University of Maryland College Park - Terrapin / Reveille Yearbook (College Park, MD)

Page 27 text:

In order that this history may be complete, it becomes my unpleasant duty to eject my classmates, including myself, from this stronghold of education. Immediately upon the completion of our commencement exercises we each and every one of us tied up his sheepskin in the folds of a handkerchief, fastened the letter to the end of the adventurer ' s stick, slung it military fashion across his right shoulder, and separately sallied forth to seek our fortunes; some to return to the farm, some to the forge, and some to draw their swords afresh. With heavy step and saddened hearts we went out from these gray old walls, and never till then did we realize that we were leaving behind us forever our beloved kinswomen — our faithful Alma Mater. So, one and all, we were swallowed up in the great world about us, in which we were to find many other great men beside ourselves. Historian, ' 08. 23

Page 26 text:

Our social life! Ah, our social life! It is, indeed, true that man is a social being. Our whole college life has been wrapped up in social functions dances, hops, pink teas and midnight feasts. From Hyattsville, from Berwyn, from Riverdale and from the very Park itself come little pink, aromatic evidences of our sociability. Still there were some in our class, some men who possessed no small amount of common sense, men upon whose judgment one could generally rely, who for three years successfully resisted the Sirens of Hayttsville, but in their Senior year, lulled into apathy by a false sense of security, they were drawn into the maelstrom of society. 1 cannot imagine a sight more full of pathos than that of a strong man being led astray by such a puny force. And what is love? Love in the hands of an amateur is a loaded pistol, a dangerous toy. Love but it is not my intention to moralize on love. I frankly admit that I ha ve never been within its dangerous embrace, and so, according to our esteemed friend Reuleux, I am not in a position to criticise. It is true that to successfully combat an enemy we should study him thoroly, but not so love. A man in love is com- parable to a man intoxicated — he knoweth not what he doeth, and the nature has provided him with two legs for the express purpose of moving from place to place, he persistently attempts to walk on his head, and as a consequence views the world topsy-turvy. No ! No ! Hearken to one who has never been beguiled into Circe ' s enchanted palace, and shun love as you would the devil. Avaunt! Avaunt! Delusive love! I ' ll none of thee! Our Senior year, tho giving rise to some new joys, has been replete as well with sorrows. Regretfully did we tear down our highly-colored ideals and bury them deep in the darkest recesses of our inmost selves, never, we fear, to be resur- rected. On every hand our illusions came tumbling down upon our heads, crush- ing the spirit within us, and fortunate was he, indeed, who could adjust himself to this new condition and still look hopefully forward. What a gulf separates the college life of M. A. C. from the college life we used to dream of. It is so exceedingly prosaic, after all ! Yet we have compensating pleasures. Our seniority has given us the whip hand in college affairs. Our grave responsibilities and important trusts have swelled us with dignity and pride, tho weighting us down with cares. Still, with the ever recurring thought that in June we will be free — what a misuse of the word free ! — new life springs into our beings. But as the fatal hour approaches, our hearts begin to soften, and in the smoke which lazily floats from our long-stemmed pipes we see the future. We see the star leafed gums which we planted along the avenue and the maples which we inserted with such care around the tennis courts grown into flourishing trees. Then we picture ourselves visiting our former haunts, ruminating upon our desperate escapades and frequent depredations, and wondering why in the world we were never hanged, for then we shall see ourselves as others see us now. 22

Page 28 text:

Ode to Nineteen Eight Comrades of Hope, our day is come, Hark to the nearing battle ' s hum. Victors of Campus, Hall and Field, To Time alone our crown we yield. Oh Nineteen Eight! Strong Nineteen Eight. Shoulders together! Nineteen Eight! Lo, now on you, our worthy heirs, We do bestow our trust and cares. In honor guard Our Mother ' s shield, Whilst we in deeds her homage yield. Oh, Nineteen Eight! Strong Nineteen Eight. Shoulders together! Nineteen Eight! Thru coming years we ' ll bear her name From hard-fought fields to halls of fame. In soil and steel, by tongue and pen, ' e ' ll forge her way, chosen of men. Oh, Nineteen Ei.ght ! Strong Nineteen Eight Shoulders together! Nineteen Eight! Brothers in Arms, Sons of the Strife, Calls now the stirring toil of life. On summit ' s fair our eyes are cast. Then forward till we strike our last For Nineteen Eight! Strong Nineteen Eight Shoulders together! Nineteen Eight! 24