Randolph Macon College - Yellow Jacket Yearbook (Ashland, VA)

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hostility of the graduating class did not proinise to be permanent, nor was it be- lieved that the partial organization would be lasting. . The matter reniained as it was for soine tiine, but Hnally we became a fully-organized class, free from einbarrassrnents. P X lVhen, at the beginning of the second year, we stepped from the train at Ashland, we expected to be received by a eonnnittee from the Faculty and by the Trustees eu masse. WVe felt that we owned the best part of Ashland, and were entitled to considerable consideration. To be brief, our reception was a dis- appointment, This second year at college was uneventful so far as our class was concerned. The reason of this was that We had aniong us so niany nien re- markable for their laziness. lVe passed the year in peaceful day-dreains, dreaming of what the next year would bring. The third and last year has now also beconie history. Throughout its long and weary length, sobriety niarked our conduct. The sharp cataracts and falls of fortune, which inalze history so interesting, did not disturb the even tenor of this our last year: The current of our existence had grown broader and deeper. And now, as its Waters are about to iningle with the breadth and depth of the ocean of real life, these dear old trees, constant companions upon either bank, whisper a long farewell and an affectionate Godspeed. HIs'ro1:r.iN. QQ? 31

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History of the Class of 1902. V.EliYBODY commented upon the greenness of the Class of 1902. The professors shook their heads and spoke to us shyly. The Hcalicow called in their old stand-bys and discussed the new men. Groups of old students were gathered here and there to see whether we would do anythiing really outrageous. The cut of our clothes and 'the size of our feet were freely taken as evidence. No doubt we were as green as the Campus upon which we walked. But we were men, nevertheless, and were determined to have an educa- tion. Butler' s requisites were unknown to us then, and so our first attempt to be students must not be udged too harshly. 1 V 'We had heard the Seniors talk of calithumps, and, though we hardly under- stood what was meant, we decided to make the best of our knowledge. Late one cool fall night we gathered within the shadows of the trees rather frightened at our own boldness. Each fellow had some kind of a noisy instrument, such as an oil can full of stones, a wheelbarrow full of tin, or a. head full of double images. lYe were just about to start out, feeling that we were the real thing, because we were going on a calithump, when simultaneously every face turned. pale and every tin pan ceased its racket. For what did we see and hear? Urowds of Seniors were bearing down upon us, and we heard cries which shook the sturdy oaks of four score winters and made the very earth beneath our feet tremble---cries of Lf To bed with the Hsh V' Like Saint Patrick, we pulled our royal robes of conceit about us and lit out. Some escaped by taking refuge under alien covers, but the vast majority were caught and calmly marched of to their respective rooms and neatly Q tucked in bed by the shameless Seniors. Then they disappeared, leaving the Class of 1902 to all appearances vanquished, for the college world had not then learned to look for that firm purpose and ex- alted courage which has since characterized us. The organization of the class followed. The sequence of our disappointed ealithump and the organization had in it no element of cause and effect. The Senior men had treated us badly, but we felt that war was unnecessary. Had our organization been a preparation for war we would have organized as a unit, and elected oflicers who would not flee the enemy, whether French, German, or English, that stood in their way to any degree. However, we thought that the 30

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J Z-'X y 'N S- ' .'3-21: 52 3 CLASS OB' 1902