University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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7 W TheIndex. hoping tliat we may turn the information and knowledge, which we have here stored away, to vakiable account. But this, as has been before stated, is the last communication from ' 73 to The Index, and to all of us it is a sad thought. It is true that we have long been looking forward to graduation day as the final consummation of our happiness. We have been eager to quit the sometimes dull monotony of college life, and to go forth and try our fortunes with others in the great world around us. But as the time draws near, and as we begin to perform, one by one, this and that duty for the last time, these feehugs give way to those of sad- ness and reflection. The cords of affection which have so long bound us together, seem to tighten at the thought of separation, and love for our Alma Mater increases as the parting draws near. It is hard to think that the time is so near at nand when the old class will break up, probably never to meet again an unbroken circle, and also that our life as students, in many respects so pleasant, will so soon end. In closing, we are happy to say that we are not at all ashamed of the record which we leave behind us. We have ever held the re- spect and esteem of all the classes with whom we have been con- nected- In athletic sports we leave an unspotted record. Our class nine has never suffered a defeat. In the rowing regattas at Ingleside and Springfield the muscle of ' 73 has been freely and profitably expended. We have two qualities which we feel safe in advising our successors to imitate ; they are, the unity, and class- pride which have ever characterized ' 73. Yes, we love our old col- lege home and are loth to leave it, but as in the natural course of events partings and separations must come, we put on a cheerful face and bid the readers of The Index a long farewell. W.

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For the fourth and last time is ' 73 represented in The Index. The former communications from our class have been characterized bj their wit, and their pleasing allusion to the jokes and cheerful events of the past year. But as we are now situated in the evening of our college life, with the future, filled with the many stern reidi- ties so near at hand, our thoughts are naturally drawn into deeper and more serious channels. Perhaps the one question vvrhich comes home to each one of us with more earnestness than any other, is. Have the three years which we have spent here been rightly and profitably improved, and ai ' e we sufficiently compensated for the time and money which we have here expended ? It is indeed true that many, perhaps all of us, have wasted many precious moments and allowed many opportunities to go unimproved. We have also pursued many studies here, which in after life may be of no prac- tical importance to any of us. But on looking back over the three years which have passed away since first we entered these College halls as verdant Freshmen, we feel that our progress has been in many respects satisfactory. We have found here many new ideas, have stored away a vast amount of useful information, aud have passed through a course of mental training and discipline, which we hope will hereafter place us in positions of trust and honor among our fellow citizens. Yes, we are satisfied, and we shall go forth from here feeling that our time has not been altogether wasted, and

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ffM Two years of onr college life have passed away, and, as we are starting on the third, our annual contribution to The Index is called foi. As we look back through the past year upon that sunny autumn, when we felt for the first time that we were no longer the et cetera ; upon the cold winter, when one ' s fireside was the most comfortable place this side of home ; upon the bright summer, when we were wont to gather around the stately form of some pro- fessor, and tell, with boyish delight, of Angles, Kingk and Reformers, or What we knew about ar ra ' nc ; when we look upon all this that has passed, a feeling of sadness comes over us. Not that we have neglected duty, far from it, but that one place in this happy circle is vacant, never again in this hfe to be filled. And however long we may be spared to life ' s work, we shall always remember the happy countenance, the kind words and the Christian example of our classmate Clark. Feeling that what was our loss has resulted in his eternal gain, we are willing to leave it in the hands of Him who doeth all things weU. With the Faculty we are on the best of terms, having done noth- ing to merit their displeasure, not even having bolted without wait- ing the required time. And no one can fail to see how highly they estimate our abilities, if they but read the routine for the present term. For, to aid us in the digestion of our great intellectual feast, a Physical portion is given us as dessert, which, by the way, is one of the most substantial and hearty dishes of the feast. In Veterinary Science we are progressing finely, under the guidance of our new Professor in this depariment ; and any one not acquainted with us (or the language) would think German our native tongue. Our work in the Horticultural department has been very pleasant, thus far, as the path to the scene of action passes through the vineyard, and onions grow not there. In Agriculture our progress has been