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

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if K X TK 4 i 5-ffqir - tv - -fit T Q- 9 jQmTF.:N jf . it f v ' Wt vie it 'T -' I -- nu sf!-1 f 7 left as a remembrance a sun dial placed upon a gran- ite pedestal. The Seniors of 'OS were both patriotic and generous in presenting a large American flag and a fine pair of bronze lamps for the entrance to the main building. The class of '09 has already added a silver-mounted gavel to these gifts, which will always be prized among us. Of special interest from the traditional standpoint is the Dog-on-Button, which is also carefully guarded by the Seniors. This is its history as told by C. E. D. Ballon, '99: The Dog-on-Button originated with the class of 1893. The members of the class were Robert T. Hall, li. E. Hall, Frank M. Lapham, Charles H. W'insor, Minerva Cook and Ellen Emery. I am under the impression that either R. T. Hall or Frank Lapham were responsi- ble for the advent of the button, for they were both great hands for practical jokes and fun. The But- ton was a prize with a nickel package of chewing gum. One day one of the members of the class sprung a joke in class on one of the professors and the button was immediately passed over to the guilty classman to wear. The idea was so novel that the class kept the button constantly changing from one to another throughout the year '92-'93. At the Senior Class Day exercises in -Tune, '93, ac- cording to the custom of that time the Junior class did the decorating for the occasion. The Senior class motto was 'WVisdom will die with usf' The exercises were held on the front porch of the Col- lege of Liberal Arts building and the motto was placed around the archway, over the entrance. A few minutes be- fore the class appeared for the exer- cises a ,Tunior climbed no and placed an e after the word us of the mot- to so that when the grave and rever- end Seniors came out they found them- 22

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,ft fmsrm W7 ffz 5 A it ,f -f T -X i N t fl ' 5 ' S' ii' ,y O ,V .yy M. 'I J, 1- -l rows of vacant seats in chapelg but no one be- grudges them their final frolie. 'They are soon forced to realize that their happy comradeship must be speedily brought to a close, when the time for the last chapel exercises comes. lt has long been the custom for this service to be conducted by the Seniors, and at no other time do college as- sociations seem dearer. In no other day does tradition center so much interest as in Ivy Day. Then are gathered up the threads of tradition that run back through the his- tory of our University and are symbolized by the the time-honored relics used in the ceremonies of the day. The planting of the ivy by the Seniors is the most significant feature. The ground is, broken with a shovel that was bought by the class of '04, Each class that uses this shovel carves its numerals on the handle and hands it down to the incoming Senior class. After the ivy is planted Juniors and Seniors join in smoking the pipe of peace, a custom which also was instituted by the class of '04, Wlieii all class rivalry is thus laid aside, the Seniors formally in- trust the relics that have been handed down from year to year, to the succeeding class. Among these, besides the shovel and the pipe of peace, is the Mystery Bag, a bequest of the class of '06, which contains mysterious gifts from the class of '07 and ,08. So the legacy increases each year. But the legacies of the Senior classes include more than mere trifles to be valued chiefly for the memories connected with them. The custom of presenting a class gift to the University originated with the class of '06, The first gift was a valuable painting by Prof. XV. T... Judson. The next class - ..- ,, v - Zl - -

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i1.l selves sitting under the motto, Wisdom will die with usef, It seemed so good a joke that at the end of the exercises the President of the junior class was called to the platform and presented with the Button-partially in retaliation for the motto mutilation-with instructions that it should always remain in the Senior class and be jealously and care- fully guarded. From that time it has passed from the outgoing to the incoming Senior class with seeming' regularity. By the time it reached the class of '95 the bar had become so loose that it was replacedxwith a silver one. NVhen it reached the class of '98 they were compelled to place a new back upon the now historic emblem, and in 1900 the rim had become so worn that a silver one was put on itf' So the history of the old tin Button may be traced. However much the llutton itself may have changed through all these years, its his- toric significance and the jealousy with which it is guarded still remain the same. Many an interesting' tale might be told that has come down to the students of today from the early history of our University, and it would he a pleas- ant task to recall themg but traditions for the most part have been noted here, that take the form of cus- tom, because they are the ones that have more vital interest for the student life of today. I af , ' 5 gif l WY? 23