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

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iiilloob I ride my jet black steeds across the night, High over verdant hills and arid plains; With fast-clamped knees I sit my saddle tight, My muscles rigid with the steel taut reins. The cold dark breeze of night draws through my hair, My horses snort and fleck their flanks with foam. My silken mantle flutters in the air Like a snared eagle; and my thoughts, that roam Across the miles and years, in one quick flash See kingdoms totter and the works of Man Crumble and fall; I hear a mortal rash Swear by his God, not knowing that Time can Obliterate like him his Deity, Call Consciousness from Chaos and make fall Into Oblivion, as night makes day Drop into darkened moats, beyond recall. My horses tread but once upon each sphere In their mad gallop down the hill of space. They do not falter in their swift career Of flight through star-dust on their endless race, While centuries fly under their sharp feet, I scream aloud in craz ' d futility And feel the very sounds and shrill notes beat Back in my breast by some unknown ability That crushes and kills 15

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When the dark hour had passed and peace was again restored, along the river bank of the ' Quonektacut ' lay the remains of burned and devastated homes and graveyards filled with victims of tomahawk and scalping knife. Now and then a refugee from the long lines of miserable captives, who had been led away into the boundless northern woods, came straggling back, to tell harrowing tales of torture and death. The war cloud passed as suddenly as it came. Once more the survivors of this dark period took up their various avocations. More im- migrants came into the valley from many sections of New England. Towns grew. Prosperity and peace reigned. Educational and religious schools were established. Then, in 1867 there rose from the blood-red soil of the valley a new edifice to learning — M. A. C. As you pass across the campus today can you imagine this section of the val- ley as it was before the founding of the college. ' Can you picture a mass of sav- ages sneaking noiselessly across the grounds toward the center of Amherst? Can you appreciate the deeds of the freedom loving Yankee patriots who gave their lives that this valley might be safe for posterity? They made the foun- dation of old Massachusetts possible by the demonstration of a patirotic spirit that has always dominated Massachusetts men. The history and lives of those patriots who lived in crude log cabins up and down the valley, who established this college for the liberal education of their children, who gave the valley its traditions, can exist today only as a dim reminiscence to those that reap the fruits of their labors. Long years ago, with valient hearts, on Massachusetts soil, Her sturdy sons subdued the earth with endless care and toil; They fought the red men on the trail, the wild beast in his lair, Famine and cold and dire desire beset them everywhere. Yet strong in faith and rich in hope, our brave forefathers fought, Drew down a blessing from the skies and gained the goal they sought. 14

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poarb of xn tn Nathaniel I. Bowditch of Framingham William Wheeler of Concord Sarah Louise Arnold of Lincoln . James F. Bacon of Boston Frank Gerrett of Greenfield Harold L. Frost of Arlington Charles H. Preston of Danvers Carlton D. Richardson of West Brookfield Davis R. Dewey of Cambridge John F. Gannon of Pittsfield George H. Ellis of AVest Newton Philip F. Whitmore of Sunderland John Chandler of Sterling Junction Frederick D. Griggs of Springfield Term Expires 1929 1929 1930 1930 1931 1931 1932 1932 1933 1933 1934 1934 1935 1935 JMemberg (tx= 9tMo His Excellency Governor Alvan T. Fuller . President of the Board of Trustees President of the College Roscoe W. Thatcher Payson Smith Arthur W. Gilbert State Commissioner of Education State Commissioner of Agriculture 0ltict :6 of tfjc CrustcES His Excellency Governor Alvan T. Fuller William Wheller of Concord Robert D. Hawley of Amherst . Fred C. Kenney of Amherst Frank Gerrett of Greenfield President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Auditor 16