the coals. .X bright violet flame arose, a sharp explo- sion followed, and when the smoke died away, lo the dark forms no longer l'reps and not yet Freshmen had vanished. In their stead, no less than forty brilliant violet particles went flying through the air each in a different direction. These the Spirit quickly caught by means of a large net made of cob webs. cast them into a mortar, ground them up to a line powder, and then treated the result with a sweet tempered potion. The grand result of the experiment was an organized Freshman class Filled with the tire of genius. One by one these lively creatures jumped out of the mortar and danced round the Spirit singing: Of Naught-Seven we are the class, To-night from Prepdom's ranks we pass. If we are now such as you see. VVhat will our class, when Seniors be ? NVith the residue, left in a confused state by the spirited Freshmen forms, the old Spirit experimented again and again. For the most part, she rejected the results as unsuited to her masterpieces, the little transformed beings. A few 19

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Senior Class Lewis Edwin Myers Georgia Park Ora Leta Bale Oscar Henry Charles Elmer Lloyd Porter Frank Asher Risley William Garfield Snavely Edward Waldo Emerson Schear Nellis Rebok Funk

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of the compounds. however, she pla:ed into a jar labelled 'milf' and the remain- ing particles were thrown into a mortar in which lay a chaotic mass from which the class of WPS was later evolved. l.ife-giving' potions were added, at intervals. to the live coals by the Spirit. who watched her subjects as they assumed new forms at each glowing of the tire. Renewed life and rapid growth characterized the dancing creatures until tinally. by the aid of the Spirit. they reached that state of perfeetion-Seniority. .Xnd now our caps and gowns reminds us, lfour years have passed away. Since rirst we saw the campus .Xs Freshmen, wise and gay. The import of these last lines made the Spirit look sad. She covered her face with her immense black hood, and after a few wild gestures, poured forth startling prophecies upon the trembling Senior dignitaries. You are justified in being proud of your rank in all that has been worth undertaking, she began. As I look into the past, I see you victors in your class-room, conquerors in athletics. nor do you occupy a humble place in the hearts of your professors. Your reputation, oh ye trembling ones. is as enviable to-night as it was that night I hovered near in Dr. Scott's recitation room! And so with this potion, throwing upon them a bright liquid, I endow you with the characteristics of honesty, generosity and compassion. In every department of college life, may you shine forth as radiant stars and may your college teams realize that they never could have existed, had it not been for the noble lives of WIT. Should I detain you to relate the innumerable achieve- ments to which you shall attain, you would not reach your class-room in time to graduate. You will soon say 'Farewell' to Utterbein. and will then embark upon the sea of Life. but I promise you glorious prospects for the future. XYith these words. the Spirit vanished, and when the Seniors had recovered from their bewilderment, they departed for their homes. I ll .1 I , ' ar . - , 4,9 f. N , L ' If I, U? '- :gr 1 f i ll l lifi Qi Wi itll? I ii ll ll - . is . iilili ll' iii -A x . fcgpfff ew - ' i 2 J