Virginia Intermont College - Intermont Yearbook (Bristol, VA)

Text from Pages 1 - 200 of the 1898 volume:

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PRESENTED BY STONE PRINTING MFG. CO $tm and HOIWIW PUBLISHED BY THE STUDENTS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA INSTITUTE Bristol, Va. -Tenn. 1 $ 9 $ «« PRESS OF THE STONE PRINTING AND M AniTAC ' CURING COMPANY, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, Virginiana - 238879 77 easure not t ie ivor c unfit t io ctay is out a net t io tador eton ZT ien 6riny your ycruyos, J7f t ie day’s ivorA is scant, 2 S iy, cat t it scant. jZffcct no compromise, jrfnct in t iat u c Aave nodty striven, jZt feast deaf ivit i us nodty — ‘IfSomen tiiouy i u e de, Srfnd tionor us ivitA trut i if not ivit i praise. E. B B ROWN 1 NC. PROPERTY OF TEE LIBRARY OF YT 1 A DEDICATED TO OUR PRESIDENT, SAN U EL D. JONES, BY THE STUDENTS OE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA INSTITUTE, Who have known his love and care. faculty SAMUEL D. JONES (B. L.), President. ERNEST ROSWELL MORSE (A. M.), Mathematics and Natural Science. CARL W. STEED (A. M.), Latin, English and Composition. ERNEST E. SEVER Y (A. M.), Modern Languages and History. J. F. IIICKS (M. I).), Lecturer on Hygiene and Physiology. REV. ROBERT RYLAND (D. D.), Bible Study. MISS d A YVETTE TEA VNIIAM, Stenography, Typewriting, Bookkeeping and Penmanship. MISS MARGE RITE BROWN, Primary Department. department of arts ROBERT S. WALL (Musical Director), Piano, II armony and Musical History. MISS HINA B. MORRISS, Piano. MAURICE G. BECKWITH, Voice Culture. MISS ALICE L. RIG II TER, Drawing and Painting. MISS JAMES ELLA SELMAN, Elocution, Delsarte, Physical Culture and Physiology. domestic department. Mrs. Samuel D. Jones, Mrs. J. W. Chaney, Mrs. Robert Ryland, Mrs. Katiiryne Kyle Lockhart, . Miss Fannie B. Shelton, Mrs. L. G. Halley, Rev. Robert Ryland, D. D., J. W. Chaney, . Head of Department Housekeeper Preceptress Governess Chaperon Matron Chaplain . , Steward Graduates (Srafcuates in %iteran Departments. MISS MARY LUCY MINOR, MISS JOSIE St. JOHN, MISS MATTIE St. JOHN. Elocution. MISS JESSIE SUSONG. piano. MISS LAETA HARTLEY, MISS ALICE CARTER. i •5 • 5 •5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4� 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Hlumnae association. president : MISS lvITTIE 15. St. JOHN, : : : : jftrst Uicc=II rcsidcnt : MRS. CORA ADAMS PEOPLES, : : Second !)ice= president : Chilhowie, Ya. Jonesboro, Tenn. •£� MISS CLARA MAE SHERWOOD, 4 Secretary : MISS LIZZIE PRICE, 4 4 4 4 MRS. CARRIE ST JOHN CURTIN, Gladys, Ya. {Treasurer : Members : 4 - 4 4 4 - 4 - 4 4 4 4 - M orristown, Tenn. «£� 4 4 4 4 - Bristol, Tenn. 4 4 - 4 - 4 4 4 - 4 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 4 4 - 4 4 - 4 4 4 4 4 - 4 - 4 4 i kj fcj. 5% 4 4 Mrs. Cynthia Shumate Wolfe, Miss Amanda Barnes, Miss Inez Quisenberry, Mrs. Kate Easley Evans, Miss Mamie St. John, Mrs. Nannie Winston Wood, Miss Josephine Weston, Miss Nina B. Morriss, Miss Ella V. Jones, Miss Katherine P. Coles, Mrs. Lida Davis Jones, Miss Lizzie B. Evans, Miss Fannie M. Hardy-, Miss Della C. Phipps, Miss Bessie B. Hardy, Mrs. Georgie Hall Park, Miss Clara Kirn, Mrs. Alice St. John Dulaney - , 4 Miss Leora Booth Yaiden, «£� Miss Emma J. Lamb, Miss Lola Brown, Miss May Venable, 4 Miss Annie Tompkins, Miss Lillie Karnes, Miss Lois Hundley - , Miss Juddie Davis, Miss Minnie E. May, Miss Lizzie Ford, Miss Mary D. Rice. |T is eminently fitting and proper that, at intervals in the life of onr school and societies, the literary expo- nent of our progress within the walls of Southwest Virginia Institute should be dedicated to him who has always stood like a faithful sentinel, keeping vigil over our best interests — guarding them even as his own treasure. At best it is but a feeble demonstration of the quick appreciation we each of us feel in love for, and gratitude to, Mr. Jones. We do not desire that those of the Southwest Virginia Insti - tute family who have preceded us in the walls of the Institute should find us lacking in filial love. We are eager to be foremost in doing him honor that our successors may feel sure that others before themselves have known him, and knowing him have loved him r and loving him have praised him. The name of “Jones” is legion! If each country chose a national name as it does flower, that name would be “Jones,” for like the flower, it springs up everywhere. Simply to dedicate our pages to Mr. Jones would be tossing this honor, petty as it is, like an air-blown bubble into the faces and at the feet of s SENSE A ND NONSENSE. thousands and tens of thousands ; hence we particularize the one from among the ten thousands and the chiefest of them all and say that this edition is dedicated to our beloved president, our wise coun- sellor, our faithful teacher, and our loyal friend. Mr. Samuel D. Jones was born on the twenty-seventh day of May, 1857, in Campbell County, Virginia. He graduated at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, in 1878, and at Rich- mond College in 1879. A Virginian by birth, education, and asso- ciation, a fact that evinces itself in all of his relations, his genial and unstudied hospitality, his broad charitableness, his warmheart- edness, his convictions steadfast and clear, his unswerving earnest- ness, his happy faculty of letting his fatherliness for the girls shine through and temper all the judgments of the disciplinarian — of combining consideration and firmness, stoutness of will and deter- mination with kindness. His robe of authority is so truly a Joseph’s coat in which harmoniously blend the colorings of justness, upright- ness, unchanging purpose and gentleness, that there is no feeling of rebellion toward the judge, so surely do we know the sincerity and largeness of his heart. For he is made on a generous scale, mind and soul and body, and as Webster once said of Calhoun : ‘ ‘ He possesses the indisputable basis of all high character — nothing groveling low or meanly selfish ever came near his head or heart.” The girls know him as a ready sharer in their pleasures and joys, and a quick sympathizer in all troubles and griefs. They know him as a confidant, worthy of utmost trust and as a companion genial, conservative and ready. Sociability is as natural to him as breathing and his office has oftener served as an after-tea rendezvous for bright-humored groups than an assembly-room for those dreaded conventions known as ‘ ‘ faculty meetings. ’ ’ Since his marriage in 1883, to Miss Bettie Harrison, eldest daughter of Rev. J. R. Harrison, the honored and much loved founder of Southwest Virginia Institute, Mr. Jones has had the interest SENSE A NE NONSENSE. 9 and well-being of the Institute much at heart, being in close touch with Dr. Harrison and in the sunshine of his fervor and enthusiasm, not to speak of the subtle influence of Mrs. Jones, who always shared her father’s causes and made his hopes and ambitions hers. Mr. Jones, with the keen discernment of the professional man and with the prophetic insight of the lawyer, realized the fine possibilities that were latent in the life of the school. When in 1889 the presidency was offered him, he found himself confronted with a perplexing problem. Perhaps Mrs. Jones was the power behind the throne, perhaps Dr. Harrison, our Anchises — perhaps Fate that urged our H£neas to brave the inevitable storms and difficulties and place our colors foremost and permanent among the colleges of this land. It was no small sacrifice to give up a healthy and lucrative law practice, a chosen and loved profession, and enter a new and untried field of labor. The Institute then was but an infant, but evinced unmis- takable signs of precocity and future greatness. It needed but a fostering hand to take the youngling and steady its first steps. Southwest Virginia Institute, born under a lucky star, has always been fortunate, but the good-luck vein in her career was never more successfully sounded than when Mr. Samuel D. Jones declared he would take the toddler under his fostering care and protection. Perceiving at once the delicacy and greatness of the responsibility he was asked to shoulder, he was like — “The traveler that setteth on his journey oppressed with many thoughts, Balancing his hopes and fears, and looking for some order in the chaos - He walketli straight, in fervent faith, and difficulties vanish at his presence ; Confident and sanguine of success he goetli forth conquering and to conquer — While the labor lasted, while the race was running Many times the sinews ached and half refused the struggle, But now all is quietness, a pleasant hour given to repose, Calmness in the retrospect of good and calmness in the prospect of a blessing. Hope was glad in the beginning and fear was sad midway, But sweet fruition cometh in the end a harvest safe and sure. Uncertainty no more can scare, the proof is seen complete, Thus the end shall crown the work with grace, grace unto the top stone The work shall triumph in its crown with peace, peace unto the builder. 