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

Page 17 text:

THE INDEX. 0iiitiiiiiiiratt0n Wlu-n the .«unimer fields are mown, When tlie birds sire fledfffd and flown, And the dry h ' avi-s strew tlie path ; With the falling of tlie snow. With Ihf cnwiuu- of tiie crow, Once again the tiidds we mow. And gather in ilic aftermath. — LoTif felloin. What shall we say in our last communication for the In- dex ? Class History or Statistics it seems superfluous to i;ive; the future it is not easy to fathom. Conimon sense is well enough as a seasoning, but does not the expectant public look lor uncommon sense, especially Irom grave and reverend Seiaiors. ' ' Peril. ijs tlicy expect sentiment, Irozen to the proper thickness with Senior dignity. ' J his must be it. By the way, Fellow Seniors, we must hurry and put on all the dignity that we can carry, l(jr just see bow the weeks are passing. When we watch them they seem to creep along almost imperceptibly, but when our backs are turned and we are busy with siudy, — whew — how quickly and slyly they slip by. It is not a Senior Year we have before us ; it is only fifty-l wo weeks ; not even that; S(;me Lave gone to leed the mythic fountain of the past alieady. But notwithstanding the magic disappearance cjf our Junior Year, how much was crowded into it: — Botany and Boating, Gymnastics and Ges- ture, Astronomy and Articulation, Physics and Phun, Drill, Drawing and Dutch. Cur Plant Hunters have interfered with the growth of quite a considerable amount of vegetation

Page 16 text:

THE INDEX. Within a short time, three gentlemen desiring to help the College by deeds rather than words, have offered prizes, which will stimulate exertion among the students, and be a valuable aid to those who obtain them. May their example be followed by others, until many Scholarships are founded, and there is a prize in each branch of study. And, on our part, instead of working simply for high marks, may our aim be the greatest improvement, both (jf mind and body. To those who have no wish to help us, (and, if we can judge from appearances, there are many,) we would say, do not spend your time in writing false statements to be pub- lished in papers, which make it an object to injure the Col- lege. In noticing improvements, we should not fail to remark that in the musical department, and much less to thank the College Glee Club for the concerts they have given us. In regard to boating, though we are small in numbers, and have no large alumni to back us, yet we trust our reputation is second to none ; and as long as W ' e are represented in re- gattas, may tlie reputation of the Aggies never ceate, nor our crews fail to uo themselves lioiior. We welcome the new Professor, who it is said will soon be here, with the wish ihat his labors may be as successful as his duties are numerous and laborious. And now fellow students, we give the Index into your hands, feeling sure that those who have been in our position will overlook its faults; and having no worse wish for our successors than that they may be able to correct them.

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THE INDEX. this spring and summer, we think, and though we don ' t brag much, we will say we mounted a few specimens, or more, at the expense of some midnight oil and stores of patience. The Junior Exhibition we shall not forget right away, nor the expedition to Hobsac. The cool mountain brook, the night in the Devil ' s Pulpit, the slips and tumbles, the last grand slide down to Deertield River, the Tunnel, the tear-ful groups at the Depot, are experiences embedded in the memo- ries of all concerned. Why did we not have our pictures taken as we returned to civilization ? Shall we ever look like that again ? Some of our class who were with us then have now left the college, whom we miss in recitation and elsewhere. They would join with us in expressing n Y appreciation of the labors of the Faculty in our behalf, and doubtless leel the same complete CDnfidence with us in the character of our President and Professors. It is for us who remain to sus- tain the credit of the class and thus the credit o1 ihe College U) the extent of our ability. The showers of criticism which have fallen upon AJ. A. C. of late, iiave found the institution a stubborn fact, not easily overtlirovx n, — a plant with good stro.i. roots th It means to live and giovv. It is easy to criti- cize at a distance, but to us Ikj A nrw the ihori Ui hntss and ability ol Our instructors, such oiticitni setn)s ill-inkn med. l-)arin tiic past year vc cannot forget tliat tlie College has lost, in the death of Prolessor Clark, jne whose memory will not die in the hearts of those under his instruction. And iKJVv we close our last article hjr the Inukx. What ih class of ' 74 Decomes depends upoii its individual mem- bers. Each one of us has his duty ; let him do it. H.