University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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VON Nteclnestlay afternoon. Oetoher 18, Presiclent Vintent was formally inauguratetl into otliee. Long hetore the eereinonies hegan-while the ehairs on the great raisetl platforin were still entpty-the .Xrniory was erowtlecl with scores of eager speetators. Ponip antl eireuinstanee hung upon the antieipatetl eyent: the throng awaitecl it with a seriousness that hetittecl. No hint retnainerl of the inaclfeap spirit of last nights reyelry. The hunt of yoiees throughout the yast rooin was suhtluetl. liar away. out on the Catnpus, a single hugle note was heartl. The spectators involuntarily listenetl. Xearer the -Xrinory. another sountletl in reply. anrl still nearer. the whole hugle eorps intonerl a sharp salute. Now the hancl was playing a Il1Zll'Cll.f2l1JlJ1'tbZIClllllg' eloser ancl eloser. The erowcl insirle haltfturnetl. expeetantly. as the hrassy hlare grew in yolunte. The inusie sounclecl louclly just without. The great floors swung open. anal the procession eanie slowly in. The soft huin of yoiees cliecl clown ancl was still. They paeecl setlzftely in, through the motionless ranks of the guartl of honor, antl up onto the great raisetl plat I'orin.!hune clrecls ol' soinher figures. rohetl ancl hootlecl, inoying in stately aeeortl to their assigned plaees. The sight was strangely tingetl with unreality. The silent, inoying tigures, the clark stately rohes. eaeh toppetl hy its inonlcish eowl, seeinetl ot an age we clo not know. They hrought hack those leisurely early een- turies, when the Xeatleine stootl saereclly apart, not iningling with the eonnnon lite of inen. The line of soleinn paeing tigures, every one hearing the high insignia of seholastie honor, erietl aloutl of that autorraey of learning which has heltl nien in awe for so niany ages. The speeehes of weleoine hegan. ancl with thein entlecl the unsuhstantiatecl illusion of a clay cliininecl hy intervening een- turies. The spirit hehinfl eaeh gracious greeting. hehincl eaeh sure. hearty worcl of weleoinefweletnine into the iielcl of action antl purpose. out ainong inenethese hatl nothing in eonnnon with that aneient. sequesterecl icleal of learning, that helfl itself f pi . gr

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band of light. lflere and there, a lloat broke the glittering ranks, interspersing the twinkling points with a great blaze of colored radianee. Down through the line, too. were banners and all manner of standards, eaeh lettered with the date and legend dearest to the elass which bore it. The great eirele swept around. and slowly uneuryed. lts glittering head disappeared behind the black wall of Held. A distant eheer beyond told of its welcome there. More and more of it was swallowed up, until the whole monstrous shining length had wound out of sight. The display of tire-works brought the whole orgy of light Pres. F. B. Gault, So. Dakota Dr. T. F. Colgate, Beloit Dr. J. H. Long. American Chemical Society Pres. E. D. Eaton, Beloit THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY to a titting close. XYhen the maneuvers on the neld were done. a signal was given. and the torehes winked out. The whole field was in absolute darkness. Then, from a nearby root tell a rain of sparks, and the nreworks began. Thundering rock- ets bored into the sky. Great pin-wheels and fire-fountains whirled sparks about. .N eataraet of white llanie drenched the held from end to end with tire. The sky was tilled with lurid bursting roses. and darting stars. that scattered sparks as they soared. Then, on the held opposite the main stand, a sudden blinding illumination showed, wrought in steel and of colossal size. the portraits of the three presidents of the University of Minnesota. :X thundering shout from the Crowd greeted the spectacle. eehoed by a salute from the band. The sparks died slowly out. The crowds scrambled down. The display was over-surely the nierriest, strangest frolie of light and laugh- ter ever guided by the Genius of Festivities.

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aloof from the world. Every phrase spelt modernity: the recognition of nation-wide problems, the sane optimism to regard them unafraid. And in reply, President Vincent spoke a mind at one with them, voicing with a splendid epic force, the life of the vigorous 'fToday.H His definition of academic success was couched in terms of civic application, he spoke to draw close the bond between letters and affairs, even far- sought examples, from times long past, he transmuted to in- spiration for present endeavor. The times have no place for an empty scholarship, taking refuge in itself, he seemed to say. Vve learn,-to do: we receive,-to give. Largesse oblige he would give us for our motto. So, in the very onset of his work it was made known to us that our President is the epitome of that ideal which modern scholarship has fostered so well-the ideal of service. HERE is a Minnesota spirit, we know,-surrendered into our hands to foster and keep safe, by those for- mer sons and daughters true of lXlinnesota, who re- turned at Inauguration time to teach us this truth. There is a Minnesota spirit, which had care of our consecrated college days, which stays by us always, to keep green in memory our precious Alma Mater, and to draw us back, after long years have passed, at the opportunity of doing her honor. Minne- sota spiritl lt destroys the lighter sadness of parting from our college by holding forth the promise of golden days spent in her service, of dim future chances, still undreamed of, to ad- vance her by working out our own best worth. Now at last we are sure of our college-sure of her purpose, sure that she is sincere. Now, at last, we feel the words of her pledge-song ring with their actual beauty and sweetness, and we know, within ourselves, that-as with those countless others, her mark upon them is their pride, her service, their ambition,-so, with us, also, our parting from her at last, will be but a pledge, -a pledge made in the happiest sincerity, since we are so sure of ourselves, and of her: Ami we'll not forget thee, Miimesofa, Loyalty will pledge thee, iilfiIllZ'C'S0fCl.UV