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

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Class History ROM the well known proverbs, A country without ruins is a country without historyl' and Happy is the country that has no history, the inference is that a country is a very uninteresting one having no history. But our class is one of the greatest interest, and hence it has a history. College opened in September, a date much too early for any of us, but we could no more have stopped it than we could have stopped the French Revolu- tion. It simply had to come. And so we matriculated for our Senior year, taking the easiest course possible for the highest degree possible and even then but few of us were satisfied. A great event in our Senior year was the first meeting of our Senior class, the beginning of all things. At this October meeting was organized the great class of 1913, a class of forty-three girls proving that we not only had quality but we have quantity as well. This was the meeting of a class rather than a class meeting, and the lesson was How to be a Senior. Some of us were apt scholars, but others never quite learned the lesson. Our next important meeting was somewhat of a political fight. This cam- paign had begun some weeks previous, the occasion being the election of officers. Well, you can imagine the turmoil and strife. Every single girl wanted to make herself president and so ran for that office, but being told that the class was allowed only one president, they all ran after one poor girl, who, not being as well equipped for an atalantan race as the rest of us, was captured, seized and rudely thrust into the presidential chair, which may be well termed an instru- ment of torture of Ye Olden Daysf, By this time these forty-three suffagettes had learned something about their new-found art and privilege, voting, and the election stood as follows: Lautina Willianis, president, Rose Bloxom, vice- presidentg Margaret James, secretary, and Jessie Jarvis, treasurer. These skirmishes being over and our officers in their respective chairs, we considered ourselves a Senior class, and some class at that. The realization of the fact that we were really going to graduate came to us now for the first time g we went to work to reach our goal. Not a goal to be made by sending the ball rolling tantalizingly around the edge of the basket three or four turns before it finally falls in with a sigh of relief from the thrower who stands holding her breath for as full minute. No, what we want to do is to send it through the mouth of the basket with a clean, straight throw from center, never touching the iron rim of hesitation, but slips through, tangling itself in the net work of success and honors. Our mid-year exams were fast approaching, and who loves an exam especially a Senior examg but they stubbornly came on and on until they held us in their power before we knew it. But they didn't frighten us any because XNIQ knew what to expect and were prepared for the attack. The result was that 16

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they were forced to surrender and sign a treaty of peace to last until June, when the attack would be renewed with more force. llge gvere encouraged and urged on by this great victory and went bravely on w1t1 ying co ors. Since colors are mentioned, it reminds me to mention here a very important item of our class, the colors, emblem, motto and ilower. Our colors, red and black, none others than those of the lower regions, have consequently added much spirit to the class. Our class flower is the Liberty rose. No better choice could have been made because liberty is what we most need now after these years of torture and ifmprisonmenit, ariclg we are truly grateful for the suggestions of Patrick Henry, rom whose ips i erty rose. Cur emblem, a gold ring or pin, as desired by the graduate, was somewhat of the shape of a shield, the upper part bearing the date 1913 on a background of dull gold, and from this inscription down to the point of the shield were the letters VV. C. R. in pierced gold. Wfe had a hard time persuading the jeweler' to pierce themg he evidently thought that being solid they would better represent our class. But, all in all, it is an up-to-date design of the new cubist art being made up entirely of straight curves. Wie are still wondering why so 1nany of the girls had their rings made so large g probably to wear on their thumbs, which seems to be the latest thing. Last, but not least, our motto, VVith oars and sails. First we chose it and then we went to work to fulfill it so that when we reach the end of our Senior life we may well say, each and every one of us, that we are starting out on the sea of life well equipped. - On the fourteenth of March the class of IQT3 was the guest at a delightful reception given us by the alumnre association of our college and we were proud to think 'that we would soon be added to the number who would act as hostess to the class of 1914. May they fare as well. Our third and last important class meeting confronted us,-and this time it was for the election of Class Day officers. VV'hat were we to do? There were only ten offices to be filled and forty-three girls to fill them, all equally deserving and capable of doing so. The list had to be cut down and somebody left out, and this was done, remarkable to say, without the shedding of a single drop of blood. The honored few are: Elizabeth Staplekamp, salutatorian g Mae johnson, orator g Helen Starke, historian, Lena W' inn, poet g Margaret Hathaway, prophet 5 Evelyn xlustis, lawyer, Margaret james, valedictoriang Bessie Straus, 'tree orator, Ivy Osborne, bonfire orator, Margaret Mathews, class sponsor. Today you may decide whether or not they were wisely chosen. r . The final exams then came suddenly upon us. Ch, horrible, cruel times of war! There is one more victory to win and this a decisive one. The cry of war is heard 3 the battle is on and we all are trying to show our bravery by pushing to the front. After awhile the battle is fought and won, the enemy lie surrounded and hidden by a great mass of examination papers and covered with huge splotches of ink. The pen is mightier than ,the sword .and we have proved it, the enemy is ours and our colors are waving proudly above the stronghold we have taken. The red of danger to warn other enemies who may suffer the same defeat, and the black our badge of sympathy and respect for those whom we have slain. I7