University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 20 text:

A new series of championships started in l05. Eckersall, because of his spectacular runs and his miraeulous dropr kicks, was for four years the idol of Chicago football. Already many stories of the golden days had sprung UP? such as Eckersall's 50 thrilling the crowd by running - through the whole Wisconsin team on the kickoff that spectators fell forward over the seats while cheering or straining forward to l'see every move he made. In'1905 llEckie supplemented by other Chicago immortals such as Babe Meigs, Wally. Steffan. and John Sehommer, reached his peak, and Chicago defeated Michiganls 'most famous Champions 210, when. Mark Catlin tackled Clarke. Michiganls stat behind the goal for a safety. Later that year Eckie -'saved the day at Wisconsin by kicking the winning field goal out of a sea of mud. Eckersall C051 was the first western player ever chosen on Walter Campis All'Ametican Team. In the peak 'year, 1905', a strong basketball team reached the top in a three way tie .with Minnesota and Wisednsin; the tennis team regained its old 'foothold; the outdoor track Championv ship was brought to Chicago with the help of Ned Merriam; and'swimming and cross-country brought in two more championships. -' ' Campus Activities The fraternity spiritentered with the opening of the Un'ivei'sityis doors, even though fairly adequate housing facilities had been provided for the men. There were- a. number of national -fraternities represented on the campus from the start, as some of the men had been initiated at Northwestern, and eventually the local Clubs were absorbed .by-them. The hrst fraternity was formed in 1893. In the early days the men met in-their rooms, but gradually the more - ambitious fraternities rented rooms, for their meetings, then apartments and houses, and hnally built or bought their own houses. I These early men on the campus, like the college men of today, were swayed by campus politics and fade. The Cap and Gown? published first in 1895, was under no particular monopoly until 1898, when Iron Mask seized l mm u u. u. a I m I' l . l! l.': m ' 1 control of it. Then in 1906 the Junior class broke the monopoly and in turn gained control of the board by .1907. 'In later years the editing and publishing of Cap and. Gown became too large for any one organization ortlass to handle.-As for fads, the Reynolds Clubiin days of yorewwas- an organization patronized almost exclusively by fraternity men-and all who used it had to pay dues. Despite Harperls plan to limit the students' expenditures, it never worked. Then, as now, there were wealthy students .and students who had to work their way. Lighting the gas street lamps was one of the jobs available to those who wanted to Work. All in all these early students, playboys and plebians, had the right material in them, for out of the early graduating classes have come many of the men now prominent in our national life. The women also have had their share of recognition. Early students did not overlook dramaties as a means of intelligent self-expression. The history of dramatics at the University is long and varietl but illustrates vividly the spirit of progress so native to the school itself. It is a far cry from the early satirical marionette shows of the 903 to theirecent presentation of Maxim Gorki's LlLower Depthsff 'The dancing dolls tunmistakably prominent members of the Universitv facultvl brought down the housein those first entertainments characterized bv satire and. wit, given in Kent Theater, the largest auditorium until Mandel Hall was built. The lyrics and dialogue were written chiegv by members of thefaculty. In time 'the faculty withdrew, leaving the field entirely to student orgamzatlons. . - .r - ' - Student productions, given on Academic Days, were rather hopeless. Imagine in the modern Aristotelian atmosphere a production such as the pantomime, HThe Three Lovers, given in 1894, with a cast including Farmer Jeremiah HollyhockgEZekiel Green Gtassgrower, and Reginald Van Marshall. Nevertheless, the very students who participateti in such productions had so vital an interest in dramatics that they formed the Dramatic Club in the Spring of 1895. The club, consisting of 13 members, was directed by E. H. Lewis, and was intended to give annual-per' formances. It rated one insig' nificant paragraph in the 1897 uCamp and Gownf1 as follows: A triple bill was given, consisting of a curtain raiser, llCourtship Withi- Variations, Barbara by .Jerome K. Jerome, and . ?Cupid's Touchdown, a local play. the work of James Weber Linn, 96. . . . In short, the warm reception given the plays proved conclusively that a good local production is not only a possibility but an accomplished fact. Many people must be puz' zled as to how Blackfriats en! tered the dramatic held as a separate organization. The I The old library. Fire threat- ened Harpefs peace of mind. Thirteen