10 SENSE AND NONSENSE. Born, cradled and reared at Glade Spring, the Institute out- grew the vestments of its childhood, and in new robes it made its debut in Bristol — boasting a curriculum second to none — competing with the male, and outstripping the Southern female colleges. Mr. Jones has always occupied the chair of m ental and moral philosophy and logic, and it is in that capacity that he garners the rewards of his sowing. He sees for himself the work the school is doing. When he applies the touchstone of his teaching to the minds glowing in a healthy perspiration, and fresh from other departments it is as teacher that he knows he is laying the cornerstone in many a polished marble palace of character. He believes each mind in itself a Klondike, without its famine, without its cold, without its bankrupt seekers after the yellow lucre. Its food is knowledge, its fires, the ardor of inquiring minds, and the enthusiasm and zeal of ambition. He leads the delvers through the devious ways of learn- ing. He points out to them with patient care the veins of precious metals. He shows that the glittering sandhills that allure the unwary and unwise with its thousand twinkling eyes embosom but worthless soil, and under surfaces rough and forbidding only deep down in the breast of earth beats the heart of pure gold which only can be reached with pickaxe and spade. But once possessed, it is beyond the price of empires, and the largest purchaser of Life’s rarest and fairest gems, Happiness and Contentment, and the name of this treasure of the Soul is Truth — and this is our Mr. Jones. Even as he bears aloft in a golden train of golden deeds the single golden standard of spotless integrity and honor, unimpeached, his own example and golden rule will paint on his Life’s sky a glowing, living picture in colors rich, warm and unfading. A scene whose breadth will margin every cloud with a golden border — of hues so bright as to penetrate and illumine every care-laden shadow, so lasting as to defy the washings of all storms and every one of his eleven hundred girls who proudly carry the orange into twenty-three States SENSE AND NONSENSE. 11 of our Union will bear an impress of this picture in their own lives, and upon this foundation-rock of many a character will be traced with a pen of iron the influence of Samuel D. Jones. So in pure love and gratitude we bring this volume, not as a literary but as a heart offering, and lay it reverently at his feet. Since writing the above the news of Mr. Jones’s resignation has fallen like a bombshell among us. It is the one fell blow that severs many a connection with the hub of our tender associations, and at the moment of completest triumph shrouds in a mist of doubt, prospects that were glowing. It is with deep regret that we see the Institute like a ship without a pilot, sailing under a flag of distress. While the loss is incalculable and we know full well another Mr. Jones can not be procured, we earnestly hope that the Trustees may again show that wisdom that they exercised when they elected Mr. Jones our President, and at least get the next best man. We can not write those things that we keenly feel in regard to the severance of Mr. and Mrs. Jones from us. Pens have never yet probed the depths of emotion, and those sentiments that are here feebly expressed are but the surface depths of our real sorrow and regret. And we simply bid them God-speed in their future course, knowing full well that they both deserve whatever befalls them of the best and brightest of fortune’s store. And for them and their family let me say, “ In your heavens may there be no clouds, or if some there be, may they have the color and the odor of roses, — Be in good health and happiness.” K. P. C. SENSE AND NONSENSE. Our time we ’ve spent, Our backs we ’ve bent, Tn poring o’er these pages -, me ’ve risked our health. But gained no wealth Of wisdom for our wages. Tor night by night iile ’ve burned our light, Regardless of the rule; Jfnd day by day, Board of Editors 5 6 6 Editor-insCbief : LUCY DICKINSON. business Ibanacier: ANNE MATT GREER. advertising Editors : HAZEL BROCKETT. j Jt HELEN WAINWRIGHT. associate Editors : MARY EASLEY. M jt jt ALICE CARTER. EFFIE GRANBERRY. o J MARY HARTLEY. FRANCES AGREE. Hazel Brockett, Advertising Editor. Mary Easley, Associate Editor. Effie Cranberry, Associate Editor. THE STAFF. Anne Matt Greer, Business Manager. Lucy Dickinson, Editor in Chief. Frances Acree, Associate Editor. Helen Wainvvright, Advertising Editor. Alice Carter, Associate Editor. Mary Hartley, Artist. tlb e Ibollness of Beauty il INSIGHT, insight through culture, into all that the present I moment holds in trust for us, as we stand so briefly in its pres- ence. From the maxim of Life as the end of Life, followed, as a practical consequence, the desirableness of refining all the instruments of inward and outward intuition, of developing all their capacities, of testing and exercising one ' s self in them, till one’s nature became one complete medium of reception, towards the vision — the ‘beatific vision,’ if we really cared to make it such — of our actual experience in the world .” — Walter Pater. These are words to brood over. They express the philosophy of one whose life was an art — the art of insight. ILe thought this life worth the devoted study of the artist. He made human exper- ience the matter of his art; and in his writings he has given, for those who will follow him, what he deems true education — “the conveyance of an art” — this art of insight into the wealth of meaning of the life that now is. Literature has been perme- ated with the doctrine of art for art’s sake ; but only when that ideal finds its processes in the stuff that life is made of, does it become deeply spiritual and vital. The art that finds its light and shade amid the comedy and tragedy of human concerns, and seeks to mingle their colors significantly, makes for beauty that is perennial. Walter Pater’s ideal was the finest possible degree of perfec- tion ; and for him perfection meant completeness, the complete 16 SENSE AND NONSENSE. development of our finest human capacities. The senses were to be “ a wonderful machinery of observation,” through which to col- lect material for “ a life of various yet select sensation.” A beam of yellow light was a never failing source of complete delight to him. The fog was redeemed for him “ because of the crimson lights which fell from it sometimes upon the chimneys.” “ The coolness of the dark, cavernous shops round the great church,” “the angle at which the sun in the morning fell on the pillow,” “ the sweet carvings of the lips of those who seemed to him comely persons, modulated in such delicate unison to the things they said or sang,” — to these things ' he tells us, lie owed “ certain inward lights under which things most naturally presented them- selves to him.” And to us he communicates his art, so that we realize, with a new intelligence, how all these things “ become parts of the great chain wherewith we are bound” — the chain that is far stronger than precept or creed or statute, either to make or to mar the beauty of our lives. And yet, “ not pleasure, but a general completeness of life,” was his philosophy. Just as man has risen above the brutes by development of his higher capacities, so must he go on to perfec- tion by the completeness of that growth. And so Pater, leaving to others the metaphysical questionings as to what is beyond, digni- fied and spiritualized the maxim, “ Be perfect as to what is here and now” — rather the opposite of the theological lucubrations of Christianity, which too often, doting on a gaudy hereafter, count, and thereby make, the life that now is a deplorable calamity. Much nearer was Pater to the unperverted truth — “ not that thou shouldst take them out of the world.” But this keen sensibility to physical beauty, this capacity for perfect pleasure in “ the golden thread inwoven,” was only one fea- ture, or rather one degree, of his fine receptivity — that art which SENSE AND NONSENSE. 