University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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WM one and all. Anyway, he earned an honest livelihood through the utilization of his two most consequential earthly possessions, a somewhat undernourished horse named iGeorge, and an old spring wagon that listed badly to starboard because of a lack of uniformity in the intactness and function of its springs and other sup- porting structures. iiThe conveyance of luggage, trunks, suitcases, etc. between the railroad sta- tions and the places of abode of students constituted a quite sizable part of Char- lieis trade. He transported baggage for people, other than students, about town too. Then, in his spare time, he hauled items other than luggage, and, aside from the mystery as to his race, Charlie was distinguished upon two counts: one, his taciturnity when there was no cause for agitation or dissatisfaction, and two, his abandon in the use of profanity When irritated. iiOne day Charlie was hauling a load of apples up iVinegar Hill, enroute to a cider mill when the tailgate of his spring wagon came unfastened and apples began gradually to roll out. Because of the noise of his iron tires as they passed over the sort of corrugated bricks with which Main Street, at that time, was paved, Charlie couldnit hear the rumble of his apples escaping from his wagon, so he continued serenely up the hill. People along the sidewalk however, were quick to sense the situation and also quick to envision the kind and vehemence of the reaction that would be displayed when Charlie discovered what had happened. So a numeri- cally increasing group of people followed in close pursuit to hear the Vitupera- tion they assumed to be inevitable. iiAs the vehicle neared the top of the hill Charlie noted the ease with which George was breezing along. This prompted him to look back to check his cargo, but he was barely in time to see the last apple leave the wagon and also some ap- ples still bobbing along on their downhill course. He therefore pulled George over to the curb, got up from and stood on the drivers seat, took off his hat, scratched his head and, looking forlornly down at the curiously expectant gather- ing, simply said Gentlemen, I just ainit equal to the occasionf Cary smiled in a patronizing manner at the last story and began to speak in the soft tones of a native Richmonder. iiWell, character stories are Hne, but poli- tics has been the thing which has interested me most at the University. just about the only thing, judging from your gradesf remarked Vanderslice. iiIn fact, Iid go so far as to say that comic strips have more appeal than College presi- dents. As a matter of fact, a few years back, there was a poll taken to decide which comic strip the Cavalier Daily would publish: Peanuts or Liil Abner. As it turned out, more students voted in this election than had voted in the contest for the college presidency, and Peanuts cornered about three-hundred more votes than Liil Abner in popularity. The potential political power wielded by Charlie Brown is staggering? iiBe that as it may, politics is a unique aspect of the University? interrupted Cary Randolph, iiand some of our most colorful stories are those of the honorary societies. Itis interesting how many have come and gone while the essential struc- ture remains like it was more than Efty years ago. I have a picture from the Corks and Curls which shows five students around a fire in a room on the Lawn, as we are tonight, with the emblems and symbols of their societies around them a Eli, Tilka, Z, 13, the Hot Feet, P-K, German, and the 7 Society? Phelps had been thinking for the last few minutes how cold it must be outside. The respon- sibility inherent in the decision to move. Icicles might fall and crack open the head. The decision decided itself into action. Phelps rose from his armchair, opened the door to the sink, turned on both faucets, and stood there with his back to the others, hands on hips, for perhaps a minute or two. An unspoken tra-

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H3 : -, x l wa mewwm befof But the Visitor continued to press Alonzo for a more definite answer as to the purpose it served, in reaction to which Alonzo leaned away forward on his Moses-like, long staff and gazed off into inhnity to his left, then slowly turned and in a like manner gazed to his right in profound thought. Then, nonplused as to what the hell purpose the building did serve, with eyes bleared more by the toll of years than by the bell he rang, he looked up wistfully into the face of his per- sistently inquisitive Visitor and, in a voice meeker than that of Moses, said simply: iWell, we just uses it as a Rotunda, ,i Gotts declared that although he had only seen half of a year, there didnit seem to be as many characters around as there once reputedly had been. Gotts then be- gan to talk about that noted professor of Bumology, Tim Murphy. tiThat bearded old burn, a veteran of several navies and the Spanish-American War, took his chair, or better, his lwalll on the high railroad wall that extends by the steam plant and behind the Corner. From that perch he could successfully elude pursuing cops and watch for itouchesf After spotting such a kindly person, Tim would leap from the wall and shout ishoot-me-out: begging not for a bullet, but for a cigarette. His antics soon became well-known, yet because of his homey philosophy, exciting sea stories, and exotic South Sea girls, Tim was never without Cigarettes or money. Figures on his weekly income were never known, but some say that it never fell below twenty dollars a day. Moreover, his clothes were al- ways the Finest. Tweed coats and grey flannels that had seen duty on Madison Lane came his way from time to time to keep him clothed in the Virginia man- ner. iiOften Tim was chased by the watchful local authorities from his perch on the railroad