Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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THE CLASS HISTORY

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CLASS HISTORY George D. Kinder It is not possible to give a complete history of the Class of 1936. It is not even possible to give one that is adequate. Anyone essaying such a task must be restrained by two factors. In the first place, it would require too much time to make the necessary investigation and research. In the second place, some things are better left unsaid, and the rational historian must perforce set down only the most acceptable deeds and occurrences. Thus, considerations of time and ethics demand that this chronicle vacillate in character between a panegyric and an abbreviated factual summary of the things done by the class. FRESHMAN YEAR 1932-1933 In the summer of ' 32 some six hundred and eighty-six ambitious and hopeful young gentlemen were notified by a man, who at the time seemed to be the most omnipotent figure in the world, that they had success- fully passed the College Board Examinations and could now consider themselves members of the Freshman Class of Princeton University. On or about September 26 the soporific village of Princeton was awak- ened from its summer coma and seasonal business depression by an influx of creatures that might be variously described. To themselves they were a blessing, even to such a co-llege as Princeton. To the local purveyors of goods and services they were a blessing too, but only in such a degree as they were provided with the coin of the realm. To the upperclassmen these strangers were objects of scorn, pity, amusement or, rarely, sympathy. The administration and the faculty hoped that these neophytes were bright. The Hun School, College Department, hoped they were dull. Dean Wicks would have them be good ; the proprietors of local speakeasies deplored the pros- pect of such an eventuality. In any event, and at least as far as geography was concerned, the Class of ' 36 had arrived. September 27 and 28 were days on which we Freshmen were subjected to speeches designed to fire us with ambition, respect for the Honor System, traditions, and enthusiasm for anything else that happened to occur to the numerous celebrities and officials who got a chance to talk. We were besieged by salesmen at approximately every other .step, and only the most worldly or impecunious succeeded in putting up any sort of resistance. Little did we know that it would not be long before we too would be privileged to participate in this annual shambles of beleaguering the helpless Freshmen. After the formalities attendant on the first few days of college, a gradual, if labored, orientation took place. Some of the more enterprising learned C xiii ]