17 he would communicate. This was not its extent. The “ great chain wherewith we are bound ” included in its constraining links more than this. It drew him also to the contemplation of the lights and shadows of the heart and soul. Here, too, for him, the fogs shed a peculiar glow on dark towers, and here, too, the beam of yellow light was rich in beauty’s inner meaning. In and through all he seemed to feel “ The sweet presence of a good diffused, And in diffusion ever more intense.” “ Throughout that elaborate and lifelong education of his receptive powers he had ever kept in view the purpose of preparing himself towards possible further revelation some day — towards some ampler vision, which should take up into itself and explain this world’s delightful shows; as the scattered fragments of a poetry, till then but half understood, might be taken up into the best of a lost epic, recovered at last. At this moment his unclouded receptivity of soul, grown so steadily through all those years, from experience to experience, was at its height, the house ready for the possible guest; the tablet of the mind white and smooth, for whatsoever divine fingers might choose to write there. And was not this precisely the condition, the attitude of mind, to which something higher than he, yet akin to him, would be likely to reveal itself; to which that influence he had felt now and again like a friendly hand upon his shoulder, amid the actual obscurities of the world, would be likely to make a further explanation?” Here was the inner receptivity — the rarer quality — that capacity which so often philosophies and religions smother out of their devotees — the openness to truth. It was the same thing which, in our own Sage of Concord, “ made him greet every comer as if he expected to hear from him a wiser word than had yet been spoken.” 18 SENSE AND NONSENSE. Such was the philosophy — with its demonstration — of one who was eminently “ a special soul.” The element of his nature which came to him from that mysterious realm of our being, into which the spirit of modern research seems about to let a little light — his heredity — was peculiarly sensitive and delicately susceptible to impressions. The other element, his environment, Avas what he made it, the feeding ground of his tine capacities. Together they made the embodiment of a refined and spiritualized epicureanism, in its nature as far from Avhat avc are apt to understand by that term, as Christianity from the dead philosophies in which Ave can trace resemblances to it. It Avas the first, undegenerate form of the ancient philosophy, vitalized by the modern spirit. It breathes a warm faith in the possibilities of human nature. It dignities and spirit- ualizes the uses of our world, and glows Avith an earnest optimism. It stops the eternal debate about the eternal by bidding our natures grow eternally, healthfully and beautifully, Avhere they are. It has in it the anodyne of beauty; not the beauty of effeminacy, hut that “ beauteous order that controls Avitli growing sway the grow- ing life of man.” C. W. S. SOUTHERN VIEW FROM THE INSTITUTE. tlbe Electric Xujbt ! I am going to tell you a story, The strangest that ever was told, Though it strikes not the fancy of young folks, It fairly pleases the old. Could I paint like the old-time masters, Though a gift from heaven receive, I know I couldn’t paint that nightcap, Nor the set of that marvelous sleeve ! I was on the third floor hallway, As ever alert for fun, When the nightcap bobbed from the doorway, And my first impulse was to run ! But, “Betty! Betty! Betty!” Was the nightcap’s only call, And I quickly retraced my footsteps, And went further down in the hall. For I recognized “ Betty’s ” great aunt, On a visit here for the night, And the poor old soul was exhausted, In her attempt to blow out the light ! “ Betty ! Betty ! Betty ! Why ain ' t you here about, I ’ve blowed my poor old head off, To put out this ’leetric light ! 20 SENSE AND NONSENSE. “ Is there anything I can do for you ? ” Came a voice from our matron’s room, “ If it ’s a mouse I can do very little, Save bring you over my broom ! ” At this point I could stand it no longer, And scurried along the hall, Hoping to reach my bedroom, Before Mrs. L. gave a call. In my hurried flight down the stairway, I stepped on my wrapper and here, Is a piece I have kept and treasured, As a reminder of school-days dear. And the moral — for of course, it must have one — Is true and shining and bright, Do not attempt site.lt a great thing , As to blow out an electric light ! M. A. E. to v |i Electric Xtgbt trbe — si i ' IS JtS VIEW FROM INSTITUTE. Efforts to Mute a Stoiy. O NE day not long ago, I received a letter from an old friend asking for a contribution to the magazine of my alma mater. It bad been several years since I had left school and I was of course highly flattered to have established such last- ing fame. I must explain, however, that I was the only one of the class who had spoiled its traditions and taken unto myself a hus- band ; and it was in consequence of this rash step that I was selected for the supreme honor of writing the Love- Story. Dismay tilled my soul, hut oh ! I did want to write that story. For three long years I hadn’t had the exquisite intoxication of seeing my name printed neatly at the bottom of an article; nor the yet more delicious sensation of casually pointing out said article to unsus- pecting friends with the modest (?) request that they glance over it and give me their unbiased opinion ! I am quite happy now that they did not believe their immortal soul’s salvation depended upon their candor. I am a very determined woman, really, but the trouble is, or so my friends say, I determined forty ways in as many minutes. Nevertheless, about this story, my mind was made up. It should be written. For days my brain was racked with impotent imaginings. The most thrilling episodes, the most tragic incidents, passed in hurry- ing review before my mental retina; but, alas! at the touch of pen to paper they became as evanescent and elusive as the mocking will o’ the wisp, and I found myself staring with wide eyes, an hour after such an attempt, my mind as blank as the paper before me. Will (he ’s my husband, you know) became rather tired of SJSNSJE A KB NONS ' ENSE. n “ The Story,” I think. He was even unkind enough to say I was too much engrossed with it to kiss him good-bye when he left in the morning. I was absorbed I know ; but well, hardly that much. At last, out of the depths of his despair he offered the suggestion that I write our own story. The thought had never occurred to me. Naturally, considering that a drowning man grasps at a straw, L was charmed. I think I began something like this : “ I was nearly sixteen when Will told me that he loved me. Playmates and comrades from childhood, it was almost understood that some day in the far distant future, our lives should be united. So, I really wasn’t nearly as much surprised as I ought to have been, when, one drowsy summer day, in the midst of a conversation in our usual frivolous strain, he turned to me, his face suddenly grave, “ Sue, I guess you know we ’re to be married some day.” I was utterly shocked, or pretended to be, at such a prosaic wooing, after all my romantic day-dreams as to the Prince Charming who was one day to win my heart with tender words. Of course, I answered that I certainly did not know any such thing ! But — next year, it came about somehow, and we were married in quite the conventional way — bridesmaids, favors, etc., etc., and not one bit of romance in the whole thing. I never will get over it. I tell Will he didn’t say one nice thing to me the whole time, really nice you know, that I could use as “ copy but I guess the dear boy would have made an effort if he had known how useful it might have been to me some time. So you see this affair, as literary matter, was utterly unavail- able. Not one hairbreadth escape, not one exciting scene in the whole courtship. It was too provoking. Still my determination did not waver, but where should I turn ? One morning, Uncle “deems,” the colored man my grand- mother raised, came up to do some little errand for me. SENSE AND NONSENSE. ®5 “ Miss Sue, please gimme one o’ Mas’ Will’s ol’ neckties. T’se gwine to see my gal to-night.” Here was my chance. I resolved to seize it with the prompti- tude of genius. In the meantime I rushed around in great excite- ment and in my suddenly acquired liberality gave him Will’s best tie and a shirt that needed a button, perhaps, all the while plying him with, as I thought, very tactful questions. “ Law, yes, Miss Sue, I ’ll tell