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

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Not only open, but a screen in one and an iron bar in the other, that they cannot be closed without arousing the occupant. In spite of hammering which arouses all, and a head hung through the transom calling that she knows us all, suffice it to say that, in spite of all this, those doors are shut and tied. Not until the last girl, with a pillowrlip of bananas across her shoulder, is making her way toward chapel, does the door-knob drop from one teacher's door and the eecu- pant walk forth with a lamp. The girl with the bananas gives the alarm, rolls down the steps, and is dragged into chapel in time to barricade the door before it is forever too late. Then the fun begins. Neither before nor since has such a feast ever been known behind these walls. The merry songs drown all sounds of attempts at getting in either doors or windows, for by now teacher number one has cut all ropes fastening the rest, and there are several on our track. Looking through the keyhole we see two figures in kimonas sitting on the steps apparently en- joying the music within. Presently there comes a loud knock upon thedoor, and you recognize in the voice accompanying it that of your revered president. Instantaneously from each girl's throat goes out the song, Aint 'aft fl shame, 11. measly shame, etc. Finding all attempts to gain admittance futile, our teachers retire to the reading room, Where 'tis reported a great consultation was held, in which our president, turning to the lone professor in their midst, is said to have exclaimed, Let's expel them all and get a new set of girls. This they finally decide not to do, since it is now the first of April. After a happy hour together we line up two and two and rush madly to our rooms. 'Tis a howling success in every way, even the surprise that each receives by being allowed to go on Broad street the following Saturday morning. Except for slight Hhazing, for, letls say, blaeking,'l as we steer clear of all pertaining to the former word i11 our college, at the beginning of your third session all is work. This is the first time you have thought of your degree. How foolish you were to drop those two classes last session, now that your idea of becoming a trained nurse has forever fled. How wise you feel this year. You must be a bit older. Youhavehadmueh experience, and do not feel your importance as you once did. You even take a room in the annex, and your friends fear you may become a bookworm. How fortunate you are to get this room, where there are no transoms through which to see your midnight light. You are not so absorbed in your work, though, that you cannot enjoy more brilliant experiences in the main building. One morning at breakfast every one is asking:

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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?

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Did you hear the crowing last night?l' Crowing! What crowing'? you ask. W hy about six seniors are suspended for crowingf' After nuich questioning you learn that a portion of that dignified set, growing tired of constantly setting a good example, eondescend to break the monotony by fowl-play. According to an agreement each puts forth her head from her own door about twelve o'cloek and crows. So well do they answer one another in imitation of' the real fowl that several of our leadingAlady teachers go out upon a chicken hunt, which from our first greeting at breakfast seems to have proved successful. Your fourth session brings the word Senior to you in all its varied meaning and stern reality. Grave, gay, teiling, happy senior! But how little you feel in comparison with your feelings of previous sessions. Each year you become smaller and smaller in your own sight, and you wonder what you may be ere eonnnencement, toward which you anxiously look. All is work before Christmas, but afterward there are many receptions given to and by you. First and foremost, about the last of .laiuiary there is the undergraduates' reception to your class. What an event in college life! And may each one of you be here next session to occupy our places, and be honored in like manner by your undergraduate friends. Though crowded with work, you find something aside from the regular routine in basketball and tennis. In these you unhurden your mind of its cares, and, here, too, you find some goal toward which you put forth your every effort-especially in basketball. Heretofore two teams have been chosen to play each other. Now there is to be a picked team, or first team. This means work, and how eagerly and enthusiastically you enter this contest, for some onehas said you cannotrnake the team-you are Zoo short. But this proves only an incentive to greater striving. For has it come to this-that you in your Senior year must realize that you are forever too small-you who felt so big that first year? Live and learnf, You have been getting smaller year by year, but now it is thrust upon you, and you accept the fact as a stern reality. L.