Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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14 The MASSASOIT ♦ largest and most successful branches of the Young Men ' s Christian Asso- ciation in New York and other cities, two of the largest universities, and many boys’ clubs, social settlements and similar institutions are visited. An opportunity is thus afforded to meet the leaders in the field of Asso- ciation effort, also those in the field of physical education in our schools and colleges. The trip this year has of course been the most successful in the his- tory of the school. Leaving Springfield on the morning of Thursday, March 1 ( , an enthusiastic, gay party of eighteen youths under the paternal care of Dr. Doggett, the contrast was very evident, as parties of one, two or three weary, haggard students slowly wended their way back to the dormitory. The first point visited was the beautiful and modern plant of the New Haven Association. Here, after a few hours of “condensed education” and dinner, we visited Dwight 1 1 all and the gymnasium at Yale University. Making a short stop at Bridgeport, we finally reached New York Union Depot at nine o’clock, and after a few hours spent in friendly argument with railroad and hotel officials, were finally lodged in our temporary resting place. From the Ashland House as headquarters we made many sallies upon the unsuspecting - Associations and secretaries, and in every case were treated with that kindness and courtesy which is synonymous with the name of Association leadership. A brief outline of our tour is all that space will allow us to present. Thursdav, our time was occupied with three hours of traveling and the visits to New Haven and Bridgeport Associations and to Yale University; Friday, the West Side Branch, Eighty-sixth Street Branch and Avenue ■‘.V’ Boys Club; Saturday, Brooklyn Central, where we were the guests of the Brooklyn secretaries for luncheon, the Navy Association, and the St. George’s Church, followed by a visit to the institutional department of the church, and in the afternoon attended the West Side men’s meeting Young Men’s Institute, and Bowery Branch: Sunday, morning service at and the famous address on “The Landless Man to the Manless Land; Mondaw the Twenty-third Street Branch, Foreign and College offices, International Committee, and the “grand finale” being the annual banquet given to the Senior Class by the Metropolitan Alumni Association; Tues-

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The MASSASOIT 13 fourth, are alumni of the school. The physical course has furnished 2 physical directors for foreign work, 29 physical directors for schools and colleges in this country and 5 physical directors for other organizations. That Thesis Perhaps the one great and predominating task of the busy Senior is the preparation of “that thesis.” This task, we believe, is responsible for more anxiety and worry, more “midnight oil” and early vigils, more downright, persistent, patient plodding than any other event in connection with the course. The dreaded regulations of the trustee board inform the weary student that “A Senior will be recommended by the faculty to the trustees for graduation only after passing satisfactorily in every branch of the course and after presenting a thesis. Two neatly typewritten copies of each thesis (an original and first carbon copy on good linen paper 8)4x11 inches), after acceptance by the faculty, shall be bound in “regulation binding” and filed with the librarian. It is desirable that each volume when bound shall not be less than half an inch in thickness, so as to be readily marked on the back. It is understood that these theses when produced are the property of the Training School, which shall have the “right of publication.” It is in accordance with the mandates of this declaration that the worthy Seniors are brought forward and instructed to “choose ye, this day, what ve shall write, and after the first few weeks of the opening term the majority have their subjects chosen and are (sup- posedly) spending many thoughtful hours in their preparation. The subjects chosen cover a very wide range, and vary according to the individual tastes and interests of the writers. Some have attained to a very high degree of merit, winning the much coveted “worthy of highest praise.” Some are now quoted as the only authorities on the ground the} cover, and have been published both in pamphlet form and by leading scientific journals. The Senior Trip One of the most interesting and profitable features of the Senior year is the annual tour to New York and “way stations,” the object of which is expressed by the phrase, “education by observation.” On this tour the

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The MASSASOIT is day, State and City offices, Railroad Branch, New Rochelle Association, and West Side Neighborhood House; Wednesday, visit to Morris High School with Dr. Gulick, thence to East Hall and Columbia Gymnasium with Dr. Meylan. The final event was a much needed plunge in the swim- ming tank of the university gymnasium. Many amusing incidents occurred to give spice and variety to the occasion. Only passing reference must be made to the Grand Central baggage episode, where sixteen stalwart youths stood ready to revenge our beloved president against the injustice of the railroad baggage man; to the persistence of some of our number to voyage to “Dreamland in the midst of important conferences; and to the incessant and delightful tones of the leader ' s whistle, to bring the delinquent into line. One lasting impression was the fact that men, not machinery or equip- ment, are the real vital factors in the successful Association ; and because of this our responsibility as leaders in a modern movement is tremendous.