Page 19 text:

o The football team of 1893 The thrand Old Manta initial 2f. fort. the average ability and echo: larship of the women exceedv ed that of the men. They defied the Victorian concepe tion that a woman was a helpless, fluttery individual. But the social tab005 of the time could not be lightly over- looked. nIt is not regarded quite nice, I believe, wrote Robert Herrick concerning the University in an 1895 Scn'bner's Magazine, ' f 0 1' young women to' walk about the campus With the men, or to gossip and flirt in the public recitation rooms. A high de1 gree of social propriety was maintained; women did not drink or smoke, and social functions were very properly Conducted and supervised. The women's residence halls functioned as clubs. After a girl had-been' in re? 1- idence one quarter as a guest, she was either elected to membership, or politely dismissed to hnd other housing accomodations. Dances were held monthly in the reception room of each hall. and romance of a dignified type flourished. Afternoon tea in individual rooms was a popular custom even then. The young ladies conducted themselves with decorum. -It must be remembered that the University was a Baptist institution. N0 card playing was allowed at mixed gatherings. Dancing at first was allowed only in University buildings, but gradually approved hotels were used for student dances. The need for organization among the women on the campus was not imminent for several years, but in 1901 the Board of Student Organizations authorized a commis' sion, headed by Dean Marion Talbot, to organize the Women's Union of the University of Chicago. The object was to unite all the women in the University for the promotionrof their common interests. Many distin- guished women were guest speakers; receptions and env tertainmente were given weekly. But back in 1894 the beginnings of the present club system had been made. Sororities had tried to establish chapters, but had met with definite opposition. The Uni versity had by then provided ample housing facilities for its women students, and its executives objected to the outside control indicated by the sororities. However,- three highly esteemed young ladies asked permission of Mrs. Palmer and Dean Talbot to form a selective'elub for 'lliterary and social purposes. Having secured the permisv sion Of the President, Mrs. Palmer and Dean Talbot; these girls organized Soon other groups fpllow'ed their example, and the present club system was-established. The clubs, unlike sororities, were under the supervision of the Uni! versity and subject to its regulations. The date that rated highest among the girls of the University was an invitation to a tallyho ride. The young lady and her escort went up'town on the I. C. to a livery Twelve stable, then rode back to a footballgame in a coach drawn by four sleek black horses T Tallyho. Be sure that all dunng this period of expansion and adjustment camp-us life was proceeding merrily on its way. Student activities were considered an important part of the University. Chicago's famous coach, Amos 'Alonzo Stagg, held foot! ball practice in Washington Park on the hrst clay of school, 1892. With a very small number of men the team man! aged to tie their first game, which was with Northwestern. This was the beginning of the rivalry which has continued ever since. Their hrst and only collegiate victory that year was over Illinois 00-10. A more close examination of those early days leaves one in no doubt about the emphasis that Chicago then placed on athletics. It was a leader not only in competition but also fostered intercollegiate athletics, being, in fact, instrumental in the formation of the Western Conference ethe Big Nine. From 1892 until the turn of the century most of the competition was With city high schools, scrub teams from Y.M.C.A.'s, and various companies. During this time of-disorganized athletics C'clirty football and games played on weekday afternoonsy Chicago 'became famous in the Mid-west; twice leading the conference. In '96 the school tied for the title With WisconSin and in 99- Chicago and Stagg Woh their hrst undisputed championship Baseball and tennis, the other big sports of the time were veritable u pushovers for Chicago. She held the tennis title in both singles ahcl doubles from '94 through '00 except for a loss in doubles in '99, and the baseball title from '95 through '98. Those. were the days of the famous Herschberger, when even the coach got in and played 1f necessary iStagg was a famous pitcher? Mar shall Field, later renamed Stagg Field; was made p054 sihle as earlv as 1898 bv the combined gifts of' Red: efeller and Marshall Field, and in 1904 Bartlett Gymnav slum Was contnbuted by A C. Bartlett

