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

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12 THE INDEX. earnestly strive, fellow classmates, that his anticipations may be fully realized in so far at least as we are concerned. We must be active. Quickly the remaining less than half of our course will speed away, and then we sh all go out to do our part in the great work of life. Then will it be seen how well we spent our col- lege days. In this centennial year of our glorious republic, may it be our determination that the advance of our country, in every desira- ble line, during the next ten decades, shall owe an honorable part to our having lived. Look higber, comrades! endeavor to subdue all within that tends to weaken or debase us. God, wbose mercy is infinite, will help and strengthen us, so that our lives here below shall be prosperous and happy, and, if faithful to the end, we shall re- ceive a reward good beyond all conception and altogether price- less. B.

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Who of us, classmates, has not been impressed by the thought that, with this term ' s duties we enter upon a new era in college life ? For with Junior year come new experiences and new responsibilities, which are fully realized only when we reach this welcome period. Our journey hither has been quickly and pleasantly accomplished. As we proceed on the latter half of our course, our only regret is that not quite all are with us now who started under the banner of ' 78. Yet we bid the missing - ones a hearty God speed in the paths where destiny leads them, and hope that others will come to fill the vacant places. We are very happy in welcoming back our classmate who has returned to us almost from the jaws of death, and yet is as reckless and jolly as ever. ' 76, in departing, has taken from us many esteemed college mates. We feel deeply the loss of our colleagues, but hope for their highest success in the courses they may pursue. What they were to us, from the time when first we trod Aggie domains till their graduation, we will endeavor to be, in the fullest degree, to our fresh colleagues. And the new class appears worthy of our friend ship. We trust they will grow in all that improves and cultivates the man, so that when our class shall quit its Alma Mater, they may make its absence less apparent. Tnstead of boasting of our superiority in everything, we only ask you to look to the records and they will testify to the high and honorable position which ' 78 holds in studies, athletics, and in supporting the several student associations of our institution. When our honored President returns from hin distant mission, he will find, we humbly hope, that those he left as wild Sopho- mores have become dignified and respected Seniors. We will

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9. In beginning our second year at college, we are once more called upon for our communication to the Index. Instead of being the lowest class in college, as last year, we have risen one stage higher in the course, and have become Sophomores. But a year ago, how distant the time of our graduation seemed, and yet a year passed ere we were aware of it. We are happy to state that we have done away with the dis- graceful custom, which nearly all Sophomore classes follow, of hazing Freshmen. We hope that the practice is done away with entirely in this college, and that a Freshman will always be treated as well as an upper-class man. For what pleasure can there be in a number of fellows getting together and besmearing their faces so that they may resemble savages as much as possible, arousing a single Freshman, if one can be found by himself, and hazing him ? The notion has been, and is still entertained by many students, that Freshmen should not be allowed to carry canes. Why have they not as good a right as any one ? Our class numbers sixteen , having lost six men during the past year, three of whose places are now filled by new comers. We will not boast of our scholarship, although we have very good reason to believe that our rank, as a class, is fully up to the aver- age. One thing, however, may be remarked, that one of our men, on entering, passed a better examination than any previous applicant for admission to the college. [Tn the Athletic Sports last year, our class was very poorly represented, although we had at the time men who would, with a little practice, have been equal to the best of them. Last year we furnished two men to the Wilder Base Ball Nine, besides having a nine of our own, which, it was stated, was able to give