University of Michigan Law School - Quad Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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corner of the room where a playful scuffle was in progress. But all that was before the deluge. - Q Our first noteworthy event was, of course, the class election. Most of the members were candidates, ready and willing, though unfortunately not in all cases able, to sacrihce themselves for the good of their fellows. ' , And what an election it was. There were combinations galore, promises without number, some agreeing to support as high as twenty men for the presidency. The politicians and the orators were in their glory. Here was an opportunity to become famous, a chance to -raise a point of order or to make a speech. Caucuses blocked the stairs and hallways, whisperings and suspicious looks greeted one on every side. Finally, there was an election, and P. J. Crosby, of California, was made our president. . But the menagerie concerts still continued before the lectures, and professors were greeted with vociferous applause. Suddenly, something dropped. The worm had turned. Our critic of all the courts in general and the Supreme Court of Michigan in particular brought hisanalytical mind to bear, overthrew all precedent, and several of our class, by and with the consent of the faculty, with- drew to theirvarious homes to explain how it happened. That was a sorry day for the class, The .man with the fog- horn voice gone, and with him our chief barker and crower, we must fain content ourselves with feeble yells of defiance, scarcely noticed by our hardened faculty. ' The class began to get down to work. A stranger entering the .lecture room would have been struck by the large number of intelligent looking students, busily engaged in acquiring, upon their note books, the elements of the law. He would have remarked the almost painful stillness, so quiet that one might even hear a coupling pin drop, and if he did not see the seven sleepers on the back row, or the usual trio reading their home papers, if the elevat- ing game of matching pennies had escaped him, he would have been most amazingly impressed. I About this time -the' Qratorical Association began to get in its deadly work. Strange mutterings were heard. The eagle began to scream, the flag to unfurl and to wave. Once more the snow- clad peaks of the rockies kissed the sun-tipped forests of the South, once more the chains were struck fr im the bondman and freedo-m

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Then there was the Student, the fellow who had never been for , . ' ' u re ularl and an instant upon his own resources, who had come p g Y . systematically through .the schools and colleges and who Was fmishf ing off in the law. He was slower than our citY Chap: but more thorough and studied more understandingly. T Akin to him were at large number whohad been school teachers, men who were known as Such in ay moment. They could be recog- nized by a certain unbending dignity and a very positive though not- always correct way of reciting. They read much in the library but often confused themselves by not being able to digest it all or by losing sight of the elementary principles. A large number were married men, who had fought a hard and plucky battle with life and who, full of ambition, had turned thus late, with matured minds, to the law. In a few weeks an athletic class-was developed, marvelously high jumpers and fast runners, ' strong men and weak men who thought they were strong. Gut of these were formed the various athletic teams which have met with varying degrees of success. Not to forget the politicians+ . pp 4' In knots they stand or in a rank they walk, Serious in aspect, earnest in their talk . Verily the fate of the class was with them. They fairly bristled with Cushing's Manuals and ff Robert's Rules of Order and we knew them before our first meeting had been ten minutes gone. Last of all was the rabble, at strange crowd of freaks from everywhere and nowhere---not a large number, but too many- unkept, uncouth, who made strange r breaks, who argued every proposition laid down,-who could and would instruct the instructors and who were invariabl-y conditioned. at the end of the semester. But who can tell? I At the first lecture' the class sized itself up, whooped a few times with self approval, and settled down with the quiet determination to make life miserable for the lecturer. The Class of '96 were not angels. As the member tb I before the lectures in S go etter acquainted, the free concerts creased in volume. Strange noises began to be heard on every side. Abo of 3 COW' theubelmwlng Of 3 Calf, the barking of a dog, the inewing of 3 Cat? the bf-Wing Of an ass, or the crowing of a cock. Suddenly, the cry of fight would be heard an ve a snatch of song arose the mooing d then a rush was made to some

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shrieked again. Every day some arch-angel: accomlganied by 3 few choice spirits .who were sure their deity would WIH, ascended majestically to the tower, from which presently would come some grand peroration which was to capture the sweepstakes at the coming contest. But, alas, there were but two Winners, and the Oratign was put tenderly away to astonish and delight the good people at home. And who knows but that in after years these same misguided orators will ride into Congress on that very oration. Washington's birthday, and with it the annual observance, came and went, but as in our junior year, we were, to a large extent, guests of the Senior Class, it had but passing interest, 'though all enjoyed the eloquent oration of Hon. john J. Lenz. Then the hot spring months. How we sweltered and swore through May and june, and what was our indignation at the unheard- of action of Professor Angell,rwho insisted on our not disrobing while in the lecture room. . Vacation came at last, and soon we were scattered throughout the country on business or pleasure bent. Some of us went into law offices to get actual experience. It was our intention to assist in the preparation of briefs, try cases, and to be Hof counsel generally, but strangely our words had but little weight and many of us became mere Hcommon carriers with all their liabilities and none of their advantages. ' i Others, who had no fond papas to back them, entered more lucrative fields as book or insurance agents, and came back in the fall with thrilling tales of wild adventure. Those who had worked least during the year felt the need of a long vacation in which to recuperate, and only alluded to their past year with an air of martyrdom. In the fall most of us were back again. Some, however, dis- couraged, unfortunate, or allured to other Helds, did not return. The class election was spirited, yet ladylike, for Miss Octavia Bates presided and Fred L. Ingraham of Michiof f N 1 d president. gan was e ecte The Summer had taught many lessons. There was grim determination in nearly every face and good hard work began in earnest. What with cases to digest and lectures and text-books, Our h311dS Were full, but then in addition was that bugbear, the thesis, and the practice court work.