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

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that three-fourths of us had been conditioned. These TUUTOTS WCTC finally traced to the minister plenipotentiary and secretary of state to the faculty-the versatile but imaginative correspondent of the Law Sfzzdefzfs ffeyer. On investigation it was found that while a few had 'ffallen by the wayside and were gfme beYOnd fecaufn the large majority of the class had come off with flying colors. In our junior year we saw with regret the resignation of our dear ff-Ierryv from the deanship. Professor Knowlton has at all times had the love and respect ofour class and there is not a member but who is sincerely sorry at his continued ill-health. I , The new Dean, Prof. Harry B. Hutchins, of Cornell, a former member of our law faculty, assumed the duties of his office with us this year. With him came the three-year course and that before- unknown being, a real f'fresh law. The standard of admission has already been raised and the increased efficiency of the depart- ment bears witness to the guidance of a master hand. T This year the faculty has been further strengthened by the addition of Professor Wilgus of the Ohio State University. In athletics we have fairly held our own. While our teams have been of average ability, we have furnished some of the very best men to the 'Varsity, as Shields in base ball and Bloomingston and Villain foot ball, respectively. This year our president, Mr. Ingraham, has won the local oratorical contestrandlrepresents the University in the League con- test, while Vert and Block most ably represented us in the debate. The past year has also seen the sprouting, growth, and decay of that strangest and wildest of organizations, the lVhiskers Clubw. Its members desiring to become famous, unable to succeed along D legitimate lines, and envious of the notoriety acquired bv the Whiskers Club of ,Q5, spent their shaving money on hair pro- ducersuwith the most startling results. But the 'flVhiskers Club , according to its members, was most su I I V ccessful. Their faces were dirtrer, their beards blacker and l Onger and curlier than those of ani' Pfeceding Club and their prize member, the red-whiskered Ewing, moved fairly in a blaie of l admiration-of the club. The climax S OYY, at once the envy and D was reached at the lVashing- ton Birthday Celebration where the cl b h ' ll f h fh. 1 L1 P aving decorated the 'C ' ' ' . . 3 ei O . 15 COUNTY Wlfh the heaviest of black beards raised him on hr h in U ' ' T . g mVefS1'fY HHH- A fierce iight ensued in which the

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Many had written their theses during the summer. More had not. 'There were various ideas as to how it should be written. Some thought itshould be entirely original and several remarkable specimens of American humor was the result. Qthers thought it should be cribbed verbatim and dictated direct from the text- book to the type-writer. The majority copied the digest or statutes. A few only wrote what purported to be critical papers and these were returned for lack of scholarly treatment. It is with pleasure that I turn to the practice court in whose work '96 has spent so goodly aportion of its time. In the early part of the year there was the practical experience of being thrown out on one's pleadings and the numerous but futile attempts to settle out of court. And woe tothe man from Dakota or New Mexico or where not who thought to deceive the judge, for Hfull of wise' saws and modern instances , he knew the law of every'State or Territory and could examine a group of four from as many different States, upon the laws of their various jurisdictions. Then there was the law argument, where every attorney staggered under a weight of authorities, where all sorts and conditions of briefs, from the curt statement to the continued story, were presented and where our coming leaders H sawed the air and advanced arguments from the sublime to the ridiculous. In the second semester came the jury trials which are progress- ing even now. These are proving of incalculable benefit, are grounding us in pleading and evidence and in the general method of carrying on a trial. These trials are made as realistic as possible. The crowd of loungersieven is not lacking. The jury is of the usual high. order of intelligence and the witnesses show evidence of careful coaching. The examinations at the end of the first semester of this year were probably the most difficult that '96 has yet had. The system introduced by Professor Mechem, of printing a list of questions thoroughly covering the subject, and distributing them in advance, was, upon request of '96, generally adopted by members of the faculty. The value of the system was fully demonstrated by the great amount of labor expended in preparation and the general satisfaction by the faculty in the results. Wild rumors of at general expulsion, however, began to circulate. Some said that fifty members of the class had been dropped, others

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'fWhiskers Clubi' was soon despoiled of its idol. This seemed to break the spirit of the club, their bleards drooped despondently and one morning they were once more recognized by the class as human beings. The Class of '96 has seen some play and much hard work. Its members as a whole have been an industrious, practical, common- sense lot of fellows who realizing the serious duties devolving upon the practicing lawyer of to-day, have tried to make the best of their time. In all their efforts they have been most ably seconded by the entire faculty, between whom and theclass the utmost harmony and good feeling has, with rare exceptions, prevailed. The class itself has been almost entirely free from internecine brawls. There are practically no factions and each one works for the common good. Not the least part of our education has been in the good- fellowshipengendered, and in healthy social intercourse. Narrow minds have been broadened thereby and prejudices born of ignor- ance swept, away. Al spirit of true democracy has prevailed and in after years when struggling for bread or fame, we will now and then in the intervals of strife, look fondly back to the good old days we spent at Michigan with the Classof, '95. J. L. L.