University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

Page 30 text:

20 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. VERY fourth year the people of our country eagerly await the decision of a gieat political contest, the Presidential election. While widespread attention was directed to this important strug- gle, the members of a new class quietly flocked to Berkeley. For four years ' 80 has enjoyed the efficient instruction afforded by our Uni- versity, and now we will soon depart, each upon his separate path, as citizens, ready, let us trust, to repay to our State the debt we owe her. But let us abandon, for the present, all thoughts of the serious future, and linger, for a few sweet moments, over the records of the past. We all can vividly recall our first impression of Berkeley, of her College Halls standing like twin citadels as strongholds of learning. How easily called to mind are the terrors of matriculation, and how, after running the gauntlet of examinations, we attempted to count noses. But alas, being innocent of further evil, we unwittingly counted in a number of jolly Sophomores, who kindly insisted upon organizing our union for us just for the fun of the thing. . From that date the war began. In the first place to our dismay ' 79 greatly outnumbered us ; and though it was no honor to prevail by mere force of numbers, ' 79 did attempt to lord it over

Page 29 text:

THE BLUE AND GOLD. SAAJ Volume varies inversely as the strength of the liquid. At first the Freshman Mewling and puking in his nurse ' s arms ; Then the ambitious Sophomore, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school ; and then the Junior Sighing like furnace with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress eye-brow ; then the Senior Full of strange oaths, and bearded like a pard ; Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble graduation. [Shakespeare, adapted. ]

Page 31 text:

THE BLUE AND GOLD. us with a high hand. The effect of this, however, was rather to our advantage, for, while it imbued us with a spirit of honor and loyalty to our class, it inculcated within us a proper appreciation of our station. Among the fair-minded members of ' 79 we early found friends; and the courage and force displayed by ' 80 at the Berkeley farm-house rush in- spired the evil-minded of ' 79 with a proper regard for the rights of Fresh- men. Stimulated by the victorious result of this rush, we entered with hope and courage into the field of athletic sports. The first test of skill and agility between ' 79 and ' 80, was afforded by the one great football match of the season. This game conclusively proved the superior advantage of systematic management, as, by maintaining a thorough control over the team, our captain outwitted the brute force of ' 79. Then the schoolboys of Oak- land and San Francisco were easily vanquished in a single game, leaving ' 80 with no one to kick against in the immediate vicinity of Berkeley. Base-ball, indeed, was not so happily tossed. The first game with ' 79 re- sulted in a tie; but alas, in the second trial ' 80 scored a defeat. But despite all the discouragements heaped upon us, we earned the champion- ship in our Junior year. In fact in that year, although as Sophomores ' 80 was denied a representation in the University nine, the merits of her players secuied to her the control of that nine greatly to the disgust of tht Seniors. Never since that time has ' 80 met with a defeat in the diamond field. To pass by the exploits of our Sophomore year would be the height of impropriety. With what tender solicitude did we strive to assist, and only when the helping hand of authority waived us back did we permit the Freshies to form their class union. The establishment of the famous Epsilon Gamma Sigma was the out- come of one of the most famous, original and side-splitting practical jokes ever conceived. The magic sign, so successfully practiced by the one great proselyte of that society from ' 81, has rendered him famous in all quarters of the globe. In fact he has departed to other lands to spread the great cause; and let us hope with the aid of this wonderful spell that he will engrave new marks upon the well-worn features of the Old World. The indolence of Junior ease at last lay hold of ' 80 with all its charms and dreams. The utility of propping up the flagging energies of lazy Juniors was early anticipated, and therefore we revived the old custom of carrying class canes. These beautiful ornaments, of polished iron woods, are looked upon as too rare and costly for vulgar everyday display, so they are universally consigned to the darkness of the closet. Our tasteful base- ball suits are another proof of our enterprise and p0)gress. The zeal and taste displayed in the management of our Junior Ex. merits special applause ; and the floral display, thanks to the young ladies, was