Valparaiso University - Beacon / Record Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

Page 12 text:

esto quad esse videris THOMAS B. MATNEY amicus usque ad aras ALBERT F'. MARSH

Page 11 text:

CLASS HISTORY VALPO CLASSICS OF 1908. THOMAS B. MATNEY. HE history of the world is only the story of a few great men, told E by relating the causes, the achieving, and the results of these men7s actions. Alexander and Napoleon, Isaiah and Confucius, Copernicus and Newton, Humbolt and Darwin represent their phase of greatness. A successful historian must have the power of reasoning from cause to effect, of predicting the future by the study of past and past-perfeet events and of knowing tithe signs of the timesfl It is aimed in this short produc- tion'to give lightning-flash Views of the great events of the past yearea year in which we all are most interested, a year of which we all are justly proud. Our little prophet, the youngest and most beautiful daughter of the greatest muse, will infallibly expose the future decreed by the irrevocable Fates. I leave it to you, unpersuaded and unaided, to View the present, for who is so insensible to his environment, and, after beholding this great class, who is so dense that he can not read Hthe signs of the timesli? Indeed, if the aim in writing this be only partially accomplished, it would easily pass, simply by a change of title page, for itA Recent History of Valparaiso UniversityW Some one may ask: iiIs is possible to write a class history without telling of Tartar-like class rushes and class iscrapsiw Any intelligent person knows that history is not all battles, that the greatest strides towards civilization are made in times of peace when all work in harmony and sympathy not ' distracted by Mars, reveille and wars alarms. The highest developed mind can dream of a time when the classes will fight no more; it can even think of a very- select class at present above physical strife. Then, it gives pleasure that nothing is recorded of which we should ever be ashamed, but that we can justly be held up as an ideal study for aesthetic and ethical Sociology. True and impartial history should represent the follies as well as the Victories and great accomplishments of its characters. It would seem too biased to go into details in this present work, for the unsullied Virtues, if enumerated, would overwhelm the listener, and the follies would appear as if seen from the reversed end of a telescope. Avoiding even the appearance of

Page 13 text:

9 it shall not be said that this class possessed extraordinary Virtues u so rareythat to be a janitor in the class was an honor, virtues so us serve as a model of decorum and inspiration to right action for every 011 the Hill. It would be impossible for anyone except a Macaulay ary value, in so short a space, to such great Virtues. different tribes and clans that inhabit this Hill should write a gf themselves, and if the compilation be criticized by a highly civilized e of passing righteous judgment, the collection would recapitulate iepment- of history from earliest times to the present. es and barbarians leave no written account of themselves, their being kept alive only by legend and crude relics. Those tribes that he road to civilization sometimes write an account of their great or defeats, but these are little better than mere rhapsodies 0r laments Wandering harpers. Still later we find the elements of true history 11:1,: yet. these writers despise simply criticism and plain truth, pre- . ion and eloquence Then we reach the artistic and imaginative Herodotus and Xenophon who depend largely upon tradition and for their material The historical writers of a medium civilization enced by race, religion, and caste. They are careful of their material, view it through the distorting lens of prejudice, partly on account 11 biased minds and often to cater to the demands of their readers. historian of uthe highest elassit cares little for rhetorical flourish, rareful 0f the truth as a scientist. , we mourn the loss to true history because certain ones wander through our territory, remaining only a term or two, not staying ,gh to form any class affiliations and leaving only conflicting accounts 1szes among the lower resident tribes? They do not even raise a v earth to commemorate their departure. I ever heard of the Commercials writing a class history, or even a for their iibig chiefm! Yet we must recognize them as a resident specimen be caught and examined, and asked what he is here for degree he will get when graduated he will invariably answer, NWe moi to Tgit a A. B. degreeYy What do you think of that! Wouldnlt the breath from a cyclone! Well, it is at least commendable for mitate something noble and it may serve to get him ttfarther away P and consequently closer to the ideal. 7, Ph'armies are a harmless tribe,regard1ess of their horrid emblems 3E their life on the Hill is concerned; but woe unto them upon whom their hrst experiments of pills and compounds. The Medics have . ad gseeking whom they may devour. would not look seornfully down upon the steps that have elevated us