wall, through the grounds, and finally into the sanctuary of Tim,s second perch, Fayerweather Hall. It was in F ayerweather Hall where Timis ihorrible trage- dyi entered his life. Caught by a group of students he was hauled protestingly from his slumber, scrubbed and washed, and suited in clean clothes. Never felt so bad in my whole life; the old salt protested. ttTim was always a welcome iigure at University functions. There was the time during Easter Week when Tim posed as an alumnus to the guests at a certain fra- ternity house. It is further rumored that the ldainties, served at the Presidents re- ceptions were not unattractive to Tim and that he was often the uninvited, but welcome, guest. His last colorful appearance was at the Carolina pep rally in ,42 when he threw a flaming tar baby from the second floor of the old Cavalier to get the procession underway and headed the parade as it wound through the Lane and down Whiskey Alley. iiBut old Tim caught pneumonia while sleeping on the wall perch in late July of 1943, and died a week later. His funeral, in the University cemetery, was a quiet one, but a few interested faculty members and students, who gratefully remem- bered Timis antics, saw his last remains laid away and erected a headstone on the spot. Still standing, the stone recalls Tim and the University,s lost department: Tim Murphy 1870-1943 Professor of Bumology University of Virginia Vanderslice, spurred on by the stories of the others, decided that he would tell another, if only so that his narrative technique would not get rusty, or so he told himself. iiThere was a character commonly known as iCharlief but whether he was a very light-colored colored man or a very unwashed white man remained a mystery to

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fjrixallhrKKMK mlzmllilymrwuwewm ,odlli km glwwm m W21 r7 1;: ar ll ow 0JM nggfnwmifa1 ffymmm THE T.I,LiK.A. SOCIETY OF UNIVERSITY or VIRGINIA INVITES YOU TO ATTEND ITS ANNUAL GERMAN WEDNE SDAY EVENING,APIUL Nun $225111 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND ELEVEN NINE O'CLOCK FAKE nwaxnn: n GYMNAS! UM dition symptomatic of its environmental definition. He returned to the chair With the same shhshhshh-ing sound as always. The others gave him little notice, but had their doubts, and Cary continued with what he was saying. iiIt seems to have been in the period from the end of the War Between the States through the Erst decade of the 1900s that most came into existence, Eli Banana being the father of them all. It seems that one Thomas Terrell, on a trip to Japan became familiar with a social order whose members were taken from the highest ranks of the Empire. He enthusiastically mastered the detailed ritual of the order of Eli Banana, and on leaving was given the commission by the Mikado 0f estab- lishing the Order in America. iiUpon his return he modified the ritual for the Western mind, while still re- maining true to the Japanese original. Vacationing at White Sulphur Springs in July, 1875, he drew up a constitution, elected ochers, and adopted a badge, Which was to be the distinctual American feature of the group. Being acquainted with several students from the University, Terrell granted them permission to es- tablish a chapter here. The other chapters were short-lived. They soon surren- dered their charters, leaving only the University of Virginia chapter. iiThrough the years the Elis have had trouble with the faculty and administration. In June of 1894 they were ordered dissolved by a resolution of the faculty after a celebration on the Lawn of their Easters initiation. After much petitioning they were reinstated. It is interesting to note that during this period the Elis appeared in the Corks and Curls just as they had before, but under the pseudonym of Te- ter McCillf tilt was shortly before Christmas of 1888-89 session that T.I.L.K.A. was founded, as described by one of its earliest members, ias a kind of rival of Eli Banana, per- haps originally intended to be on a little higher planef Its name comes from the initial letters of mystic words in the ritual, which are the subject of much con- jecture. It seems that although they prize the social congeniality of their rivals, although with less exuberance, emphasis is also on leadership. iiIn the days When the two ribbon societies vied for the same students more than they seem to today, often the first to reach the intended initiate got him. The sto- ry is told of one John Ryan, who was sought by both. It was agreed that at mid- night each society would send runners from the Rotunda, the first to reach him being the Victor. The T.I.L.K.A.,s were fortunate to have among their ranks a member of the track team. However, the Eli runner knew where Ryan lived and was the first to reach Ryan,s residence. Little suspecting that the boys father was Visiting for the weekend, the jubilant runner pounced on the figure in the bed yelling iEli Ryanf only to find that it was the senior Ryan who had been tapped. Apologizing, the Eli runner left. Shortly thereafter, the T.I.L.K.A. runner arrived on the scene. Taking a great leap on the bed, he shouted T.I.L.K.A. Ryan, The harassed father promptly arose and dressed, never seeing his much-sought-after son. iiUntil relatively recently, the T.I.L.K.A.,s held a dance during Easters week, the highlight being the formation of the sacred iTl by the members and their dates. A ceremony of much pomp, the making of the figure was followed by a rousing rendition of the T.I.L.K.A. song over the shouts of the Eli spectators? itBut who are these Hot F eet you mentioned? broke in Cotts. iiThe Hot Feet were supposedly founded at Mardi Gras in 19033 replied Randolph. uThe founders lived at the south end of East range, and originally op- erated as a baseball team. Their Chief public event was the crowning of a King atop a pyramid of 15 beer kegs, followed by his acceptance in drinking from the