yo’ if yo’ wants me to. He trub- ble is I ain’ got nothin’ to tell. I bin gwine to see Claro about a monf, but I don’ get no chance no how. Hey ain’ got but one room wif tire, and her mammy an’ all de chillens stays in dar ; den too, bein’ as dey ’s membahs of de chu’ch, dey don’ go to none de dances ’roun’ heah ; so I nebah does see her by her lone se’f. But, law! Miss Sue, she jes’ de purtiest eullud pusson yo’ eber did see. She’s sorter yaller an’ has de purtiest black eyes an’ her ha’r don’ snarl up in little kinks like mos’ niggers. You know dey jes’ move heah an’ ’pears like she got mo’ ways er tangling a man up den any gal ’at eber wuz ; any ob’em in dese parts, enyhow. Some- times I think she like dis heah oh nigger tol’ble well an’ jes ’bout dat time she tarn up her little yaller nose at sumpun I sez or does, an’ make me feel like I am no bigger’n a bullfrog. En den when I gits sorter mad at de way she treatin’ me she picks up her ol’ banjer en plays ‘ Gwine hack to Dixie,’ er sumpun like dat untwell it do seem toe me I jes’ natchelly kaint keep from bellerin’. Law, Miss Sue, I wishes yo’ knowed dat gal. She’s jes’ a high-born lady, she is. Well ’m I’m suttiny much obleeged fur dese heah nice things. I believe I’se sho’ gwine to git her wif dis lubly neck- tie, do I’se pow’ful afeard she won’ take to a ol’ feller like me.” When his many bobs and bows had permitted him to leave the room without serious injury either to himself or the door, I SENSE A XI) NO NSENSE. 26 fairly shook hands with myself. My long-looked-for opportunity liad come at last, and T breathed a sigh of relief. Alas, for the house that Jack built! A few days after, when I supposed the case had developed suf- ficiently, I determined to again interview “Uncle Jeems.” Like all old family servants he has to be approached very gingerly ; so the morning in question I greeted him with a most solicitous inquiry as to his rheumatics, “ Deed, Miss Sue, dey don ' git no bettah ; Fse jes’ about done fur dis work.” A week or so before, when I had asked him the same question he had been highly incensed at the suggestion that he was the least infirm. A thr ill of apprehension passed slowly down my spinal cord, and his next remark reduced even my san- guine temperament about sixty degrees. “ Miss Sue, T’se gittin’ to be a pow’ful ol’ man, I specs I’se purty nigh sebenty yeahs ol’ (lie was only forty-five last week), an ' , Miss Sue, I reckon de Lawd sent dis affliction worser on me ea’se I tol ’ so many lies to dat yal- ler gal.” “ Why, Uncle Jeems, what ’s the matter ? Has she gone back on you ? ” “ Lawsy me, chile, didn ' t yo’ lieah ' bout it? She loped wif dat yaller, no-count, lanky, ugly, .Fake Rambo night ’fore las’! ” This was my final attempt. I wrote to Marie that morning as soon as I had regained sufficient strength: Sleepy Hollow, Ya., January 5th, 1898. My dear Girl : Your letter received and I am most sorry to disappoint you ; but the press of domestic affairs prevents my complying with your request, etc., etc. Very sincerely, S. M. E. SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA INSTITUTE. Southwest IDmjinta Institute. [DEDICATED TO MRS. s. I). JONES.] r llOM its lofty lieiglit overlooking the city of Bristol, the mas- sive building of Southwest Virginia Institute in all its mag- nificence and beauty sheds forth light upon the world. The snows of five winters have fallen and melted away since this build- ing was placed here through the sacrifice and kindness of its loving friends. Though on its account many sleepless nights have been spent by you, 0 ! friends, many heartaches felt by you! cheer up! for the ages will come and go and this building will continue to stand as a mighty monument to your memories ! It is in the evening, when the heavens are darkened and the stars but faintly shining that it gleams in all its glory. The win- dows of the Institute seem studded with diamonds, so brilliant is their glow. To a child looking upon this scene it seems a veritable dream of fairyland, but to an older and wiser observer it is a beau- tiful emblem of the brilliant intellectual light with which daily and yearly Southwest Virginia Institute is illuminating the dark places ! Since God put it into the hearts of our people to worship at the shrine of the Goddess of Knowledge, and to erect here, this beau- tiful building, where the love of things noble is engrafted in young hearts and wisdom made the sunshine of young souls, yearly, at the end of our term, bright young lights have been sent forth into the world with the solemn command : “ Let thy lisrht so shine that it will fall upon and brighten the darkened pathways of life.” so SENSE AND NONSENSE. Tn our sunny Southland, especially do we see the lamps well- trimmed and burning, for from this beloved section of our country have come the best material for our brightest lights. But a light well-trimmed and burning is obtained in no easy manner. For with what patience and perseverance have our beloved Mr. and Mrs. Jones watched over and cared for these lights placed under their guardianship ! How often when the cruel wind of adversity had extinguished some light which at first but feebly burned, have they with encouraging words and kind deeds added fuel to the flame until it became a strong, clear light! IIow often when all others lost hope have they sheltered and lit again and again some poor little light which found it so much easier to die away and leave its portion of the world in darkness! But, our kind friends, comforters and gentle admonishers are soon to leave us and will carry with them the heartfelt thanks and ever-living love of every girl in Southwest Virginia Institute. M. A. E. BED CHAMBER. m m m % m Mti fm m w £be fates. How well I remember the day, When first I met my fate ! Ho w well I remember the hour — And the scene — down by the orchard gate. There, I heard the same old tale To lovers — always new ; There 1 received my first kiss of love ; There my hero swore he ’d be true — And there as the golden light of the sun Cast its last rays on the scenes of life — He placed upon my hand the ring That made me his promised wife. Many times since, the same words have been spoken Down by the same orchard gate And by the same girl, but not the same man — For she has met more than one fate. w m w w w w w F. H. B. H 3oy jfovevev. W IIEN the Creator formed the worl d, He put gladness, joy and cheerfulness into the heart of every creature. He wreathed nature in smiles, made the little lambs skip play- fully over the meadow, and the birds warble their songs on joyous wings. The heart of man was tilled with brightness; he was perfectly happy in following the will of his Master. Even yet, though sin and sorrow have darkened the blithe face of nature, our duty is to be glad and cheerful that we may help bring the world to its original state of joy. To do this we must cultivate the beautiful, for “ A tiling of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness ; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.” Beauty is power. Sir Richard Steele says: “To make us happy is the empire of beauty,” and Shakspeare declares that “ All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth.” Pascal said that if Cleo- patra’s nose had been a quarter of an inch shorter, the destiny of the world would have been changed. Beauty is woman’s peculiar charm, whether of figure, mind, or character, and the most beauti- ful woman is one in whom we find them all combined. Through all the works of creation we see beauty blended with the grand and sublime. Since our great Creator has fitted up this beautiful world SENSE AND NONSENSE. for our earthly dwelling-place, it is our duty to admire and appre- ciate His works. In them we find purity, beauty, and truth so uni- formly blended, that we should strive to cultivate all three in their highest forms, for each is a gift divine. It is woman’s duty to cultivate personal beauty. All beauty is power, and insensibility alone can escape this power expressed through personality ; only depravity can blight its charm. Every- thing consistent with modesty and virtue should be done to acquire beauty of person. Yet how fleeting is personal beauty without any other attraction or enhancement ; it is even like the flower which blooms to-day, and fades to-morrow. Disease and the ravages of time mar and change it, for it is not the highest beauty. It can be, and often is, a power for evil. God’s noblest gift abused becomes the deadliest curse. “That which is striking and beauti- ful is not always good,” but, “ That which is good is always beauti- ful.” The comely Absalom was wicked and deceitful, and his beautiful hair was Anally the cause of his destruction. The fair exquisite flowers that bloom amid the gardens of fashionable society are often plucked by the hand of the vicious. Alas! alas, for beauty ! How often is its very loveliness a snare to unwary feet! How often are the pearls cast before swine to be trampled in the mire of vice, and shame, and bitter sorrow ! Few possess personal beauty, but the truer, higher beauty of intellect can be acquired by all. Indeed, nature often puts the most brilliant minds in leaden caskets. God created some things for use, some for ornament, and some for both. Woman belongs to the last class, and however great her personal charms, culture can make her as beautiful as she is good and useful Culture and education refine and beautify. A beautiful woman has little attrac- tion unless her natural beauty be enhanced by culture and refine- ment. Unpolished, vulgar beauty attracts only the vulgar. Brilliant SENSE AND NONSENSE. 