University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 27 text:

History of Class of 1902 BY FRKI) GRAY DEWEY. HE account of the opening of that portentious meeting which signifies the birth of our class, I take from the secretary ' s book. Report of Freshman Election. Class of 1902 Literary and Engi- neering Departments. Nov. 5, ' 98. Meeting called to order by President Angel (sic) at 1.30, Room C, University Hall, who called Mr. E. C. Goddard to the chair. Mr. Goddard thanked the president for the honor and then called for nominations. What an impressive event was that, my friends, as we saw it ! How fraught with mean- ing! A tumult of applause greeted the chairman as he arose. Was he prostrated by the unexpected honor? No. Did he make a long speech thereby cutting down our nomination speeches? Never! The lofty and sublime dignity imparted to his acceptance by his simple answer attest the high position which the class held in the esteem of all even at that early date far better than the ringing words of a Pitt or the climaxes of a Webster ever could have done. The president was chosen by the majority of one vote, after which the world moved on as before. The executive left soon after the first semester closed but nothing unusual hap- pened until the annual Fresh-Soph meet. As early as the meeting of December 5, the minutes show that preparations for this event were being made ; the yell was adopted in January ; and at a meeting in March, yell-masters were appointed and slips containing class yell and colors and requesting freshmen to attend the meet were distributed. This desire to win (and that, too, as a class) which was manifested at that early date is far more interesting than the fact that we did win by a score of 44 points to 19. There are occasional personal comments in the papers during the early part of that year that are interesting now. In an article on the proceedings of the Adelphi we find mention of one Moxie as a likely speaker. In another year there was no longer any reason for confusing him with the product of the soda fountains for he had won the oratorical contest and was henceforth to be known as none other than George Wendell Maxey. At a some- what earlier date the Daily, ever cautious and conservative, noticed in its columns a man by the name of Snow as a promising end for the ' Varsity. That the words of the prophet might be fulfilled, that player has at last been awarded what he earned more than once, a place on the All-American eleven. In regard to the place he holds in the esteem of the class and it applies alike to all who have brought the class honor the words of the song with their charming terseness are quite illuminating : Snow has beaten them first and last ; He ' s got ten M ' s; he ' s in our class. 19