Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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sometimes seen around the door, but that was the nearest that he ever got to the explosives. Though he was the only one who was afraid of explosions, we all had our little dislikes to the “lab.,” and we are thankful that we say farewell for a time, anyhow. Another class over which Professor Foster ruled was the class in physics. We studied physics on Tuesdays and Thursdays last period. This was unfortunately timed, since if people would sleep at all they would sleep then, and the lot of the sleeper in that room was unpleasant and the awakening was sometimes startling. In spite of the interest of light, heat and electricity, they were not appreciated as they should have been, and as the result of inattention came retribution in the shape of a quiz, in which flunks were unpleasantly frequent. Poor Wolf’s efforts to answer questions were pitiful, his replies being like his parsing, which caused his patron Gansman many tears. When electricity was studied the professor ordered the class to stand around hand in hand for the usual shocking experiment. Wolf and Miss Nyce were together, unknown to Miss Nyce, who, evidently thinking Wolf was some other fellow, began stroking his hand, to Wolfs intense embarrassment, as he was unprepared for such a demonstration. Ernest Williams, the other fellow, looked as if he would like to do unutterable things to Wolf. With such episodes the time passed, and we do not regret it. Whatever was said by any student about any professor, no one who even went to Professor McGee had an unkind word for him. His period was the resting hour in the midst of the day’s work. There one could study, talk, play chess, 25

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of recitations, but in the bringing of books, so that the good students were always known by the sight of McMaster’s School History of the United States.” Most of the class did not carry books. The chemistry class was presided over by Professor Foster, a short, stout gentleman, to whom science, particularly chemical and physical science, composed the most important part of this world. Nine embryo scientists seeking after chemical knowledge tramped to the third floor three times a week, only to be confronted by a row of long formulae and a succession of unpleasant odors, that of iodoform predominating. Some members of the class objected to the odors of chloroform and ether, and to avoid having them in their desks persistently lost their samples, so at the close of the year were given an opportunity of enjoying those compounds by making them after school. Pierce was an example of the sample-losing class. Miss Doby’s chief duty in this class seemed to be to keep Miss Harton at work, which was a very difficult task, as the attractions of Ernest Williams, the auburn-haired gentleman, and the restlessness of Miss Harton’s disposition rendered the task difficult. Axford and Sensenderfer accused each other of idleness, and, to do them both justice. I would say that they were both right, particularly Axford. Sensenderfer could hardly be expected to do much work, as he was afraid of explosions, and as explosions were frequent they necessitated Hob’s retirement into the private laboratory many times. On the day that the class manufactured nitro-glycerine his face was 24

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flirt, or, if their minds were so directed, could study algebra. Unfortunately the latter was seldom done except by some hard-working students, as Heritage, who were apt to do anything. Here Miss Walters worked unnecessarily. Here the bluffer was in his element, because Professor McGee was too straightforward a person to doubt the sincerity of another’s intentions or the authenticity of one's problems. Pierce and Cheesman played chess to their hearts’ content without the interruptions (which came in Professor Foster’s class. Later in the year Cheesman indulged in a mild flirtation with Miss Nyce under the slim pretext of studying algebra, a guise easily seen through, but as Miss Nyce was chaperoned by Miss Doby there could be no harmful results. Here Miss Laws, of Mississippi, whose departure caused her many friends sadness, studied German under the fatherly guidance of Mr. Erb, who drew pictures of policemen to assist his thoughts for German. Altogether it was an elysium for all, loved by every one. and sincerely regretted, for we can truthfully say that there was no class where the marking was so high or professor so learned as that where sat our literary, mathematical and musical Professor McGee. French and German were the two modern languages that our class gave attention to. German, if studied at all, was studied in the algebra class, and French was never studied, except by Miss Miller. She had to keep up appearances. Professor Miller, who taught German, had other things on his mind and did not attempt to overwork his class, but 26