University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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History of the Class of 1908 'Q NCE upon a tilne. very, very many years ago in the city of Los Angeles, there was established the University of Southern California. The buildings thereof xx AA were pretentious and well-furnished for educational purposes. The Head Master was a man of goodly stature and powerful intellect. Many and wonderful were the plans he made for the development and future greatness of the University. The Faculty increased in numbers and ability. Year after year new plans were perfected, new improvements made. liut a strange spell seemed cast over all the college activities and life. There was no progress, but a strange inertia. All were in despair. It seemed that some hostile spirit held sway and by a magic spell kept in restraint the forces of progress. Tradition whispers that the hairs of the lXlaster's head fell out, one by one, until the remnant could be numbered: that so strenuously did he seek to see in the wide world a remedy for the evil days that had bcfallen his people, that he stretched an inch every tuonth. Hut no relief came to them, and conditions grew worse and worse. Then in the early autumn of the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and four, there thronged over the borders of the city a goodly company of Iifty little people. Up from the four corners of the earth they came to dwell in the land of sunshine. They were a people passing strange, small of stature, but mighty of head and brain. They allied themselves together and took for themselves the name of FRESI-IMEN. And at their coming a new spirit breathed in the -air of the University. The old depression and failures fled away never to return. The llead Master lost sixteen inches as his weary muscles relaxed: the tribes of Seniors. Juniors, and Sophomores woke up to the realiza- tion that they must look to their laurels: the Faculty revived and cheered each other with the maxim that the worst is yet to come g students thronged to the now famous center of learningg moneys flowed in, and new buildings were planned. Everywhere over the Campus Progress-and the Freshmen-reigned supreme. So after this manner was the coming of the Class of 'OS to U. S. C. They came, Cthey were seenj, they conquered. Next came the ever-joyful joint reception of the Christian Associations to the new students. Needless to 1'elate that 'OS was there: that they enjoyed themselves, and no doubt unwittingly caused much enjoyment to the others. The best part of the evening came when their strong young voices made the hall echo with the tender sentiment of Open your lI101lf1I.S' and .tliul your cycs, Look ui us l'1'v.rli111va1 and get ruse. Then one glad day, they marched proudly into Chapel. wearing the beautiful lilac- green and white streamers they had chosen as the colors which were to flaunt the glories of 'OS before the world. And when in the afternoon these colors flew out to the breezes from a standard on the front lawn, wild was the excitement and fury of the Sophs. Long and tierce was the conflict, but '08, staunch and true. guarded her colors well. Never would they have fallen had not the Seniors come to the aid of '09, and torn them down with a Royal Iinishf' To settle the rivalry, a gridiron battle was indulged in. There was much hilarity on the bleachers and on the tield, a tiercely fought contest. But '08's valiant lads held the liest 'C9 could offer to at tie score. So bitter now was the envy between the classes that the Faculty planned a debate which was linally to decide the superiority of one or the other. And here the Freshmen conquered, gloriouslyg and from henceforth their names went, down in history as the superiors in brain as well as brawn. One more joyful victory came with their party at Pasadena, where tuunolestcd and undiscovered they whilcd an evening away. free from the quarrelsome Sophomores. And thus, with busy-ness and funny-ness and fellowship the days sped on and all too soon came june and their Iirst Commencement, and the vacation days were upon them and for the tirst time their friendship ties were broken. But before they knew it, September's balmy days were with them again and they gladly hastened back to dear old U. S. C.. to studies and to jolly times, and to the dignity and wisdom that comes with the Sophomoric phase of College life. .Xs soon as the frivolities of the good old summer time had been shaken off and they had settled to serious things once tnore, there came another gridiron battle. Here '08 as victors carried the day against the Freshmen with a score of 18-U. The war-dance on the lield arotmd their eleven was a slight outlet for their joy. And do you remember, ye 36

