Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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freshmen, and had a lower class to dictate to, and had reached an importance to be of use to C. P. 99. All this gave us an idea of our importance and prominence, which is needful to all classes. We saw that '99 was successfully graduated and rendered their exit from the college as graceful as possible, and then scattered for vacation to rest up for our final year. When we reassembled, in September. 99, we came prepared to work, if necessary, but to enjoy ourselves more. During the summer Axford had enjoyed himself to the extent of an imperial. Such a visible token of his dignity evoked storms of applause from the school. That we were the largest class ever taking this course was admitted even by the faculty, because it was undeniable, and that we were the most important and privileged class we undertook to show them. After chapel we met in Dr. McIntyre's English, a class prominent for many reasons. Principally because here the entire class of 1900 assembled, a privilege given to no other class. This class was the cause of more brilliant remarks and extraordinary occurences than any other, probably because the literary air of the room gave a pretext for outbreaks of eloquence. Indeed, Miss Harton once so far forgot herself in her love of the subject as to answer to the name of Jefferson, which was the cause of much embarrassment to a gentleman of that name, who thought that he was the victim of some unknown matrimonial entanglement. One of the prominent features of this room was the whispering gallery, so aptly named by the professor. The gallery consisted of the last 19

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we mention Harold Hilts’ early morning walk to escort a young lady in from Germantown during a suspension of the trolley service. Harold tramped several miles out of his route wilthout the suspicion of a murmur, which is high praise, as Harold was very young then. It is needless to say that we progressed in the arts and sciences, yet they were but part of our scholastic work, and oftentimes an uncomfortable part of it, when they interfered with social duties. September, ’98, found the class again assembled, with additions good and bad. Which were which time must show. We had reached the dignity of C. P. II. We had attained the eminence of Caesar and the chemical laboratory. Caesar was safely passed on horseback, but the laboratory was more than a nine days’ wonder. Its nature was twofold, the drugstore and the powder manufactory. We were in alternate worries of being suffocated with chlorine or blown up with compounds of uncanny manufacture. Miss Harton developed a mania for explosions, and was forever trying them on her own account. They generally culminated in a flash, roar and a shrill scream for the professor. She kept Professor Foster busy. An astronomy class was formed, and unfortunately for its members, its work began in February, so its {members squinted and froze alternately on the roof of Professor Turner’s home, on Eighteenth street. Our treasurer, Mr. Stone, was prominent in this work and delighted “fessor by his apparent thirst for astronomical information. These were examples of the year’s work. We had advanced another step in our school life. We were no longer 18

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row of chairs in the room. The whispering was done by Miss Xyce and Miss Doby, who sat there. Hence the name. Persons who suffered from an overdevelopment of the sense of humor had a hard time here sometimes. Harold Hilts lacked the gravity to read the “Vicar of Wakefield,” and by his chuckles disturbed Mr. Stone and other sleeping members of the class. Stone needed the rest badly. Wolf's parsing was another feature. I give an example: Sentence: “The bad boy never studies.” Professor to Wolf: “What is the subject?” Wolf to Professor: “Bad.” Professor to Wolf: “What is the predicate?” Wolf to Professor: “Boy.” Sensendefer, during the intervals of his dramatic fever, slumbered softly, only murmuring critical remarks about last night’s performance. “Sensy” had it very badly, and, combining it with his literary aspirations, rendered him hopelessly incurable. Our president, Woods, became so enthusiastic over Homer that he read like a tragedian of the emotional type, quite forgetting “the love of McGinnis” or any other of his Irish expletives. Certainly Homer is woi thy of anything, but it seemed strange to hear Woods declaiming so vigorously, regardless of the class. During the latter part of the year Wolf, the dear child of the class, became so forgetful of his surroundings, and for some reason was so reminded of the nursery that he fell sound asleep, so soundly that it required the efforts of both class and teacher to rouse him. Mr. Cheesman, of Jersey, also was induced to drowse, probably by the comfort of the chair, and was oftentimes saved from 20