Vassar College - Vassarion Yearbook (Poughkeepsie, NY)

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Yet looked on him with beaming eye, While he, becoming strangely shy, Subsidecl with a bow quite grand, Forgetful of the theme in hand. This filled the concourse with delight, Though it upset decorum quite. At first the leader joined in too, And then said he, This will not do! I now apply for information To one of classic reputation. For answer came an awful snore. 'Twas sad-the leader'd looked for more! The Brownie wakened with a lurch, And in his pockets 'gan to search. 'Tfborrfqind it all l It cannot be I've lost my written speech l quoth he. But when the paper he'd discovered, I-Iis wonted calm was all recovered. From what he said, 'twas plain to view To wheel suits he'd be always true. Next spoke in accents low and sweet, A Brownie very hard to beat. A lady-principal 'tis said In all the Brownie conclaves dread. My friends, in much I deem you right, But see it in another light. This matter of our daily dress Our pupils surely must impress. Then let us try if we can find Effect of it upon the mind. Perhaps our friends who've not been heard Upon this point will add a word P I' Then those who never spoke in meeting Were greatly flattered by such greeting. Their little note-books they consult And promptly call out this resultg bg f - fr ii If-'fill a a X I-f l ' I I I ! ills I ' Il l , The wheel girls best bisect a circle ! Their efforts know no tire! They mount with ease historic cycles! 'And English style acquire l Thcy're falling off in Greek and Latin ! Deficient quite in French ! r'And in their German are not able To tell a Uliaxul from 9J6e1iftb. .Then rose .the leader, always seen VVith dignified and pompous mien. To speakand end this altercation, I feel my ground of obligation. Effect discussed by you must be As well as cause. I hope you see, All moral taste,s perverted quite By this division bi-partite. i Adoption of a garb so scant 23 Is sure to end QI quote from Kantj ,5U2itungeIjeue1' Qieifonniienljeit. I And this, of course, would not be rightf, Then spoke another, known to be A master of psychology: Thy thought has crossed, I must confess, The threshold of my consciousness, That every faculty should be Developed to full symmetry. The Biologicview- of this We all regret that we must missfl The chairman spoke- 'Tis sad, indeed, And all this land must feel the need Of this one absent, pointing there, Where stands this year the empty chair. The Belle of Brownie Band spoke now, A woman Wise, with noble brow

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The Brownies in Meeting.i ran! f ,T-ff! ? 7 gf fQ'.. ,1-,l,..g ' t f...?.- Qiuiqk X 1' ill T -V i- ff f'i ii Z: c ,, 5 I VA ' 7222- : -.'! :- 1 :N 1 K ,a Q flseii. v --f f i :I LI ' ' ' l ' .-' 'i i : ,' 'i flffemliil ' i T sound of bell the Brownie Band M g Was prompt to leave the work on hand. Their scurrying feet the halls passed o'er And entered at an open door. There every Brownie found a seat, Arranged, as all agreed was meet, In Quaker fashion-so they sat, On this side women, men on that. The heavy doors had scarce swung to And shut the'Brownie Band from view, Ere one who plainly was the head With dignity arose and said: You are not often here, my friends, In concourse for such weighty ends, The question, he remarked, In short, To boil it down, is this, the sort Of garments that the Brownies wear Wliile riding round, now here, now there, Are suitable, we all must feel, But only when we ride the wheel. Wfithin the class-room's sacred walls a No province of this garment falls. Can shortened skirts high honor gain, Or knickerbockers fame attain For those who to the world must stand As educationls strong right hand ? Most list'ners had not time to wink, Much less had they the time to think 22 Before a Brownies voice was heard Intense in every rapid word. Her English was so marked with speed It left one out of breath indeed. The Brownie scribe was in despair, She rose in anguish from her chair. I would request, in tones discreet She said, the speaker to repeat, Then vainly tried with all her might, The sentiments expressed to write. The speaker did not like the dress Wliich she advised them to suppress. And then they all began to hear A buzzing which they thought was queei A battery was in full play, Set going by her eager way. And none of them appeared to know How they should stop electric How. Now muttered one beneath his breath, This droning talk will be my death ! So versed in musical disaster, Perhaps- his organs I 'can master. Witli something 'twixt a skipp and hop He then essayed to turn the stop Upon this currenticeaseless, flowing, Wliich all unwitting was set going. This end in right good style he gained, For in all arts he'd been well trained. The Brownies, too polite indeed To give his victory due meed,

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And versed in abstruse Grecian lore. Such dress xsthetic is, nay more, lt makes the maidens fair to view, And fascinating, lovely, too, And he'll agree, who once reflects, Attractive to the sterner sex. An artist then of great repute, Tried these strong statements to refute. Sweet, smiling faces, you'll agree, Are always beautiful to see, The maidens need no other grace Except, I will admit, a trace Of Grecian drapery, soft and flowing, Artistic sense and culture showing. A foreign accent next was'heard, I wish to add a single word, To devil up the youthful mind Must be the aim of all mankind. VVhy speak of this obnoxious scheme ? More proht's found in wiser theme. 'Tis well, thus spoke a well-known friend, The bodies, tired and worn, to mend. And exercise is always best For those by mental work oppressed. Let each one glorious health acquire And this will nobler thought inspire. Then up rose one who stroked his head And pondered deep before he said, My friends, your talk is all remote. He paused, gazed upward, seized his throat, t'The theme is not our pupils' dress, Our query is of us, no less l A solemn voice gave its amen, .,?Icf1, atb, febr gui, muh nun mu-us brim? The learned chemist answered soft, Experiments are useful oft. The Brownies and their wheel suits take, From these a combination make, Then observations you may draw, And next deduce a general law. A Brownie rose who digs for stone, Some specimens we all have known, And has their -honor petrified, Because this costume they have tried P Oh pshawl quotlr one most mathematic, You all are growing too erratic. Just wear the suits. You'll mark my lines Wlieii you're attacked among the pines. But now the supper bell did sound As spoke the leader, looking round, Wlieii will you ever understand That newspapers still flood this land P Wliat pictured stories will appear lf we allow this foolish gear ! Think once how public scorn will rise, How much involved within this lies l I-le spoke, and struck his desk with force, Think now. Free will may bring remorse! The vote !4Shall we forbid this dress ? H A chorus answered him, Yes, yes l Great manuscripts in one huge pile Delayed the meeting yet a while. Petitions these from every class! Shall we refuse them all, E71 fzzasse? H The question passed without dissent, And all from force of precedent. So now at last the business through, Each Brownie bade his friends adieu, And where this little folk had been, Soon reigned a quietness serene. 24