University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Peregrinus celebrates nine decades Adopted in 1901 by the junior class, legendary Patron Saint continues to symbolize truth, equality and justice for generations of legal scholars Saint Ives, Patron Saint of all law students, has nothing on the Peregrinus as a Patron Saint. The Peregrinus was created in December, 1899, and was adopted by the Junior Law Class in 1901 as the Patron Saint of the Law-School. Ihe birth of Perry took place in the lecture room of one of the most colorful and beloved of the early law professors, Colonel W.S. Simkins. It was the Colonel’s first year of instructing, and his students were intrigued by the way he pronounced — or mispronounced — some Latin terms. One day in his Equity class he asked a student to identify Peregrinus, which was the name of an ancient Roman official, whose full name was Praetor Peregrinus. The student swung too low on the curved pronunciation, however, and guessed, “Wal, I don’t know. Judge, ’less it could be some kind of animal.’’ This student was Jim Livingston McCall, a star Longhorn football player who was the center for the team. Another version of the incident by those who believe it was 1900 and not 1899 that Peregrinus was born, claim that the incident took place after Texas beat A M on Thanksgiving. McCall was asleep in class when called on because he had been up the night before celebrating the victory. Nevertheless, it was too good to let die, and in practically nothing flat another student, the late Russell R. Savage of Corpus Christi, drew a picture of the imaginary animal in class and on the blackboard the next morning before class. The sketch was later copied in a plaster statuette, which was installed as the idol of the Law School. The small orange and white figurine has also been securely installed in the hearts of thousands of students through the years. Since early in the century Perry has been the symbol of a feud between the Lawyers and the Engineers, with the result that he has been captured and taken for a ride several times. It is not known for certain, but it is believed that the current Perry is the fourth edition of the original. Perry is always the subject of inquiry by the first year students; some have asked why a duck” appears on the official senior ring. But, it does not take long before these students learn that the Peregrinus is the patron saint of the Law School and join thousands who for 90 years have shown their love, admiration and respect for Perry. In discussing the Roman Court that set up the cases involving foreigners. Colonel Simkins told of the judge who presided over the court and, intentionally or unintentionally, he pronounced Praetor Peregrinus as Pcregrinoos, and to this day it is still so pronounced Savage drew the picture on the blackboard and when Professor Simkins ar rived he saw that the creature had the tail of a fox, the body of a donkey, the eyes of an eagle, the head of a stork, and vicious fangs. On his front fed were men’s shoes and or his rear feet were boxin gloves. Later a claw re placed one front shoe an an Irish ditcher's boot re placed the other. Colone Simkins first gave signif icance to the features ant through the years his com ments picked up other tra ditional meanings. Thi fiery mouth was to figh injustice and represent iht wide latitude of a bill o equity; the bushy tail of i fox represents the wis and skillful lawyer or th shrewd and crafty one. Ol the Peregrinus’ front foo the Irish ditcher's boot in dicatcs the law’s protcc tion of the least of man kind. On the other fron foot the naked claws indicate that th greatest of mankind must fear its pov cr. His hindquarters are those of a dog man’s most faithful friend. The spotted patches indicate that even the mos beautiful days will have a few clouds The arched back in the attitude o springing indicates that the law is eve-ready to protect right or proven wrong. The sharp extending beak in dicatcs the power to penetrate the mys teries of the law which the true studen must obtain by study. 4 — Story of (he Peregrinus

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Around Townes ... 6 Students .... 68 Out of Townes . .24 Faculty ....94 Our Townes . .34 Index . . .114 Organizations . .44 Advertising .. .122 Hcrcgrinut Siaff — 3

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I o prevent kidnappings from rivals in the College of Engineering, the current rendition of the Peregrinus is securely housed in a scaled vault at an undisclosed campus location. The vtatuc. representing the Patron Saint of the Law School, is removed periodically, under carefully guarded conditions, to preside over official Law School ceremonies, such as the fall and spring commencement. Story of the Peregrinus— 5