34 intellect, graceful manner, modesty, virtue, useful ness — these may conceal personal defects, and many who at first appear ugly to us, grow beautiful by acquaintance and association. The truly refined man can not admire or love the beautiful flirt, whose educa- tion extends only to fashion, and who can chatter only of silly non- sense. God never created beauty for such aimless existence. How noble then are those who can make us forget even their deformities in the contemplation of their intellectual beauty! If physical beauty is a charm, then the intellectual is enchantment. We come now to the truest, highest, purest beauty — that of character. Magnetism of mind and force of character added to natural beauty make it an irresistible fascination. Beauty and duty blended accomplish the noblest, loftiest works of life. The Master Sculptor, with chisel of mercy and love, transforms the crudities of nature into beauty of both body and soul. Woman’s glory consists in the life of beauty founded on the good, the true, and the useful. Queen Elizabeth was not beautiful, she was even uncomely, and yet she ruled with power and dignity the mightiest of European thrones; this she accomplished by the magnetism of her mind and the strength of her character. The cultivation of the beautiful in woman consists notin show and affectation ; dress does not make the woman. Rohes of virtue, modesty, grace, culture, and noble character are more beautiful than jewels and costly attire. Ruffini said that “ Beauty is an exquisite flower, and its perfume is virtue,” and Shakspeare, “ O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem, By that sweet ornament which truth doth give ! The rose is fair but fairer we it deem, For that sweet odor which doth in it live.” He sums up the whole truth in saying that “ Virtue is beauty.” SENSE AND NONSENSE. 35 The most beautiful garment worn by woman is the robe of righteousness, and without it there is no true beauty. This is never- fading beauty, and if cultivated grows day by day. “ Cold in the grave the cherished heart may lie, But that which warmed it once can never die.” What a power for good is the beautiful Christian woman ! Her influence is untold, and her reward is received, when clad in robes of righteousness, she shall stand before her Master and bear the words “ Well done. Beauty, therefore, is a duty, and should be cultivated as a power for good. True beauty is not of figure, but of soul ; it shall live when the body lies mouldering in the grave, for “ On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are blending, And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb.” J. S. 1). £bc Mattress. Let lover’s sighs with passion ' s art Awake divinest blush On cheek of her who stirs his heart And false emotions hush. Let lover’s pen with facile grace Tell of her form divine, Her beauty rare, her regal air, And charms galore, in tine To me is left the glory sole Of painting with my pen The serving-maid, in happy role Of bearing meats to men. No artist yet has wielded brush Inspired by love or art, That could portray the matchless ray That from her blue eyes dart. That flush on cheek so vivid there May be hut momentary ; Though I may fear. I will not dare To call it culinary. Her siren form, so lithe and free, Deliciously entrancing, Oh proud Hebe, a rival see With every charm enhancing ! 36 Talk not to me of jeweled hair, And brows with diamonds flashing, The sunlight on this goddess fair Discovers gems more dashing. A tress of gold, a wanderer hold That from its mate comes dancing, Along its length more beauties hold Than in priceless wealth are glancing. The tiny cap so witching lies Above her gold massed hair, You ' d scarce surmise, ’neath Puritan guise, Myriad lights assemble there. Oh, you may tell of priestess fair, In lines of “ moving tropes,” Appeasing anger of the gods And mending broken hopes ! The while she stands by altar-side While incense pure ascends And curls and smokes and in its ride Cruel anger oft amends. What god could his best smile withhold When women thus invoke And in sweet words, nor loud nor bold His graciousness provoke. How then can man, a god, the less Hope but to fall a snare When charming, laughing, sweet waitress With offerings dull his care. 37 Apollo yet ne’er looked on scene More beautifully sweet, Though Pythian priestess, like a queen, Presided when ’t was meet. Than that on which my eye oft rests When in for lunch I ’ve strolled, T is like a dream when through the steam Of savory dish her blue eyes gleam. And hair of beaten gold. Ah ! what if I should steal a kiss, The lips are ruby red — - And the wicked, shocking little miss Has not a demur made. Well I must cease, a married man Must shun reports so rife, But ere 1 leave I must inform The waitress is my wife. K. P. C. 88 VIEW FROM INSTITUTE. Iballowe’en T HE scene, a common one in boarding-school life, was a room literally full of girls, all talking and laughing at the same time. It was holiday, and — Hallowe’en! Can the reader guess now what those jolly girls were planning? Let us listen, and gather from their conversation their plans. “ If you ’ll be quiet a minute, I’ll tell you all about it.” Immediately the voices were hushed, and all looked intently at the speaker. “ How, girls,” she said, “ you know we ’re going to the theater, and when we come back we are going to have a “dumb feast ” — sure enough dumb — you can’t say a word — it’s going to be at twelve o’clock, Room Ho. 80, in the ‘Alley,’ and you mustn’t make any noise.” “ Is that all ? ” “ Yes, that ’s all — but don’t forget — it ’s dumb ! ” “ Well, we won’t forget, and we ’ll be there.” SENSE AND NONSENSE. Then they commenced their chattering again — hilarious over the fun they were going to have. This scene is quite different from the preceding one. Instead of the room “ full of girls” there is only one girl in this room, and instead of laughing voices this girl is silently reading. She looks up at the little clock on the table, and murmurs, “ I wish Sarah would come! ” Hardly has she said the words, when she gives a little jump, and runs over to the window — now we notice some- thing which we had not seen before — she has a rope tied around her foot, and reaching out the window; she raises the window, and looks out. “ Sarah, is it you ? ” A voice below answers, “ Yes’m, it ' s all right.” Then the occupant of the room begins drawing in the rope, at the other end of which there seems to be something very heavy. At last she reaches the end, and lifts into the room a large basket, laden with all sorts and kinds of eatables. “I ' ve got it, Sarah; ” once more she speaks to the person below, who proves to be one of the chambermaids, and then she lowers the window. This done, she locks the door, and begins to transfer the “goodies” from the basket to a sheet which she has spread out on the door. At last, the basket is empty, and sbe puts it aside, then takes up the book, and resumes her reading. The girls have come from the theater; you can hear their voices as they go through the halls to their rooms. “ Wasn’t Othello grand ? ” “ Oh, how could he murder that darling Desdemona? ” “ Say, wasn’t Cassio cute?” and they pass on, uttering their sympathy for Desdemona, their hatred for Iago, and their pity for Othello. SENSE AND NONSENSE. In half an hour all is quiet, not a voice is heard, not a light is seen, and the whole building seems wrapt in slumber. Until the hands of the clocks point to twelve, quietness reigns supreme, but then — then doors open, and white-robed