University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine - Scalpel Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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lass Jlaisturp 39. 01. jflfluper 1 ARDLY has it seemed three months, instead of three years, since the Class of 1912 entered the portals of the Veterinary Depart- sf v-ef ment of the University of Pennsylvania. Vtfhen we look back over our career we are at once reminded of the many Utrials and ik TQYJ tribulations we have encounteredg yet they were happy days. To those who have never experienced it, I will say it is impossible to realize the deep feeling of regret we have when we bid adieu to our classmates and friends of the University of Pennsylvania. lt was on the twenty-fourth day of September, nineteen hundred and nine, when one by one our class wended its way through the arch leading into this insti- tution, which is now our esteemed and glorious Alma Mater. Wfe had scarcely entered the department before we were surrounded by the Juniors, and without any introduction they immediately started in giving us good dope and advice. The very first day we all thought we were in right'f with the Juniors. But they soon got so familiar with a few of our bunch until they were fast friends in the dissecting room displaying their ability, which the ,luniors seemed to enjoy very much. The following day we were informed that our Class consisted of eighty-six members, which was the largest class that had ever matriculated in the Veterinary Department. This report had such a good effect upon our Class that the ,Iuniors were soon forced to acknowledge that we not only excelled them in quantity, but also in quality. The first week wore quickly away, and with it the fears and experiences, which caused a few uneasy nights. It was now that the Class. having become more settled, took the first steps toward organization. H. G. VX-lerntz was at once elected president of our Class, and I am sure there was no one who has ever regretted the choice. On account of his popularity and executive ability, which was undoubtedly due to his two score years and four of experience, he was re- elected president of our Class for three consecutive years. Always showing the greatest interest in the welfare of the Class, and having a very paternal appear- ance, he has always been called Dad Qne of the first things we did as a Class was to establish an assessment of 25 cents per month on each member of the Class, because we soon realized that nothing much could be done without money. Later, a sick committee was ap- pointed. whose duty was to visit the sick and send flowers to them once a week. lin one year the Class sent to the unfortunate classmates flowers amounting to sixty-seven dollars. During the first month, ten members of our Class gradually faded away, for reasons best known to themselves, and the rest of the Class learned that this was no fresh air course, but required a great deal of plugging to stav with the bunch. At this time we began to find pleasure in the companionship of the upper classmen, and the time passed by so quickly that before we realized it prepara- tions for a Thanksgiving vacation were engrossing the minds of our classmates. Shortly after returning from our Thanksgiving vacation. the -luniors began l09

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HOUSTON HALL-EXTERIOR

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to scan our number for a fit subject as judge of our Class. But as soon as they made an attempt to capture our unfortunate classmate, every Freshman dropped his books and showed true class spirit. Although after a well-fought battle, last- ing almost one hour, the juniors were partly successful in performing the cere- mony, the least said the better, but those present will long remember the last Class fight with the juniors. A few weeks later the Christmas holidays were upon us. Wie all joyfully wended our way homeward to partake of the Yuletide feast. After New Year we returned to our work imbued with new vigor, but, sad to relate, we had lost two classmates, Mulford and Oneil. For o-ne long month every Freshman could be seen burning the midnight oil, grinding up chemistry, histology, biology, and animal industry. The midyears started on the first day of February. Histology was first: chemistry, biology, and animal industry in rapid succession. After the smoke cleared away, we found six of our classmates wounded about the foot- wear. So badly were they injured that they could proceed no further. Wfhile we never boasted as a class of chemists, although Dr. Marshall took such great interest in our Class that, after the final 'fexamf' he asked fifty-six fellows to return for an encore, to which they responded in a very satisfactory manner. At our next roll call, no one answered to the names of Boyer, Friel, Gentner, Hess. Simons and VVeider. On the evening of the twenty-fifth of February the Alpha Psi Fraternity held a dance in Houston Club. It was well attended by the Class of l9l2 and pronounced by all a grand success. A few weeks later the Veterinary Medical Society gave their annual banquet at T'I3.HSCO1'l1'S, which was also well represented by our Class. On the nrst of May we entered clinic. As it had been the custom heretofore, it was our unpleasant duty to eject all Seniors loitering around the Clinic Hall. VVe were then assigned as assistants to the juniors. They, feeling their high position, made us perform all the dirty work g but only for a short time, as we soon got wise as to what was really expected of us. , Wfhen the finals arrived we entered the ring fit for the battle of our lives, and, as hard as it really seemed, not as many were wounded as had been pre- dicted by 'our friends, the juniors. Only eight fell i.n battle-Craig, Fox, Hall, Hewey, Lawson, Ober, Sterrett and Vifeiand. Upon our return in the fall we learned, with deepest sorrow and regret, that we had been dealt a severe blow in the death of our highly esteemed anatomy instructor, Dr. Simon j. Harger, who was undoubtedly the best authority on veterinary anatomy in this country. Suffice to say, we all felt his loss most keenly. After welcoming the Freshmen, and giving them the proper instruction,a little vaudeville by a few of the unfortunate Freshmen was then in order, which took place in the anatomy room. This was greatly enjoyed by a large number of our Class. But we soon learned, on scanning our roster, that our junior year was no cinch, and we soon found ourselves face to face with our hard though pleas- ant duties. Our Class officers were elected. Dad Wferntz was again chosen as our leader for another year. Wfith the addition of Dennis, jackson and Rogers from the previous junior Class, and Haskell from the Chicago Veterinary School, our Class still numbered sixty-two. The Christmas holidays were upon us for the second time, and we were all ll0