Syracuse University - Onondagan Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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, , - A 1 ' l than looking cuts imaginable. At no time during the period Were there CSS tu D ' three freshman societies of the character of B. D. B., whicla, unlCSS human nature was different then than now, must have led 'the facug a megy gace. Yext came the Histhetic and Euterpe societies, of which Dean eorge . om- fort, and Dr. XYm. Schultze were the respective presidents. The remalndef and larger portion of the book was given up to the college and fraternity organiza- tions, of which there seemed to be no end. There was evidently a great strife among the fraternities, as to which should have the most cuts and be represented in the largest number of these wayward societies, and so, in addition to the regular organizations still in existence, We have such names as the Psi U. ser- enaders, escort, brass band, fencing and smoking clubs 5 the D. K. E. freshman callers, theatre goers, wind jammers, logicians, the Zeta Psi vigilance com- mittee, temperance advocates and fat men's club 5 the Delta U. champion race, besides the peanut club, the billiard scorers and mighty masticators. From the old annuals we are able to reproduce a few cuts which are characteristic. . U Under the heading f'Athleti'cs We find in one of the li ' il iSjv'afzm1'a1zs, a Varsity base ball team, four class teams, txt and three fraternity teams. The college also boasted X A ' three cricket elevens and four foot-ball twenties. Our first field day was held during the spring of the same year in which the Hrst students, annual appeared. It con- 45- sisted of nineteen events and lasted the entire day. In Y .ilh X M the list of records we see several interesting yet now ' - f ig 1 obsolete events, such as the wheelbarrow race, stilt race, our Fighting Editor. three-legged race and egg race. Some of the records made at the early field days are remarkable, and almost drive us to the conclu- sion that since that time the standard of measurement has been lengthened : 1oo yards dash, won by VV. H. Freeland in 9 seconds 5 throwing 16 pound ham- mer, won by -I. H. Myers, 104 feet. If these records could only be brought to the notice of the authorities, there is no reason why Syracuse sliould not take an honored place in athletics along with Yale and Harvard. The C1355 of 1883, CliShG8rtened by the financial losses involved in the pub- lication of t ' i he Pfevlous bO0kS, made HO attempt to produce an annual. The class of 'S was com vosed ' HO 4 ,t of better material. To them we Owe, l1QjtOnlY tht. mum. A' Y T 1 ' u L - xoxn, G. A am, but also the introduction of a .new and improved style of hook. IO

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M But if you were to ask us what student enterprise had 3 3, 1 , most uniformly redounded to the credit of thepuniver- sity, we should answer, THE ONONl'JAGAN.,7 Successive F, generations of under-graduates have been accustomed , to compare with pride and satisfaction our edition of the ONONDAGAN, to the student annuals received from 135' -.v.viif,fff' - ', other colleges. .On this the fifteenth annual appearance of the volume it seems fitting to refer br1eHy to the features that characterized the book in former days, and Three Bad Men. to some of the changes it has undergone since the first modest volume was ushered into the world by the class of '78. This first book was about one hundred pages in thickness, bound in fiexible paper, 'and despite the rather contemptuous manner in which we are accustomed to regard it, judging from the standpoint of our present excellence, it was for its time a very creditable annual, and permeated through and through with the spirit that dominated all similar publications at that period. The development since has been very rapid, and from a literary and artistic standpoint, wholly in the right direction. Yet the advancement has been only a part of a general col- lege movement,-a movement from an unpretentious pamphlet filled largely with matter suitable only for H mock schemes, to a dignified volume setting forth in a neat and elegant manner the present state of all the college organiza- tions, with less attempt at hluster and braggadocia, and less hyperbole in description. The first number was full of caricatures, and little matter appeared that was not intended to make a laughf Yet undignified and unauthentic as the little volume was, an air of good humor pervaded its pages that made up for many deficiencies, while the familiarity that it showed and the unfailing use of nick-names in speaking of any of the students, impresses us with -the fact, that, at that time, the students were as a rule better acquainted than now, and good fellowship reigned supreme. The general order of contents of this and the fol- lowing Synzuz1sf1'an.v was : first, the officers of instruction and alumni lists of the college 3 next, the matter pertaining to the classes, with the names of the mem- bers of each class, then the fraternity lists ornameuted with cheap wood cuts, both alumni and active members being given. After this the sorority lists decorated in the same manner, following these came the class societies, of which there were a far largerinumber than now, all embellished with the most fiendish 9 - ..-f 1 ,gs-sv ,, H,

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Elected by our tribe we have built and filled this wigwam, ONoNnAr:AN we have called it in honor of the tribe and the beautiful valley in which we dwell,', are the opening words of the greeting. ln the introductory pages appears a very fine full page cut of the Onondaga maiden. lt has since been a distinctive feature of our annual, and has appeared in each ONCJNDAGAN up to date. The book is considerably larger than those of former years and the literary features more closely resemble those of our present annuals. Far less space is given to minor class and fraternity organizations, the cuts show excellence in other than comic lines, while care is taken to make it a book of utility, rather than a big joke to be laughed at and then thrown aside. A detailed review of the later QNONDAGANS is unnecessary. Suffice it to say that each class has produced an annual excelling its predecessor in artistic features and extravagance.of design. QThe class of ,QI is an exeeption, as a serious misfortune prevented the appearance of an annual that y'ear.j A The principle fact that has impressed us in our review of the' old annuals, is the vast amount of college spirit that animated the student body in the early history of the university. The college at that time had a large number of men- and they are to-day our most prominent alumni-who were filled with enthusiasm for all the college interests, and were willing to make any sacrifice in order that a college enterprise might be successful. i The publication of the student annual is one of the pleasantest features of college life. Its principal aim is to arouse and sustain college spirit, to perpet- uate the memory of the class, to embalm, in print what would otherwise remain only in the recollection of the student, and in general to encourage and support all our student enterprises. In after years it will be the most valuable souvenir of our college days, and will help to remind us of that period which is called the best and happiest of life, while it binds us closer to an institution of which we are ,all proud to call ourselves alumni. ' t The evolution of the student annual is very interesting and it requires no prophet to foresee in what direction the future development will take place. As time advances and the artistic features become more and more prominent, there is no reason why Syracuse, with the advantages of a college of fine arts, should not always remain in the front rank in the production of student annuals. I DORR RAYMQND COBB, 'g2. I l ,sm A assi :-.4...,-f1nazs- K- -- Y