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people, of how tl1e next morning in Chapel the Sophomore seats were vacant, until as Prexy rose in dignity to make the announceinents, a fair naughty-eightess stepped to the piano and played the prelude to Chopin's Funeral March: and a mournful procession tiled in, crepe on arm and grief-stricken faces buried in handanas scarlet and green and purple, bearing the banner of 'C9 at half-mast? And then. joy of joys. came the party on lleacon street. that spot of ever delightful memories to the Class of '08, XVho has not heard the tale of the children of '09-how they came so valiantly to steal the refreslnnents. to maltreat the Sophomore men. to break up the party! And how. when Curfew tolled its warning note. a big policeman came and sent the terrified little Freshmen home to their mammas! while within the besieged mansion all went merry as the marriage-bell. The Sophs were busy and delighted with an Intercol- legiate Track Meet, with frequent intermissions for running to the windows to watch the playful antics of the verdant ones. In the merry month of May came a skating picnic at Playa del Rey. and later a lark at Dreamland And a day or two after. as memories go, the Sophomores were Sophs no more. vacation had come again. And now the Junior year: Is there word of pen that can describe the glories and activities of '08 in this year? When September's heralds called them again almost every one of the old class was back, with a few new friends to swell their ranks. As soon as they had properly chaperoned the Freshmen and gotten the University in good running order, they felt that they had earned a vacation. so they ran away to Naples for a boating party and a joyful time. A - ' But the greatest of all their aecomplislnnents, overshadowing as well anything that any other class had done or ever could do. was the production of a Junior Annual, the tirst since the one published by the class of '99. The modesty of the Class of '08 is a well- known historical fact. so I offer no eulogy of the production other than lil Rodro, OS, which all who run may read. But along with it must be remembered that greatest extravaganza of the century. the junior Play- The Merchant of Venice Up-to-date. On March 16 the juniors carried the care-burdened Seniors away to frolic in the wilds of Eaton's Canyon. A volume could be written on the delights of the occasion, suffice it to say that it was just too. too everything for anything! Then a red-letter day: Miss Bertha Hall tendered a most delightful reception to the Seniors and Juniors, and added another joyful memory to the store she had already helped to give the Class of '08. Soon came Class-day. and of course the jnnior stunt was the best, the prettiest, the most wonderful of all. And dare I whisper of their little surprise, when all the pretty feats of the Seniors were over. how the Juniors, with all due rights and ceremonies, con- signed '07 to the dust and raised the banner of 'OS over the lamented' grave of the dear departed. Another vacation, all too brief. brought them hack to dear old U. S. C.--and to all the bitter-sweet life that is the heritage of the Senior. Dignitied and glorified by the guardianship of the sacred shovel, the mysterious bag, the dog-on-button, the Senior som- breros, they stepped into the charmed and honored role that is set apart for Seniorites. Revered, treated with all due deference and respect-even by Freshmen-and idealized by the small Ac-ites, they are loath to leave it all. One cause for joy among them was the attaining to the privilege of wearing the Cap and Gown all the year long. There have been delightful parties, and whispers come to me of more that are to be. They are Seniors and ahead of them stretches a future bright with Seniorial celebrations-a Senior Prom, which is to be the dazzlingest dazzle- ation taccording to Prof. SJ that ever could be: of a Class-day unsurpassed and an Ivy- day full of surprisesg of the greatest Commencement the University has ever held and of many unknown joys. They would gladly, if worthily, claim the tribute of '07 last year, that they are the Class who has done things. They have ever stood among the best on track and gridiron, in oratory and the Literary Societies. on the College Paper staff, in the work of the Chris- tian Associations, in Student Body affairs and in all departments of the College life. They are staunch and true to their Alma Mater. and from one of their number came the beautiful College Hymn, with all its inspiration. And as ther draw near to the time of their departure from the halls of the Loving Mother who has sheltered them and nourished them and guided them so well, every mem- ber of the Class of '08 registers the vow that he will strive to prove true, by his life, the class motto of Only a Cornnn'm't'1m'nt, that '08 may give to the world a manhood and womanhood. noble. pure and strong. worthy of the Alma Mater that they love so well. Er..nNI2 Axminsox. 37