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

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iiave. Althoug-li our year ' s work may appear small, yet we have certainly laid the foundation for future acquirements. As we look back over the past year, we may see many errors due to our inexperience. Let us profit by our observations, and strive to avoid such mistakes in the future. Our studies for the coming year promise to be even harder than usual. A few changes con- cerning them seem to meet with approval, as may be inferred from the fetu that avail themselves of the French optional ; also Chemistry, which has been transferred to the Sophomore year. It is probably supposed that we are better able to comprehend its secrets ; but even yet it is extremely hard for most of us to grasjD the ideas of our Professor. As so small a class has entered to fill the places of the late Seniors, greater action devolves upon us ; and never let it be said of us : You are dull, and those sparks of life That should be in an Aggie, you do want. Or else you use not. P. 19

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tUR vacation has ended, and we now commence another year of mingled study and pleasure. We have Just passed the first milestone of our college life. For one year we have seen the letter F glaring forth from that stone. We have pa- tiently waited for the time when, reaching the other side, we should see the letter S shining brightly in our faces. It is true we are but one step higher ; but it shows us that we are gaining ground, and we must remember that true success is gained a step at a time. Several of our classmates had reached this point, but for vari- ous reasons were unable further to pursue the course. They have our best wishes for their success, and we trust we shall ever be worthy a remembrance by them. However, we have been reinforced so that our number remains undiminished. The care usually bestowed upon the Freshmen has this year been dispensed with, as it was thought inconsistent with the new management. The grand rush, although awarded to ' 86, was far from being won by them. It was jDrobably owing to the fact that, in the con].motion of the moment, ' the judge was unable to see, but, sympathizing with the Freshmen, decided in their favor. It might be supposed that we were growing quite infirm, judging from the number of walking-sticks in use ; but such is evidently not the belief of the Freshies, though they have never dared to prove our condition. As we have completed a year at this institution, we naturally ask ourselves, Have we accomplished anything ? I think we 18

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.00— hoo — boo — lioo — bah — Eighty-Six ! This, reader, is our Class howl. We give this cry, because we know there is not another Class in College that has a yell anything like ours. It was got up to frighten the bold, bad Sophs., but they don ' t scare worth a cent. When we first came to College, our mas said we must not associate with naughty boys, but must be good ; so most of us are going to join the pi ' eying band. Our moral character is as unimpeachable as the Declaration of Independence and a Fourth- of-July picnic. We don ' t know what this means, but as a Senior said so it must be true. We don ' t smoke cigarettes, play penny ante, nor walk out with girls in the daytime that we have not been introduced to. We don ' t carry canes, either, as much as we did. We were all sick at first, and one fellow with big red eyes went home to see his ma, and has not come back yet ; probably College life didn ' t suit him. There is one little boy in our Class they call Spring Chicken ; we don ' t know why, unless it is because he has got a beak on him like a hen. ! we must tell you about Bill. He is a funny boy, Bill is. He has got a voice like a big bull frog. He beats the assembly, and is a good drummer. The Sophs, were awful mad because they didn ' t win the rush. One of them was so mad that he yelled out in a sarcastic way : 20