St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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.Q greshman Glass .76'story. 4-'H-'l ! l ! I'-le HE initial class of the coming century, in which it is destined that the New Woman shall play such an important part, gathered-many for the first time -within college walls, on September 15, 1897. ' In a short while they were generally conceded by upper classmen - not by themselves -to have the requisite amount of greenness which a college Freshie is supposed to possess, and for this reason, we suppose, we have furnished unlimited pleasure to that ancient and respected order, the G. O. H. Leaving for the time being the subject of the great, grand and glorious order of G. O. H. and the Freshman greenness, we will come to the natural order of events. Owing to the fact that we are looked upon by our elders as an insignificant and brainless set of mortals, and not being permitted - or, rather, not being given - any opportunity to figure in anything of any importance, the history of a Freshman class is almost a blank 3 so in Goldsmith's words : Good people all of every sort Give ear unto my song, And if you find it wondrous short It cannot keep you long. In our opinion, it is a more difficult task to write a ,wax history of any interest under such circumstances as I have mentioned than to compose the history of one of the upper classes, when they have accomplished so many things of universal interest- that is, in their estimation. And then for them to say, A ' Freshie ' has no brains, we think is carrying things a little too far. We will admit we are green. In our greenness we have found that all that is green is not grass, and all that glitters is not gold. Notwithstanding these facts, from the start we have been regarded by our professors as a rather intelligent and courageous assemblage of youths. Although we have not as yet made any display of our talents, we hope in a short time to spring forth from the obscurity in which we have been placed and show that we at least possess the moral courage, if not the intellect, of a Soph. Ah l well, some day we'll be Sophs, too. One thing of which our class is proud is the fact that it has from the beginning taken an interest in everything that tends to the advancement and betterment of our College. We were not long to see that duty not only demanded that we should properly prepare our studies and keep from getting demerits, but also that we should lend our support to the College armies- football, baseball, etc. During its short existence the Class of Nineteen One

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FRESHMAN CLASS

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has made quite a record in athletics, comparing favorably with its predecessors. We succeeded in finally placing in that much coveted position, as a member of the football team, one of our number, while not a few furnished excellent practice for the first team, under the name of scrubs. As yet we can say nothing definite regarding our out- look for baseball players. If one should judge from the practice that has been in progress the past few days, he would naturally sup- pose that we should have one or more representatives in this team also. f Not only have we manifested an interest in athletics, but also in the other branches of the College. The Young Men's Christian Association, Bible Class, the societies, etc., have on roll as members our boys, who are always ready and willing to lend a helping hand. We have started out with good determination, and we think with the proper spirit. How well we will succeed remains to be seen, but we sincerely trust that our characters-which in a great measure will be formed while here-will be such that we may be well fitted to go out in the battle of life, and make true, loyal and upright citizens, whether sixteen ounces of silver equals one ounce of gold or not. Though we may never attain any great distinctions or honors, one thing we can obtain, and that is the respect of ourselves and our fellowmen. We also contributed freely to the College zoo, fur- nishing a Fish, a Buzzard and a Monkey, and also donated the ground-a Hill-on which to build the menagerie. We do not desire to weary our readers with the recital of Freshman woes, but his troubles are so numerous that the writer -himself a Freshie - can hardly talk with- out giving vent to his feelings. In the first place, he has homesickness to contend with 3 then he has the Sophs to worry him. After being here a short while and the novelty of the thing disappeared, many of our members got a severe attack of homesickness which we are certain would have proved fatal had it not been for the timely applica- tion of soothing syrup, which was in severe cases in the form of a railroad ticket home. Especially was this so at the approach of the Christmas holidays, and the strains of Home, Sweet Home, came floating -- rather came jumping, as it was rendered by a Soph -through the corridors. Although it would be wickedness to call it singing, it accomplished the desired purpose by making many of us long for the parental hearth. This-is only one of the many tortures this noble band who call themselves the Class of 'Nineteen Hundred have inflicted upon us. They are great advocates of class dignity, believing they are many degrees above a Freshman. As a matter of fact, we never have the pleasure of enjoying their com- pany except in cases of compulsion, such as in mathe- matics, French and Latin recitations. When, however, they want any information or wish to