Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 26 text:

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

Page 25 text:

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

Page 27 text:

failure by the energetic efforts of his neighbors. The well-cultivated art of bluffing was brought to a high pitch of perfection here. The honors lay between Miller and Wolf. Wolf was the more daring, but Miller was the more artistic. Wolf’s bluffs were like his parsings, often ridiculous, but Miller gave the impression of stores of hidden wisdom which he could at any time unfold. Dr. McIntyre would have had to combine his literary ability with detective skill equal to that of Sherlock Holmes to have distinguished between Miller's information and Miller's apparent information. We are certain that the Doctor did not know how much chess was played in his class, since most all the tournament games were played there without interference, but as this is a day of specialization, we cannot expect ‘‘fessor’’ to become an amateur detective, as he is already the golfiac, theologian, literature professor and lecturer. Latin was a study in which some of our classmates delighted, and which others took for other reasons than pleasure. Professor Lee was our teacher, and none was more fitted than he for the place. He reminded us of an ancient, stoic philosopher; his very appearance seemed in keeping with the languages he taught. Tall and spare of figure, lean of face, with an expression of imperturbable gravity, it was difficult indeed to disturb the calm serenity of those stoical features, yet one incident occurred which proved that it was not impossible. Stone, whose brilliancy as a translator in any language from Chinese to Hog Latin is well known, was telling in his usual animated way of the mistake of An-drogeous at the fall of Troy, but when it appeared that An- 21