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

Page 16 text:

The class of ' 75 enters upon its Sophomore year with but little diminution of its original number. In our Freshmen year we were called upon to mourn the death of one beloved classmate, whom we trust is now beyond the pale of sin and sorrow. The transition from Freshmen to Sophomores has deprived us of some able men, some indeed, who, in the language of one that has gone from us, could manipulate the cue, and agitate the ivories with a precision unequalled ; others there have been, who, having taken aU chapel exercises, would follow the mazy and intricate paths of Agricultural Science oftentimes once in a week or more. But the loss of these men was to be expected. The great world called upon them to let their light shine in other fields of action, and they responded. Let it be the endeavor of every man in the class, through scholarship and ability, to compensate for the loss of those thus early called in. In regard to our studies, we flatter ourselves that we are as far advanced as previous classes were at this stage of their college life. One of our number has already received a prize scholarship, to ob- tain which, must have cost no small amount of unremitting applica- tion to study. Our respected instructor in Mathematics and in Military Art, has been superseded in the last named by one whose fitness for that branch of instruction none would be so rash as to question. As chemists, at this particular time, we are searching for the base, but don ' t always find it, as many a treacherous test tube could testify. Nevertheless we shall endeavor to press on toward the goal, which is, of course, with those of us who intend to farm it, to analyze our soils, and eventually cause all those unscrupulous persons, who at the present time vend their third rate fertihzing compounds, to migrate to that section where chemists are unknown. But enough of hopes and aspirations ; let us turn to that subject ever fraught with interest to the dignified Soi)h., the hapless Freshy ! What a paternal interest we have taken in them ! How

Page 15 text:

TheIndex. 9 rapid, liaviag gone thi ' ough, or as we might say, over, the different kinds of farms, and arrived at cranberries, which, by the way, are studied here entirely by theory. But few, as yet, have shown themselves dangerous rivals of Booth in the rendering of Shakespeare ; but, in the words of one of our number, we arn ' t through, yet. In Military Science we are quite expert, having had both theory and practice combined, which, as we all know, ' makes perfect. In conclusion we can say, that, having come off victorious in all games of science during the past year with ' 75, (who, like the old salt , commenced with nothing, and have held their own ever since) we feel competent for the task of sustaining ourselves, during the rest of our course, as honorably as we have heretofore, and then with sheep-skins under our arms, take up the song, — ' Farewell to College duties, Farewell to Amherst We ' re going home. D.

Page 17 text:

TheIndex. 11 faithfully we have endeavored to initiate them into the many minor points of college life. Some generous spirits, having their future welfare at heart, favored them quite early in their college career with a visit, and when the ominous Sophomoric rap resounded in their ears, with what alacrity did they open unto us, and produce the calumet together with the weed that lulls, but doesn ' t agitate, and tremblingly invite us to fall to. In hazing we have never indulged, knowing well it would be be- neath the dignity of ' 75. ' Tis true we did invite one hero of ' 76 to remove his outer habihments and prepare himself for the embrace of kindly Moipheus. Need I say that this modest request was com- plied with, notwithstanding the disinterested advice of ' 74 to the contrary ? In regard to Rushes, we have had but one decided one, and then were challenged by ' 76. We responded to the urgent ap- peals for ' 75 to appear, and, though the night was extremely dark, the result will never be published in the annals of those brave but rash Freshmen. Thus we have briefly glanced over some of the leading points of interest in our Sophomore year thus far. It vnll be our endeavor to maintain the record thus far creditable, throughout the remain- der of our course. May all of us, when called upon to fight hfe ' s battles in after years, be able to say that our Alma Mater never had cause to blush for us during our college course. K.