figures steal silently through the halls, down to the room in which the feast is spread. The door of that room opens and closes, until it has admitted twenty-two of the white-clad figures. As they go in, they silently take their seats in a circle around the sheet which serves for a table. The room is dark, save for the rays from the electric lights which steal through the curtains, and this lends enchantment to the already mystic scene. Forgetting that the feast is dumb , one girl whispers, “ Gimme a pickle !” There! the spell is broken ! “ Oh, what did you say that for! — take your foot off my sand- wich ! ” “ I thought this was dumb.” “ Say, don’t eat all those olives! ” If the Fairies had given a thought to visiting the solemn scene, they would surely never come now. When all of the feast had disappeared, the door was once more opened, and again twenty-two ghost-like forms sped through the halls. Then for a moment, as the doors opened and closed, one might have thought that all fairyland had been turned loose in the Institute. Ten more minutes, and twenty-two happy girls were transported to the Land of Nod, and were peacefully dream- ing of the ever-to-be-remembered “ midnight feast.” F. II. B. Chat purse. [in loving hem km ur.vxck of a. M. ; ] There sone girl in this school Who rooms in “Sanctified Corner,” She never likes to leave her room For tear her purse is “ a goner.” Into the room across the hall Without a knock, she bursts, Before she turns around she says. “Oh, wait ! I forgot my purse.” Then she opens both room doors “ Now, girls, don’t make a ‘furse ’ ’Cause I want to hear ' em if they go In there to swipe my purse.” You ’ll see her going down the hall With a look of deep concern, “ Oh, George ! somebody ' ll get my purse Before I can return. To every girl she meets she says “ On me must rest a cur e ; •There ’s not a minute in the day That I ’m not thinkin’ of that purse.” One Saturday morn ’bout nine o’clock, She ran up the hall, like wild, “ Oh ! somebody ’s stolen my purse, I ’m sure an unfortunate child.” We, all of us, are satisfied That if she was in her hearse She d rise up in the “goods-box ” And say, — “ Did I bring my purse?” H. B. HARRISON IAN LITERARY SOCIETY HALL. Iarrisonian literary 30C I H.H V « 6 Ashburne, Lora, Jones, Saunders, Brabson, Willie, Long, Georgie, Burgess, Bessie, Kelly, Vera, Bush, Fannie, Lockhart, Anna Meade, Byrne Gonzella, Marshall, Estelle, Chainey, Ralph, Melton, Julia, Cleveland, Alma, Miller, Yirgie, Davis, ISTannie, Mills, Aldonia, Dodds, Zelda, Mills, Lena, Doughty, Emily, Moore, Toler, Duke, Alba, Murphey, Anna Belle, Easley, Mary, Padgitt, Dolly, Everett, Glenna, Patton, Angus, Gaines, Julia Mae, Patton, Mary, Gettys, Nellie, Paufrey, Gertrude, Gran berry, Effie, Pendleton, Flora, Greer, Anne Matt, Reeves, Kate, Handy, David, Selman, James, Handy, Etha, Suddutli, Flora, Handy, Josie, Surface, Hattie, Handy, Peggie, Taylor, Bessie, Hodge, Marye, Thompson, Nannie, Hunter, Loula, Traynham, Nettie, Jones, Edna, Wainwright, Helen, Jones, Eula, AVhite, Maggie Mae, Jones, Lillie, Wright, Gladys, « 5 t f « {f « 5 cM5 c?5 c 5 cN REV. J. R. HARRISON. (Founder of School ) Ub e Ibarnsontan Ittevar? Society. E VERYTHING has a history. To those who know Southwest Virginia Institute, the name Harrisonian comes freighted with suggestions; and to those not familiar with the school, we would heg leave to tell a little of our story. On the evening of November 22d, 1884, when the school was in Glade Springs, a few girls met to found a literary society. They were few in number, hut most great things are small in the begin- ning; and thus by merely a handful of girls the Literary Society was begun. As simply the name literary society did not seem suitable for what they hoped to make such a large thing, they decided to call it after a great and noble man, the founder of the school, Rev. J. R. Harrison. The name almost speaks for itself. True to its name, the society took up the noble work it has been doing ever since, and many and helpful are the experiences gained in our meetings. Each year old members leave and new ones take their places. Still the work goes on peacefully and quietly, hut leaving to the world that magic intiuence which is always exerted by societies wholly and altogether in earnest. “ Spectemur Agendo ” is our motto and true are we to it. When the school moved from Glade Springs to Bristol, the Harrisonian Society reigned supreme. Later on, however, as the society grew in members it was decided best by the officers of the school and society to form another organization out of this one SENSE AND NONSENSE. and call it the Eoline. This was done, and it was a nice change too, for now the old society, fearing that the new Avould outstrip it, renewed its efforts and took fresh interest in it. Since then the societies have been going side by side in the race for culture, and many are the staunch supporters of each one. We congratulate theEolines on having made such a success of their society ; but “ age lends dignity,” don’t you know! and the Harrisonian Society is the one! Not to dwell on the rivalry between them, for of course there is rivalry, we pass on to the actual work of the society. About the first thing done was to start a library and the first book donated to it was given by Miss Mary Smith in January, 1885, but now with our many handsomely bound volumes it is hard to believe that the library ever consisted of only one book. By enter- tainments, contributions, and the help of many friends, the library now is extensive and well selected. About once a year we vary our meetings a little by having a meeting in the chapel and inviting the public. These meetings are always good in both the Eoline and Harrisonian societies for one declares the other shall not have the best programme, and vice versa. � On the twelfth of February, the spacious chapel was filled with faces beaming and happy, for were they not in just a few minutes, at the rising of the curtain, to listen to a programme rendered by the Harrisonians ? The following programme was presented to the audience: Vocal Solo, Goodnight, Sweet Dreams Bisehoff Miss Marie Hodge, Meridian, Miss. Eecitation, The Twins Miss Josie Handy, New Orleans, La. Vocal Solo, Marinita Burden Mi ss Anna Belle Murpliey, Morristown, Tenn. SENSE AND NONSENSE. 49 Instrumental Solo, Alice Ascher Miss Vera Kelley, Greeneville, Tenn. Recitation, Piano Music Miss Nannie Thompson, Houston, Texas. Instrumental Solo, Last Idea Weber Miss Flora Pendleton, Chilhowie, Ya. Reading, Selection Mark Twain Miss Effie Granberry, Hazelhurst, Miss. Instrumental Solo, Mazurka Porter Miss Gonzella Byrne, Selma, Ala. Institute Notes Miss Helen Wainwright, Stonewall, Miss. Vocal Solo, ’T is Spring Time M is? Alma Cleveland, Houston, Texas. This was much enjoyed by all, by the Harrisoniaus, too, though we take just as much pleasure in our regular Saturday night meetings which we hold in our handsomely furnished hall on the third floor. This has rich beautiful Brussels on the floor, draperies over the windows, and doors, and is fitted up with heavy rugs, chairs, and everything conducive to comfort. How could we fail to love our dear hall ? Here on Saturday night we see the girls waiting breathless to hear the decision of the judges on some debate, or warm in the discussion of some business on hand. A Harrisonian will be known by tbe colors she wears, old rose and tan, as well as by her bearing. For the pleasure of all old Harrisoniaus we tell below the whereabouts and doings of some of our old members. Miss Katherine Patton Coles, of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, is not only doing great credit to her society, and alma mater as a successful president of a school, but also as a fluent writer for periodicals and magazines. We are fully expecting at some future day a book from her pen on some of the interesting topics of the day. 50 SENSE AND NONSENSE. Miss Hope Travel’ is teaching in a prominent female school at lied Bank, New Jersey. We have letters from her brimful of her enthusiasm as a teacher, and have reasons to believe she is giving great satisfaction. Mi ss Edith James, of Pennsylvania, is adding much to the pleasure of the clmrch-going people of Scranton, hj ' her beautiful voice in solo work. Miss May Venable, of Mississippi, is making home bright for her parents this winter, and winning many friends daily. It will be joyful news to all to know that Miss Emma Lamb, of Richmond, Virginia, one of our staunchest workers, will attend commencement. Mi ss Ethel Kumpli is succeeding finely as a