Peru State College - Peruvian Yearbook (Peru, NE)

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From the Ixunni. We find, with very few exceptions, that the earlier members of the school have not distinguished them- selves as money-makers, but as far as we can find out none of them have been failures. In the first twelve classes of graduates there were eighty-four members. We are known in the His- torical Sketch of the Alumni as the “Ancients.” Nearly all have followed teaching for a time after graduating, but only fourteen have chosen it as a life profession; three are physicians, eight are lawyers. We also find newspaper men, insurance agents, horti- culturists and home-makers among the remainder. But I think that all will agree that their work, in whatever sphere, has been accomplished better because of the training received at the N. S. N. 8. We have a personal recollection of all the graduates up to this time; some as our teachers, others as playmates, and more as classmates and friends. 189 2 The class of 18B2 left the Normal under the motto: “The flood of time is setting on, We stand upon the brink.” Ten years have passed and the brink is clear—not a solitary member there. They have been jamming up against real life. New associations and interests have claimed its members until now none can tell of all the rest. We were graduated under the late Dr. Farnham, and the genial Mr. Kennedy told us, in presenting our diplomas, as he did every other, that we were the strongest class yet graduated. It was our pleasure to listen to the Rev. Robert McIntyre at his first appearance here as commence- ment orator. The only remarkable thing about the class was its size in point of numbers. Consisting of only nine, it has ever been a living proof of the saying that “good goods are always in a small package.”

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 T . . . of this great institution, no book of remembrance In the first ye t e uge when vows of perpetual friendship was written. 11 ‘ ‘ . j characters as constituted those first bound the lives and purposes of sucli citataci few classes? strongly emphasized, that any structure to It is a fact that can ne e q0 w],en we know something of the he durable must have a goo oum « gtudents the hardships they endured discipline that was , o{ bettcr things, buying and making apparatus willingly, even joyously, ] s s0 grateful for the small appropriations for Laboratory use themselves and ala ays.so 8 Um. unusual character, that the state was able to make, we are ndsmj» culture and refinement of the classes o P Senior8 how little they knew about The first Principal never failed to tel. thig school with an exaUe 1 the great sea of knowledge that lay before them- “ ? Scotch teacher. Another point was kept very opinion of themselves, it was not the fault of ' P much “hook learning;” that there was clear all the time-namely, that education “emselves for, while still in school. a practical side of life, that young people had better prepare

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From tips Jttiimui 18 9 9 H ic-li aee-tra—boo m K i lli-k i-hi c—r ah-zoom W illy—wa I ly-rol ly-ri x We’re the class of ninety six N-o t-r-i-c-k-s I Thus, thirty-nine Seniors were wont to call attention to themselves in season ami out of season; one of the latter being when it was first given to the world, and, ringing out from the chapel, greeted the ears of our principal as he was sedately mounting the stairs, expecting to find orderly rows of intellectual Seniors instead of pandemonium. lie held decided views as to the eternal fitness of things anil the sequel is not for publication. A vivid memory of the wrangle of stormy class meetings conies to me as I write. I catch the tones of fierce argument, the (lash of angry eyes, see a fiery-haired young man fling himself out of the door, and, yes, even tears. But finally I see peace restored under the placid tones and politic manner of the “class peacemaker.” 1' rom all that can be learned from the class since the old school days, each is living up to the oft em- phasized advice, “Undertake right things from right motives, and do what you undertake. Man have powerfully exemplified to the world the “ Life Abundant.” 1897 The class of 1897 was the largest graduated up to that time. Its members were of very decided opinions as may be seen from the division in the class over colors, speakers, etc. Long and hard were the fights between “standard” and “pretty” colors. But the standard prevailed; the class colors were black and orange.