University of Missouri - Savitar Yearbook (Columbia, MO)

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would divertour minds from the frivolous pleasures which form a part of a student's life. This done, we again had an opportunity to witness a sight which could be seen at no other places but a circus and fourth of July picnic-the conglomerous crowd out of which was to be formed the new freshman class. The rustic lad wear- ing the proverbial blue cravatg the more polished city youth with his neatly Htting 'icutaway and sweet smelling cigarette, the coy maiden with waving curls and sparkling eye, and the awkward, homesick girl with big freckles, all were there. This called to mind the time when only a few years ago, we, too, were freshmen, and the memory of this in turn recalled the pleasant experience of our nearly com- pleted college course. Happy days they were, but at no time had we felt so much satisfaction as at the present, because now we were making the beginning of the end. To be seniors had been our ambition from early youth, and now that we had arrived at the much coveted post of honor, we had a right to demand homage of our inferiors. But here the trouble began. In an University like this, differences of opinion exist as to who are the greatest among us. Now, there were the t'mules, 'fmedics, Hsheepu and t'farme,rs all clamoring for this recognition, which by virtue of superior ability belongs to the academic seniors. The 4'mules especially with characteristic audacity, appeared to think that the rest of the Uni- versity could be stowed away very comfortably in one of their quiz rooms and that we were of little importance. But there they are mistaken. The academic seniors do not make much noise, because violent demonstrations are beneath our dignity. Neither do we belong to the common herd like our professional brethren. We are the aristocrats, the ladies and gentlemen of culture, who have spent all these years searching for hidden truth because we are students by nature inclined, and not to prepare ourselves to successfully gull the unsuspecting public, Although we have surmounted all difliculties, and avoided the snares which have entangled many of our fellows in mad scramble for the tfsheepskinf' we are not disposed to blow over our accomplishment, but on the other hand the modesty with which we wear our laurels is remarkable. VVe receive with wonderful self- possession the smiles of admiring friends, the haughty glare of the junior, the with- ering scorn of the 'isophu and the thoughtful gaze of the ttfreshie as he contem- plates the dizzy heights to which we have ascended and half unconsciously niurmurs. '-Oh, what must it he to be there. XVe are not naturally proud and conceited but it is quite proper that we should feel a degree of pride when we receive our diplomas-those precious documents for which we have labored so assiduously all these years. It is an honor indeed to be an alumnus of the univer- sity of Nlissouri. It is a passport which will admit us into educational circles and insure us a recognition wherever we may wander. 21,1

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Academic Seniors. The history of this class properly begins on the pleasant September day in the year 1894, When, as if by magic drawn, we found ourselves at a small village some twenty miles from our destination. WVe had, in years gone by, been accustomed to Find there a train ready to carry us to our journeyls end, but after waiting several hours and seeing none, we determined to investigate the matter. We were soon informed that for some months, because of lack of patronage, only weekly trains had been run, and as this -was not the regular time, we would have to wait a few days. iWe immediately held a consultation and decided to make up a purse in order to persuade the sleepy old conductor to make a special trip. This had the desired effect, and after the rusty engine had been oiled carefully and put in run- ning, or rather creeping, condition, we continued our journey, and after a delightful ride of two hours, viewing the scenery along the way, we once more landed in the 'tAthens of the westf, Collecting our grips, bundles, umbrellas and canes, and seeing that the fragments of our trunks left by the thoughtful baggage smashers, were securely stored away, we proceeded to hunt some first-class boarding houses. Now' for some reason perfectly understood by all the students, Columbia had long had a reputation far and wide for the scarcity of the above-named places. We1'e we an artist we would paint you a picture showing the unpalatable and unchanging dishes of so-called edibles on which the unfortunate victims are supposed to exist- Appetites invariably fail us at the first thought of our scanty and repulsive 'tbills of fare. All sorts of expedients are resorted to in order to coaxback the vanished desire for food, we take long walks into the country, we play football, we spend hours thinking about all the good things we used to have at home, we stand and gaze at fruits and pies displayed in windows hoping thereby to vvhet up our appe- tites, but at the moment of success visions of our boarding house dinners Hoaf mockingly by and they tttake the wings of the morning and fly to the uttermost parts of the earth. It's no use. Starvation stares us in the face and were it not for occasional vacations we would long since have Hshudied off this mortal coil. Considering all these things it is no wonder that after several days, futile search we gave up in despair and resigned ourselves to the fate which invariablyawaits those thirsting for lore. VV'hen at last we were located as well as possible under the circumstances, we betook ourselves to the University in order to arrange for a few studies which 25

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There are several circumstances connected with our experience as a class, of which we are justly proud, we were the last freshman class organized under the roof of the old, and the first senior class to graduate from the chapel of the new, University. VVe form, then, the connecting link which joins the memory of the old with the reality of the new, we have seen a new president from the sunny south assume his duties as chief executive: several new departments created, the adoption and, to our sorrow, the discontinuance of the ninety per cent. system of class grading. This was the greatest disaster of our lives. VVe begged, we pleaded, we got up on our dignity and declared that it was an affront to our intelli- gence, but to no avail. We shed rivers of tears and made dire threats of ven- geance, but professors were immovable, so we had to submit to the inevitable, 4'And our hearts though strong and brave, Still like muiiled drums were beating funeral marches to the grave. During our freshman year, too, the University went up in smoke, for which we were devoutly thankful. lvfany heroic deeds were performed that night, so the story goes, by those brave boys who were destined to become seniors of '95. Hslunibow was hustled out of the blazing museum in a jiffy, the zebra turned out to graze, and the lion and the lamb were made to lie down together. VVe also have a faint recollection of standing guard when the thermometer registered 44 degrees below zero. How that pathetic call, tiAll's well and cold as-blixen broke the stillness of the morning air! lVhile it affords considerable pleasure to pose as a senior, all is not smooth sailing. Certainly, the first half is the most enjoyable part of the year. Then com- mencement is a long way off in the dim distance--a mere possibility- a thing of the future. No harrowing doubts as to the probability of being dislodged from our enviable position infests the mind. We are then seniors indeed and no one questions our right to the distinction. HAH went well and merry as a marriage bell until a few weeks before commencement when we are summoned to appear before the tribunal of justice to render an account of our stewardship. Doubts and fears then rend the mind and we are in the agony of suspense until the trying ordeal is over. But to our great satisfaction we are recommended for graduation, and thus the last stumbling block is removed. Commencement is now but a fevv weeks off, and while it is usually a joyous time, we drop a tear of regret, because to many of us it means a last farewell to the scenes of our good old college days. But we must give place to the advancing columns and go forth to conquer or die in the great struggle with our fellowmen. And now with a sigh for the 'days that are gone and with hearts full of happy anticipations of the future, the academic seniors of '95 bid you all an affectionate farewell. 27