Richmond Womans College - Puffs and Patches Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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The first pang of homesickness fiashes across you the next day upon the street when the professor from your county finds you gazing after a mule and dump-cart. A sigh escapes you, and you greet him with the. question, lloesn't that remind you of home? Your social life is by no means neglected during your first session. An old girl explains that you can receive twice a month on reception night, and you begin to wonder whom you will receive. True, there is a rather young fellow who came to Richmond College from your home. You have a vague remembrance of how, when teased, he used to run from you. While these thoughts are passing in your mind an important event of your college life oc- curs. Tickets are sent fron1 Richmond College for the Thomas Lectures at that institution. You, with eight or nine other girls, go with one of the professors. During the lecture you would go to sleep but for the whispered connnents you hear from the window near you. You listen and learn that you are a new girl and mighty small -in fact, nothing but a kid, and that Woman,s College has a kindergarten 1lepartment. Finally, after a few more of such remarks, you decide that they must mean this for the little girl in front of you. At last the lecture is ended and some teachers take their crowds out by way of the windows, but all are followed to the car by a yelling mob of boys. Your professor puts you on one end of the ear, while at the opposite end your president calls you off, saying it is the wrong car. Thinking your chaperon is with you, your president steps on the next car, and all move toward home, leaving you and your five companions between the two car tracks and surrounded by the howling mass of boys. Your presence of mind comes to your aid. Though in doubt as to your basliful friend's help, you realize that there is nothing like a trial. So you quiet the girls' shrieks, and at the top of your voice call most piteously, f'Tomniy, Tommy, and to your surprise and delight Tonnny hears, gathers reinforcements and comes. Yes, he brings a great tall friend, a real ugly friendg and the three say they will chaperon you home. You take a Broad-street car, and feel you must make good this opportunityg so you form with Tommy, the tall friend, and the ugly friend a friendship destined to last. Never since have you wanted-a ehaperon, no not even that night when Miss Sweeney, having missed you, steps on the car at Eiglitli and Broad streets and forms in thedoor- way a big---? You get closer to your companions and leave the new tall chap- eron to explain. All, however, ends well, and when at Tenth street you are met by Dr. Nelson, your new friend becomes the hero of the story. But you do not forget Tonnny in praise of your chaperon. You guess that college boys don't tease as the people at home do. You meet Tommy's many

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Incidents From a Girl's Four Years of College Life W ICS, I tell it as it oeeurs to me. If in anything you see your own experiences - pictured, just relneniber that you may have been a participant, for it is a true story, and it all happened in our own dear Woman's College. You do not remember by what name you went that first session. You know seniors have a convenient wayof forgetting their first appearance at college. Y In fact we are all loath to look back and-- --see ozlrsels as olllers see us. O yes, the first year you know it all! No one need tell you that you are on the wrong street your first Wednesday. You know it is Broad street, and are not going to let that old girl bluff you. And when finding you strolling leisurely toward Richmond College campus it is useless that they toll you that is Capitol Square. You know it, and they do not want to tell you what you are so sure you know. Thus you find yourself left to plod your first three months alone. But your teachers claim it is best for you to find out things for yourself. Yes, new you fully realize that one rcmcinbcrs better. The first night you arrived! Can you ever forget it? 'Tis after supper hour, and the matron takes you to the dining-room for something to eat. You tell your name, stringing it to its full length, as they call you at home. By the time you have had it llllSlJI'0Il0L1IlC!'ll and asked over several times, however, you are glad to give it in its shortest form. The first night, too, you hasten toward you room, saying to your roommate in the hall you will bring the lamp for her to open her trunk. But when you find your lump with no chimney, and fastened by a long gilt 'I'0ff to the imll, you slip sneakingly back and tell her you think you can help her without bothering about the light. Still, with all this, you put on a brave face, and when several old girls, some unannounced, come into your room, you answer their many questions as to your name, parent, home, post-office, county and state, wondering that they did not learn while studying geography that there was such a place as home. But there is still more to stand when you fail to place correct interpreta- tion upon the various bells, and walk to breakfast at the rising bell. In this, though, you profit by your first morning's experience, and never again are you seen in the breakfast room ahead of time, while often you are glad to get there at all.

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friends, and one comes each reception night. Thus, your first year at college you feel very big, very popular, and you like all boys the same. The second year! How glad you are to see the old girls! You don't know so much as you did last year, still you think you can save the new girls your lesson of sad experience. You gain some fun from this futile attempt, and realize that they must learn as you did. Soon after the opening of this second session your college friend makes the football team. Here comes a season ticket, and soon you become a foot- ball enthusiast. Sad for you that this day should dawn! The many comrade- shi ps of the previous year now fade from view, while all your thoughts center upon one. The season is soon ended, and you are glad your hero escaped without a broken nose. You begin to dream day and night. Then often you get letters from home solieitous of your health, since your elassmarks get constantly lower and lower. You have right many absent marks, too, and they think perhaps you'd best come home. You write that you are taking medicine, and will soon work better. I5eside,you have a heavy course, and they should not expect much of you. If, however, they could sec you a few moments later, you doubt as to their considering the course heavy, since it consists of no more than a square mass of feathersg for at this time you are working strenuously to get a cord around a pillow which, if a senior can remember rightly, has a football upon one side. Despite your foolish idea that you are made for each other, at last there comes an end to the dream of love. He becomes so absorbed in pa1'allel work that you cannot stand it longer. You become suddenly independent, and then-the end! You pine, and he-plays baseball! From this pining you begin to fall into bad health, which results in the terrible disease measles. Whether the other twenty eases arise from like causes you are unable to say. But certain you are that your case is all his fault, and you think it would be romantic to die. You get well, however, and drop two classes, as you now expect to go in training for a nurse next year. They say it is too near the end of the session to come home. All of these troubles finally are forgotten in the great feast of April the first. ltlow nobly it is planned! The many things are ordered and taken to the girls' rooms by the bribed bell-boy when all are at supper. Two girls are appointed for each teacherls door. Tie a teacher in! ! ! Yes, 'tis all that can be done. Never have we entirely succeeded in our pranks with so many right among us, and this must be to all an April fool. Each teacher anticipates it, too, or why should two sleep with clothes on, lights burning, and doors open?