pianist, and teacher, at Nacogdoches, Texas. Miss Lizzie Ford, of Can City, Kentucky, is very popular in society. Rumor has it that she will come to Tennessee to live. Here is good luck to you, Lizzie ! Miss Mary Wright, of Prescott, Arizona, is very conspicuous in the musical circles of her home, and we congratulate her on being on the programme of so many entertainments. Miss Annie Farrar, of North Carolina, having wearied of society and travel, has accepted a position in Ladies College, Kan- sas City. We wish we had granted us space, sufficient to speak of the many who have decided to leave single blessedness, and reign in homes of their own. We have every reason to believe that all Harrisonians will make tine wives, and first-class housekeepers. E. G. EOLINE LITERARY SOCIETY HALL. r ' - Eoline Society j PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, ADDIE HUFF MABEL LEE KATHRYN COLE MAY TAYLOE fl Dcmbcrs : Frances Acree, Miriam Acree, Hazel Brockett, Alice Carter, Mary Gale Carter, Lucy Dickinson, Ida Eastland, Mary Hartley, Laeta Hartley, Anna Faw, Harrison Jones, Lulu Dean Jones, Boyd Kefauver, Delle Lockett, Ivate Lynch, Pauline Morgan, Lizzie Price, Hattie Reynolds, Essie Rollins, Bopeep Smith, Jessie Susong, Alice Seward, Nannie Shortridge, Nina Smith, Annie Tayloe, Annie Tilson, Rose Williams, Eva Watts, Maybelle Vest, Ruby Stingily. Sketch of the JEoline literary Society. A FTER having tried every known method of research, after having worn out volumes of encyclopedias, and histories of like organizations, the historian of the Eoline Literary Society rashly came to the conclusion that no such association as the above ever existed; or if it did exist, that it must have been in some prehistoric time and the record must have been lost. No! did I say the society did not exist? Surely not; I said I could discover no trace of it among the records of illustrious facts and great deeds. Truly, a society that is doing such noble work among our young women should have a place in this great world. It h as a place. Come with me and spend Saturday night at Southwest Virginia Institute; and you will see that the Eoline Society is as a bright and shining light, doing its best, and accom- plishing much in its little corner. Three years and a half ago the society was organized, with the name of the Eoline Literary Society. Its purpose was mutual improvement in music, elocution, composition and debate. The name “ Eoline,” from little Eoline Jones, was chosen as a testimony of our love for our dear president and his wife, and our sympathy for them in the death of their little daughter. Every Saturday night a meeting is held in our society hall. The hall is handsomely furbished and equipped with every conve- nience, thanks to the many friends which the society boasts, SENSE AND NONSENSE. 51 , In its brief life, a life fraught with many dangers, this society has done a grand and noble work. It has not only perfected us in the popular accomplishments of the day, but it has assisted us in the formation of our characters. We, knowing ourselves members of this society and realizing its seriousness, have striven to exhibit a due consideration for the opinions and feelings of others, and in ' all our meetings have endeavored to maintain perfect command of temper. Occasionally, to show the progress of its members in various branches, we give public meetings, to which the students and faculty of the Institute are invited. One such meeting, held only recently, was esteemed by all as most enjoyable. The subject for the evening’s discussion was Lord Tennyson, and the following programme was rendered by members of the society: Vocal solos, Misses Faw and Hartley; piano solo, Miss Carter; and essay on Tennyson, Miss Seward. The crowning feature of the evening, however, was the May Queen in three scenes, in which Mi ss Hazel Brocket!, as “ Alay Queen,” showed her rare ability in elocution and dramatic power. Miss Acree as “ Mother” was exceedingly good, and little Lula Dean Jones made an ideal “ Eflie.” The simple pathos of the story was made so realistic that there were many tears shed over the death of “Little Alice.” It was acknowledged, even by the Harrisonians, to be one of the best amateur performances in the history of the Institute. Our life as a Society has been a pleasant, sweet experience, but the sorrow that must, at some time, darken all lives, has come into ours. One of our most helpful, pleasant, sister workers, Miss Eva Watts, died at her home in Forest, Mississippi, December 19th, 1897. In her we lost a loving companion and a gracious friend. She had made one of the Institute family for three years, and was loved by all for her bright, cheerful disposition, and admired for SENSE AND NONSUNS E. 66 her sweet, Christian character. We can not understand why a young life so full of promise, so beautiful in bright prospects, should be taken away with so few of them realized. But we must hope that “ somehow good will be the final goal of ill.” Good lives can not die, “ they with the sun and moon renew their light forever, blessing those that look on them.” We wish we could have kept her, but “ Our wills are ours, to make them Thine.” A. R. S. The death of Minnie West, Lancaster, Kentucky, was one of the saddest events of our school year of 1897-98. On the thirteenth of November our dear friend and schoolmate passed away. The entire school was overshadowed by this cloud, that had fallen upon us so heavily, and it was a sad little band that assembled in the chapel that afternoon, to have a last look at her dear face and place a flower upon her coffin as a sign of our love and remembrance. We bow our hearts in humble submission to His will, and although she was not a member of our Society, she had intended joining us, and in the name of the Societies and the school, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. H Wortb Xove. CHILDHOOD. They were young and glad together In the dawn of childhood’s day. Bright and sunny was the weather, And to them life was but play. Clear and bright the things around them, And the blue in the southern skies Was but a faint reflection Of the blue in his sweetheart ' s eyes. MIDDLE AGE. They were glad — for still together Still they loved — and heart to heart, They had borne thro’ all the weather Sworn tho’ all the star’s depart, Still he sees the girlish beauty, Still he sees the clear blue sky Which he loved in early childhood And will love until they die. OLD AGE. They are old — yet still together, And their love is just as true. Bright and stormy is the weather And their eyes are moist with dew. Yet their love has ever strengthened, While each little day has passed. And they ’ll love tho’ shadows lengthen Yes, they ' ll love until the last. — 1 1 Jewel. m 13 1 13 m m m m M 1 m Xove on a loo Virginia, September, ’97. My Dear Old Girl : — I have already written about twenty-five ( ?) pages to mail to you this afternoon, and since it will reach you anyway, with “ due, two cents ” on it, I believe I ’ll write a little more and give you a full description of my first day’s outing after I came home — so here goes : Time and time again, the little folks had come to mama, begging her to take them on a picnic, and each time she had given them some excuse, and they had gone away, looking as though they thought their Sunday-school teacher must, indeed, be a strange sort of person not to jump at the chance of going on a picnic with them. At last, one beautiful, sunshiny Saturday they came once more. I had returned from school by this time, so mama suggested that I take her place, and by so doing, give her little friends pleasure and also increase her chances of life for the summer, for she was very much afraid she would die of persecution, e’er those hot, sultry picnic days should pass. After a few necessary objections, I consented to go with them. To tell the truth, I was perfectly delighted with the very idea, for had I not for nine long months been shut up in that prison-house, known as Southwest Virginia Institute ; had I not fresh in my mind the memory of days spent in “ Poverty-Row, Cell 57,” during which I longed with a longing that was more than long for just such a chance 58 SENSE AND NONSENSE. as this ? Consequently, at half past nine I was ready to start. Oh ! Lucy, I wish you could have seen the love of a hat I had on ? It was my last summer’s white chip, trimmed in mouseline, with those very becoming streamers which tie under my chin. I wore my pink lawn that you like so much, and, altogether, I felt very much pleased with my personal appearance. At ten