St Olaf College - Viking Yearbook (Northfield, MN)

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fall term our honorary members invited us to spend the evening. Undisturbed by any waylaying upper classmen we reached our destination and enjoyed our first class party-an event still fresh in our minds and which will be remem- bered long after its write-ups in our diaries are faded with age. During the winter term college spirit superseded all class spirit. We saw the Seniors take first and second places in the Ware Oratorical Contest and realized what op- portunities there were for some of our number. ln the spring our class doings were neither few nor far between. On the evening of May 29 We wended our way to the home of one of our class-mates, about eight blocks from the college, The Weather looked rather threatening but that could not keep a naughty-niner in his room when invited to a party. After a while the rain poured, but what cared we for wind or weather so long as we Freshies were together. Nor did we look with fears toward the morrow, although the prospects for our picnic were not bright, and all worry was unnecessary. The next morning dawned bright and fresh. It was an ideal day for a picnic. The beautiful banks of l-leath Creek, where it flows into the Cannon, was the scene of our gaieties. On the opposite bank of the Cannon were the Sophomores, also picnicking. The event of the day took place in the afternoon-an inter-class ball game on the opposite bank of the Cannon. lt's always an advantage to play on home- grounds, but the Freshmen won now as in all the games they played that year. The saying goes that all good things come by' threes and it held good in regard to us. On the fourth of June while the other students were making their way to the dining hall of the dormitory we were making our way to the home of an- other of our class-mates. The fear was expressed that we wouldqbe spoiled, but that fear has proved groundless. We did not spend all our time for pleas- ure. At the end of the school year all exams had been safely passed and we dispersed never to meet again-as Freshmen. As Sophomores we were delighted and anxious to get back. We were sorry to lose some of our class-mates, but were glad to be recruited by new members. Daily themes, fortnightly essays, the deeds of the world's great men together with Calculus and Greek furnished work for many an hour and kept us busy. We had matured considerably since we were Freshmen and naturally began to lay plans for the future. By the third of December we had our VIKING staff elected. A critical moment soon came. The faculty passed the edict that hereafter TI-IE VIKING should be a college book and should not 23

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History of the Class of '09 ln a history of St. Olaf College we would find the records of many classes. Not least conspicuous among them would be those of the class of '09. It needs no poet's pen to add to its glory, for deeds are mightier than words. This class will be the twentieth to graduate from St. Olaf, but that means in time, not in ability. It was in the fall of '05 that we came to Manitou Heights and began to climb fboth literally and figurativelyl the l-lill of Difficulty toward the Temple of Learning. Among us were many high school graduates and our feelings at first can be aptly expressed in these words of Holmes: There are no times like the old times,- if They shall never be forgot! Tlzere is no place like the olcl place,- Keep green the dear olcl spot! There are no friends like our olrl friends, May Heaven prolong their livesf' We were taking the step which every college student from a high school must take-that from a high school Senior to a college Freshman. Little won- der the high school days seemed now so pleasant! The academy graduates, however, soon awakened us to the fact that we were again members of a class -a college class. Meetings were often called and important matters discussed. Une especially deserves mention. We soon reconciled ourselves to the fact that we were Freshmen and furthermore wanted others to know who we were. l-low should we do it? We did not look the part. We decided to get class caps. Many and weighty were the deliberations that followed, for we wanted something new and we got it-a blue cap with a four inch visor and the num- bers '09 in silver and flame, our class colors. It may still be seen among the busy crowd on Manitou I-leights. When school days are past it shall be care- fully preserved among our souvenirs of college days. We had not long to wait before our social times began. Already in the 22

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be published every year. Would this frustrate our plans? No, it was to go into effect in nineteen hundred nine. Cur VIKING will be the last class annual. But our Sophomore year was not limited to work alone. With the snow came a sleighing party. When there's hope of having but one a year a sleigh ride causes quite a sensation. We were dismissed early from one of our classes that day-not to get ready for the ride, however. Even the naughty-niner will sometimes forget the etiquette of the class room. At five o'clock only one of the sleighs was ready. In less time than it takes to tell, it was filled with gay Sophomores and others fortunate enough to be invited. The rest followed after a patient wait of half an hour. A swift drive-an oyster supper-seven o'clock and study hours. Spring brought us another class picnic. The Cannon again lent its shaded banks to Sophomores. Boating and picnic-lunching drove away all cares. No one ever thought of the fact that exams were close at hand. It may be added here that the naughty-niner has no fear of them anyway. Thorough daily preparation is a powerful antidote to exam-fright. Qur juniority has also been safely reached. Again a few of our number are missing, but again a few recruits. It may seem to readers unacquainted with our class that our aim has been chiefly to have a good time, but such has by no means been the case. We have always remembered why we came here and our work has always had first place in our minds. Among the officers of the different student organizations the class of '09 is well represented-in athletic, musical, and literary lines alike. Last spring the banner for the cham- pions of inter-class track work was awarded our classy our octet, organized during the Freshman year, has added greatly to many programs. Last year one of our number represented St. Olaf in the intercollegiate prohibition contest. Amidst the toil and fun of college life there has been rooted in us a deep feeling of love for our Alma Mater. As of high school days even more so of college days we will say- Tl1ere are no times like the old limes,- Tlzey shall never be forgot! There is no place like the old place,- Keep green the clear olcl spot! There are no friends like our old friends,- May Heaven prolong their lives. -THEODORA IDTSE. 24