United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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History of the Class of '97 JR play of four acts is drawing to a close, but we trust that many of its strongest features will be found in its last scenes. We regret very deeply that we cannot conclude with a few tableaux including all the orignal actors of the play, but the realism of the play forbids it. Those that have been carried from the stage during the preceding acts have succumbed after a brave struggle. They are a necessary part of the play, and their acting, however minor their parts may have been, deserves the greatest respect and admiration, and has won for them perhaps a star part in the next piece they are called upon to play. Before the dropping of the curtain over the grand finale which visitors will witness on the 4th of next June, the Class of ’97 wishes to speak its epilogue, to bring before the minds of its audience the important events of the play that is about to close, and to sug- gest the moral taught by all that has gone before. As I step before the curtain I feel my soul full of what has been given me to say, and I thrill with the desire to share my enthusiasm with the world. But, as I begin to speak, the greatness of my topic chokes me; visions of oratorical splendor vanish, and I must begin in the very humblest way. It will not be necessary to begin at the beginning; the genesis of the Class of 97 differed in no way from that of any other class—at least, so far as terrestrial demonstra- tions are concerned; what the astronomers saw on those September evenings I never thought to inquire. The only heavenly bodies that our class brought into the firmament to my knowledge appeared later on. That our genesis was not speedily followed by an exodus was due mainly to the influence of our representatives in Congress. I'or two years we made history faster than a single pen could record it. There is a quaint old chronicle kept in a place called the “ Komandant’s Orfise” which tells the story of our doings in those early days. If any daring youth or maiden seeks to learn the secrets that we will not here reveal, he must direct his argosy toward that port. But we warn him that, ere he can accomplish his purpose, he must pass the portals guarded by the terrible Macedonian lion, and traverse the den of the Minotaur within, whose voice alone has often caused the limbs of ’97’s greatest heroes to tremble beneath them. Leaving the blood-curdling secrets of our early years thus safely guarded, we will tell what has befallen us in the epoch extending from the second class semi-anns to the variable limit now. 27

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White, William Russell, “ Senor Blanco.” Line, Buzzard, 1520 Lucas PI., St. Louis, Mo. “ Theres place and means for every man alive?—All's Well That Ends Well. Class Foot ball Team, '95, ’96. Williams, Hilary, “ Jack.” Line, Buzzard, Connersville, Ind. “Sweet and voluble in his discourse?—I.ove s Labour’s Lost. Second Class Buzzard; Academy Foot-ball Team, ’94, '95, '96; Academy Base-ball Team, '95, '96; Class Football Team,'93,'94,’95,’96; Class Baseball Team, 95,’96; Captain Class Football 'Icam, ’95; June Ball Committee; Hop Committee, ’97 ; batting record, '96; holds three N. A. A. A. medals. Williams, Yancey Sullivan, “ Yancey,” Monetta, S. C. “Studious of erne and fond of humble things?—PHILIPS. Resigned June, 1894; entered Class of ’9S. Yarnell, Harry Krvin, ” Harry. Line, 3 Striper, 4th Company, Independence, Iowa. “ Thy modesty's a candle to thy merit?—FIELDING. First Class Buzzard, Second Class year; Class Foot ball Team, ’96; Business Manager LUCKY Bag, ’97. 26

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After the second class semi-anns were over, we inspected the remaining body of the class in search of loose feathers that might be shaken from that body by the annual exams. Finding none, we concluded that the Class of ’97 had passed through its last moulting season. Rejoicing in great measure thereat, we exposed ourselves recklessly to weekly 1.5’s. Having resolved not to bone, the next thing on the program was to find something else to do. The Naval Academy would never secure favor as a winter resort, and we were vividly aware of its shortcomings in that respect. There was noth- ing for it but to let our minds hibernate, while we waited, as patiently as possible, for the trees to bud and the grass to grow green. The first trees to show their foliage, as 1 remember, were the steam trees and the math, trees; but these—being evergreens—were not heralds of spring, and did not count. Lent came during our period of rest. A large number of cadets observed Lent by abstaining from the use of ice-cream and other deli- cacies. This evidence of our religious spirit carried great joy to the hearts of Deacon Perrill, Pluvy Kempff, and all others interested in our spiritual welfare, and earned the boat crew many victories. It was 96 that got up the minstrel show, but '97’ talent helped to make it a success. The question of the “Lady or the Tiger” no longer agitates mankind, which busies itself in seeking to discover where Weary had been for a “ weak back.” Blushes still rise unbidden to many cheeks when the owners thereof recall the invitation of that “ hot man, Josic Powell,” to the young ladies at Shelter Island, as quoted by Needham. Duncan’s impersonation of Trilby would have secured a pension from Du Mauricr had it been that gentleman’s good fortune to attend the show ; and his siren’s call—calculated to melt the wax in the most prudent mariner’s ear.c—made the ■' Lieutenant Colahan pancake” behind the scenes vibrate in sympathy. We should like very much to give a play ourselves this year, but, now that they have filled the stage with the “ Saginaw’s ” cutter, we could not use it for any play except the old nautical Pinafore,” and that would probably fail to please our fin de sicc i audience. Moreover, since Sammy Bryant has begun to shave, we could hardly find a “ Little Buttercup in our number. It was some time in the fickle month of April that we lost our most noted history- maker. Sergeant Wessels -sometimes called “ Hungry Joe, from the fact that he cats oranges with a fork—was playing a most interesting and characteristic game in the highway of misdemeanors. A teamster passed that way, and ordered the daring youth to clear the road. Our young Alcibiades rashingly told the teamster to wait until he had finished his game. The teamster failed to follow the example set him in history, and gave his horses free rein. These horses, known as “ Regulations for the Interior Discipline of the United States Naval Academy and “ Regulations for the Government of the United States Navy, sagaciously drove the bold trifler not only off the road, but, it is to be hoped, for the peace of the community, drove him so far that he will not soon again meet the inconsiderate teamster. Wessels is doing well now, thanks to hard work. As he beautifully expresses it. he often works until the “ perspiration stands on his fore- head in large drops of sweat. Meanwhile, at the Academy, “ He leaves (he name at which the • Hoard ’ grows pale, To point a moral or adorn a tale.'' Spring began some time in Lent, and then we began to live. We assiduously prac- ticed the art of vertical progression until we all, except Collins, became proficient in it. 28