Page 21 text:

founding of the Order of Blackfriars can be traced back to 1898 and the University Settlements need for money. To raise funds, Professor George Vincent, inspired by the success of the productions of the Haresfoot Club at Wisconsin, called together the faculty and students to organize a show to be presented by Professors Linn, Barrett, and Miller. The show, on March 10, 1898, sans females, with A. A. Stagg in one of the leads and Henry Gordon Gale in the chorus. netted $1,600 for the Settle! ment. Not until 1902 was another production attempted, which again was successful in materially helping the Settlement. With this basis for a oermanent organizav tion, Frank R. Adams became the first Abbott in 1904 with a board including one man from each fraternity. The name of the show for that year was llThe Passing of Pali Khan, derived from the nickname for the subject, Political Economy. Costumes were furnished by professors1 wives, sisters. and sweethearts, who, no doubt, contribr uted mueh practical advice in overcoming costume diiiiculties. Later in the 19003 the women gave a quad! tangle fete with Maypole dances on the second night of each show. By this time the Board of Superiors was reduced to five men. Only men in the cast or chorus were eligible for membership, thus the technicians, an indi5' pensable factor in producing a show, were left out. While campus life was developing, tragedy was prepar' ing its' entrance. The heavy duties of the University seemed to be wearing on Dr. Harper. After a rest in Europe, but still unmindful of his hidden malady, he continued his work. In 1904 President Harper told Dr. Goodspeed and Major Rust that he had received his death sentence-cancer. During the remaining 18 months of his life he wrote five books and continued to preside over aitairs of the'University. With true efhcieney he consulted with-Dr. Judson, preparing in detail his funeral program. Vigorous as an individual, he left a vigorous memory, for he requestedlthat except for the half day of the funeral, all classes should be continued. President Harper died on January 10, .1906. Black Bagging .A. prominent feature in the Universityls development was Harperls black bagt One never knew what endow' merits might be found in it after one of Harper's trips; or what new faculty names might appear on contracts secreted in his bag' after friendly visits to other inr' stitutions. Early in the Uni versity's history, while still gathering a faculty; Harper received word that at Clark University there was a breach in the faculty. Hastening to the scene of action with the black bag full of unsigned contracts, Harper profited from this situation which re! sulted in the resignation of fifteen members of the faculz ty. The black hag returned full of signed contracts. Three outstanding signa- tures were those of Michel' .5011, Net, and Whitman. ' Judson, and John D. Infheirs to the throne. Fou rteen Financing was on a more clashing, if local scale. Ru' rots would reach Harper ipeonle often wondered if it was instinctt and he would rush off in his buggy, bag in hand. Yerkes, Chicago utility' baron at the turn of the century, one morning received a plump, hurried-Iooking individual into his inner sanctum. Somewhat startled, he covered by saying, Have a seat and after .a second glancel HIn fact, have two seats. Harper, put on the defensive by the personal implication, reeovered with the statement Pin the President of the University of Chi- cago. A few minutes ensued during which he explained with an aggrieved air what and where the U. of C. was. Then, becoming more enthused, he explained how a uni- versity existed;- adding that there was a lamentable lack to be met before the University of Chicago could take her placeiamong self-respecting universities! That deficiency could result in the commemoration of some noble, public: minded, to'sa'y nothing of generouse etc. Despite the linguistic camouflage, Yerkes got the idea. Harper wanted an observatory; he asked, How much? Harper was not prepared'with figures; he knew though that the Work would cost much. Yerkes put out a feeler-$S0,000. No. no! Wouldnlt do! Yerkes raised the ante to $100,000. Harper hedged. He didnt think that much would do the donors name justice. Yerkes stalled. But the subtle mention of the fact that the market was I still open and the vision idrawn by Harperl of-a green hill crested by a monumental Yerkes observatory did the trick. Yerkes got a monopoly at the cost of $250,000. The evidence went back to the campus in the black bag. The same procedure resulted in the widow Snell's con, tribution of Snell Hall in memory of her husband, notoriv ously skilled in financial transactions. However, Harper's efficiency went into reverse when he negotiated with A. A. Stagg. Stagg, situated in New Jersey at the time. was called in to interview Harper. .After passing a. barricade of secretaries, he entered a room only to see the top of a bent head belonging to a man. industriously writing. Harper continued to write as Stagg shuflled'nervously from one foot to the other. Two more paragmpththen the head snapped up only to snap out: Give you $1200 a year and an 1'nsttuctorship.ll Another paragraph and silence. Stagg was too dum' founded to speak. At the time he didn't make that much, and his future prospects could not be compared with those at Chicago. His thoughts were interrupted by a terse, liRaise it to $2,000 and an assistant professorship. ttBut, buteIe, Stagg was stopped. All right, all right,