University of Rhode Island - Renaissance / Grist Yearbook (Kingston, RI)

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Senior Class Jfcistory W HEN the organization now known as the Class of ’99 first descended on the venerable quiet of Kingston, few, if any, of its members had the slightest idea as to what would befall them. Our first sensations were those of awe and dread. Every one we met seemed to be a personage of great im- portance. The disdainful smiles that greeted us from every quar- ter kept us fully aware of a humiliating fact, our utter insignifi- cance. But in spite of all this our great desire was for knowledge, and the studious life we then led, helped us to forget our youth and unimportance. How far this most laudable desire has been real- ized we do not care to say, but chapel lectures and other sad ex- periences have taught some lessons which we expect to retain. But we manfully conquered our peculiar difficulties, and after we obtained our military suits, we were like all other Freshmen ; it would have taken a lengthy fishpole to have reached us. How- ever, our first year was a successful one, for we had athletic vic- tories, and we also built that architectural masterpiece, the old drill shed, which was the forerunner of Eippitt Hall. Just how far this latter building was modelled after the original production of our class, modesty restrains us from telling. It was one bright September day when we returned as Sopho- mores, conscious that we had “crossed the awful chasm,” to bor- row our Milton’s phrase. Of course it devolved on ’99 to teach the Freshmen a few necessary things, the first of which was physical inspection. Soon after the upper classmen coaxed the “Freshies” into a football game, in which ’99 taught them some wholesome, practical lessons. These simple instructions caused our unfortunate pupils to look up to us with considerable awe. In fact the respect for the upper classes was much more apparent then.

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Senior C ass Officers B. E. KENYON, President. A. W. BOSWORTH, Vice-President. M. W. HARVEY, Secretary and Treasurer. 77 embers Alfred Wilson Bosworth, Ralph Ordway Brooks, Lillian George, Mildred Wayne Harvey, Carroll Knowles, Harry Knowles, Blydon Ellery Kenyon, . Merrill Augustus Ladd, Clifford Brewster Morrison, William Frazier Owen, Ebenezer Payne, Walter Clark Phillips, Robert Spink Reynolds, . Minnie Elizabeth Rice, Abbie Gertrude Sherman, George Albert Sherman. . Sally Rodman Thompson, . Boston , Mass. . Somerville , Mass. . . Amesbury , Mass. . Wickford, R. I. Kingston , R. I. .Point Judith , R. I. Wood River Junction , R. I. . Bay Shore , L. I. Pawtucket, R. 1. Cannonsville, N. Y. Lyons Farm , N. J. Wickjord, R. I. Wickford, R. I. Wickford, R. . Kingston, R. I. West Kingston, R. I. Wakefield, R. I.

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than now. We respectfully suggest that a little improvement in this matter would not be out of order. In the winter an epidemic of mumps and measles spread among us , and not a few of our number suffered from the dread diseases. With one more lesson to the Freshmen we ended our second year of college life. In our Junior year, we held two well-planned receptions, con- quered German — more or less — and Calculus. At one time our instructor in German found four modest students in the back row. Their general excellence in class work entitled them to front seats, where they served as examples the remainder of the term. ’99 was always said to be a remarkable class in mathematics ; no one was surprised at our excellent work in Calculus — a work which was not accomplished, however, without a few slight mistakes. We also published The Grist, which had such unparalleled success that we are thinking of printing a second edition. Now, we have nearly ended our work here. This last year has been a happy one and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. Wi th ’99 at the head of military affairs, all feel that peaceful security which springs from well-grounded confidence. Our mechanical men are prepared to solve any problem in hydraulics, run a blast furnace, or build bridges in the most approved manner. So we feel sure that all the mechanics about the place is well cared for, and that the head of our army has no fear of a loss of the depart- mental honor or of an embalmed beef scandal. At last, not without some regret, we bid adieu to The Grist. Our expectations now await Commencement. As we look forward into the future, We hear a voice you cannot hear, Which says we cannot slay ; We see a hand you cannot see That beckons us away.