Rutgers University - Scarlet Letter Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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halls of learning left the affair without a sting, and those concerned canon- ized in story and song. Analytic geometry is an enrapturing study, so Bennie says. But we never analyzed the subject, and the subject never analyzed us. For two terms we were on the rack, and the only consolation we had was ultimate revenge. This we had in due measure. The trembling form of the culprit was reduced to ashes and evanescence at a grand festival proclaimed in honor of the victory. No more of velocipedal parallaxes. No more of parallel bars and trapezes, of rings and ladders, except in the gymnasium. There was a slight disagreement internally in Ninety-One's class organi- zation, in the Sophomore year, which may be mildly designated as the late unpleasantnessf' VVhatever animosities may have excited the 'class at that time, certain it is now that unity is the watchword, and that through the knowledge of the weakness in factions, the bonds of good will, fraternity and fellowship, have been firmly welded together. Of such matters it is better to say, H Let the dead past bury its dead. lt was in this year that Cupid alighted in the midst of us, stretched his bow and shot his arrow deep into the heart of one of our most unsuspecting .and unsuspected youths. His heart has been impaled from that moment. Two conquests have since been made by the roseate-hued god, making three whose hearts are transiixed by the same shaft. To them it can be said by their brethren of the class, our fears, our hopes are with you all. Continued advancement in athletics, a decrease in earthly wisdom, and an increase of humble knowledge, mark our progress in this year's course. The advent of a tile, spick and span new, with one of Ninety-One's men under it, in the latter days of the third term, dazzled the college and is responsible for that hypnotic power which our class ever afterward exercised over all the other classes. Thus endeth the chronicle of the Sophomore year. No longer under classmen, but, with the prestige of seniority, as it were, although juniors only, we looked forward to the same uniform line of conquests in the second half of our college career as had distinguished our Freshman and Sophomore years. The study of Mental Philosophy was not necessary for us to know that we had intellectual power. VVhen asked as to our preference between the two doctrines of metaphysicians, a majority said that it was not material. Pleasant remembrances come to us. The delightful lectures on German opera, the time-killing stories of the professor, the questions interjected at very frequent stages. The examination was the cause of the downfall of 26

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that our class was not humbled. Owing to the doubtful, but successful methods of the Ninety men in the game, we were flushed with defeat even -a defeat akin to victory. It is a pleasure to learn how to use the comma, as per Kellogg, but the peculiarity of Ninety-Une men has been in invariably using the interrogation point in the class-room. XVe learned to recognize figures of speech. VVe found that Ninety's claim to all earthly wisdom was an exaggerated hyperbole. Bennie, of enduring fame, endeavored to reconcile us in our Fresh- man year to the beauties of mathematical figures, but he never succeeded. VVe followed the advice of Shakespeare in Bennie's work- the mathe- matics and the metaphysics: Fall to them as you Find your stomach serves you. Our stomachs never served us for this heterogeneous mixture. VVe preferred jzfnizz and not plane food. English literature claimed our attention so far that we wondered what relation the covers of a book bore to the pages when the book was open. The instructor in this department was a true gentleman, and deserved all the respect which should come with reciprocal treatment. This closes the chronicle of the Freshman year. The Sophomore year gave wider fields to the talents of our classmen. One thought to bridge Lethe, and took up the mechanical engineering courseg another thought to mix oil and water, and took up the chemical course: while still another hoped to vivify the dead by electrical action, and chose the electrical course. The classical section continued to wrestle with Latin and Greek. Latin in De .Vafzznz Dearzmz gave them an intimate knowledge of the character of the deities which they often invoked while still studying them. Greek gave the devotee an admirable opportunity of displaying Wonderful second- sight in reading, never possessed by the seventh son of a seventh son. Chemistry was prescribed for the Whole class this year in liberal closes. The subject had its likes and dislikes, its perfumes and odors. Chemistry left us with a better knowledge of water, and one of the classicals, after hearing of its composition, solemnly eschewed its use for all time. A few cases of misunderstanding arose xiwith the Faculty concerning the carrying of a piece of fZg'lZZl77'Z 11z'z'af. The presanctihed custom that any- thing which may be used as a weapon by an irresponsible person in a moment of frenzy or anger, shall be Withholden from him, led a number of our most zealous men to deprive a Freshman of a cane which he was carry- ing as a concealed Weapon. For some reason, two of our men were placed under the ban and compelled to go into exile. A triumphal re-entry to the 25

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the brightest students. The silent minority with the questions chuckled with intense satisfaction. The great majority hurled anathemas long and loud at Noah Porter, who, fortunately, could not hear them. Roman law was one of those you know and you don't know sub- jects, which kept the whole junior classical section on the anxious seat until the marks were sent in, and thus the anxiety of many was increased. Although the fill Pl'I'50l1tZTIIl!Z was taken up, the classicals never learned that they had any rights. Roman law did not say that it was right to be S716 rofzzz'z'z'z'01zc in the subject. Yet many were put in that condition. 'XVe must understand that our classic boys from B to XV gave large attention to the subject. Their daily routine was about in this wise: Six hours in sleep, in laws grave study six, Four spend in prayer. the rest on Nature fix. XVhat grim pleasure it was in the year 1889 to have our foot-ball team defeat '9O. The maroon and gray changed their colors to an ugly red in honor of the liquid jersey mud which they drank in on that day. Sturdy men of Ninety-ofiie, your foot-ball players are the champions-champions of skill and strength, of honest athletics and strong endurance. For this the junior class claimed the right to blow the Kazoo. In honor of YQOYS past prestige, zfzzff, vale, wzle!-to VQIYS superiority, hail, hail, hail! Of all the enjoyable studies of the college curriculum, Astronomy was the class favorite. The only member of the class who knew anything about the subject was Chauncey Depew's protege, and he asked too many ques- tions to suit U Bennie. The visitation to the observatory, the meteorites of Roman candles, the lasso hunter and the grand serenade, render a certain February night one never to be forgotten. A Hrm resolution exists in Bennie's breast never again to open the observatory until he can dis- tinguish rockets from shooting stars, and red fire from the aurora borealis. The recording of the shock of the Hell Gate explosion a full half hour before it occurred, confirms the belief that Bennie always knew when a disturbance was brewing. The social side of Ninety-One was displayed in the Junior Promenade given by the class. The first class to hold a midwinter hop, we have made it a fixture in college life, both as to time and occurrence. The Promenade proved that our junior class had long before made its social e1zz'1'ee, and the numerous friends present attested the popularity of social Ninety-One. In the winter term of the junior year a pall fell upon our body. Death-the disturbing force of human plans--claimed Richard Jones Geisinger. The 27