we started, and for half a mile you couldn’t imagine a merrier party of young folks. Young, did I say ? well, rather. The oldest of the children was a hoy of ten, while I, as you know, am seventeen. They laughed and chatted, pushed and scrambled for the honor of “holding Miss Mary’s hand.” So we went on our way. Then, oh ! then, how the sunshine began to pour down ! It fairly fell upon us in rivers. My collar wilted, my spirits drooped, and I thought that haven of rest, known as the “ Big Spring,” would never be reached.” Since all things have an end though, that wonderful spot at last came in view ; but not before two of the children had sprained their ankles, two had wretched headaches, and three of the boys had had a fight ! All these were soon forgotten, though, in the delight we experi- enced in seeing the cool, clear spring water, the shade trees, and, above all, two buckets of cherries and — a crate of pop ! And who do you suppose had put them in there for us ? Why, darling old Tom. There was a card lying between the bucket and the crate, with his name on it, and addressed : “To Mrs. E. and the little folks.” Now wasn’t that just lovely in him ? Yes ; I know we had had a falling out, but I knew all the time he was a perfect dear ! Soon enough dinner time came and passed, and after that most important of all proceedings was over, I was at a loss to know what SENSE AND NONSENSE. 59 to do with, the children to entertain them through the- long, hot evening. I had come to the conclusion that circumstances present them- selves of their own accord, and I sat down and awaited developments. You remember those nice looking men who boarded at the hotel last summer while you were visiting me, and who were so anxious to meet us ? Well, they have started up a tannery just a short distance from the Big Spring, and, of course, nothing would do the boys but that they should go over and investigate. After they left, the girls began a series of petitions in which they insisted upon my letting them wade. Well, of course, I let them, while I, as dignified as you please, sat on the edge of a rock on the edge of the stream and watched. Oh ! What fun they were having ! Did you ever know me to resist temptation ? Well, I never did, and this was no exception to the rule. For awhile I looked on with no thought of joining them. Then, little by little, my fingers caught hold of the strings of my slip- pers, of course — to tie them more tightly — then, lo and behold, as by magic, they became untied and were lying on the ground beside me. Half the battle was over then, so slowly and hesitatingly I pulled off my stockings and for the first time in years I felt the cold, damp ground beneath my bare feet ! My, what fun it was. What delightfully shocking sensation I experienced when that cold water came in contact with my feet ! I can almost feel it now. Oh, how I longed to have courage enough to go far out, where the water was deep, and the rocks large and smooth, where the children were splash- ing it and enjoying themselves the same as so many little ducks ! I wish you could have heard their exclamations as they realized what I was about to do. “ Oh ! Sue, just think, Miss Mary is going to wade, just ’spose somebody should see her,” and with that awful supposition she 60 SENSE AND NONSENSE. marched boldly into deeper water. “Well, Mary Lee, don’t she look too funny, just like she was having the bestest time and still afraid, all the same ! ” With such remarks I was greeted when I joined them. But, oh ! Lucy, such sport as it was ! My pleasure was just at its height when, in the distance, I caught the faint murmur of voices. I paid little heed to this, thinking that it was the little fellows coming hack from the tannery, and went on enjoying myself as much as possible. But the voices, in coming nearer and nearer, became more dis- tinct and louder, and the horrible truth dawned slowly upon me that there were approaching, oh, mirabile clxctu ! — some men ! For one awful moment I stood transfixed with horror. What was I to do ? There I was at least a hundred yards from my shoes and stockings and no way of getting them, except to walk up to the spring and get them myself, for none of the children were in calling distance. While I stood there bemoaning fate and the absence of shoes and stockings, the voices became more distinct, and I could easily catch such words : “Well, Jack, my boy, I hope nothing has walked away with our crate of pop. I think it a right risky business leaving it in that open spring, any how. By the way, old fellow, that Sunday- school crowd is down here to-day. I heard Tom Atkins tell Jim Harris that he had put some cherries in the spring for them.” “ By jove, Harry, if that’s a fact we are in a mess. You know that Mrs. Ellis, the great temperance woman, brought the brats down here, and how in the world can we go up and haul the stuff out right before her eyes ! I wouldn’t mind it so much if it wasn’t for that pretty daughter of hers that I intend calling upon to-morrow afternoon if I have to — well, I won’t say what.” They passed on, and I heard no more. But, goodness knows, I had already heard enough to rob me of any peace of mind which I might before have possessed. SENSE AND NONSENSE. 61 The little stream where I was standing, all shivering with — no, not cold, bnt laughter — was completely hedged in by trees so that I could see without being seen, at least for a few moments. So I stood there as still as a mouse and watched Messrs. John W. Williams and Henry L. Stone wind their way slowly and hesitatingly toward the spring. Yes, my dear ; they were those same men we saw last sum- mer. Grandpa told me that morning they were men he knew, and were two of the most perfect gentlemen he ever met, notwithstanding the fact they were Yankees ! Well, you can imagine the conflicting emotions which filled my bosom. At first I was almost convulsed with laughter, for, Lucy, just think of it — we had gotten away with every particle of their pop ! What we couldn’t drink, we had packed in our lunch baskets to carry home Avitli us, for, of course, I thought it was Tom’s gift as well as the cherries. Then, afterAvard, I felt a Avave of dread pass over me at the awful crime I had committed in drinking the pop and alloAving the children to do so. 0, horror ! Suppose they should go home drunk. At that thought I gaA r e an uncontrollable burst of laughter, which sounded like a heart-broken sob. The children up at the spring must have heard me, for they turned and gazed as though they thought I had gone mad, and those “ most perfect gentlemen ” also turned and looked at me as though I Avas some interesting specimen put on exhibition. At last the poAver to move returned to me, and I painfully hob- bled (for the rocks hurt cruelly), to a log that was lying across the stream, and sat doAvn on it. Remembering I am not quite five feet high, you can picture to yourself what an object I must have been, clinging to, more than sitting on, that slippery, old log ; my dress all splashed with Avater and mud ; my hair all doAvn (thank goodness it ’s 62 SENSE AND NONSENSE. curly), and, worse than all, no shoes and stockings on my poor, little feet ! There I sat and begged piteously that some of the children would bring me my shoes, for I could not walk another step without them. My voice was so weak that I could scarcely hear it myself, and it seemed that the children caught no sound of it, for they made no motion to answer my appeals, although I could hear distinctly every word that was spoken by them and those men, who were now at the spring. “ This is a joke, sure thing,” said Mr. S. “Ha, ha ! trembled in our boots like two school boys, afraid to own the pop as our own for fear of the madam’s wrath, and, lo and behold, come to find she and her little crew have drunk the pop and swallowed the bottles ! A snap of my fingers for all the temperance women in the world ! ” Thank goodness, I thought, they haven’t recognized me yet. But my joy was short lived, for the thought had no sooner Hashed across my brain than Mr. Stone began to speak. “ Say, little lady, what ’s that pretty little girl’s name sitting on the log ? ” Mary Lee, it was she whom he addressed, drew herself up proudly and made reply : “ I thank you, sir, she is no little girl ; she is a grown up lady, and I will not tell you her name.” Then Bess chimed in, “ Ho, sir ; of course, we ain’t going to tell Miss Mary Ellis’s name to no strange man. She wouldn’t like it and then she never would bring us on a picnic again ; never wade in the creek and climb the green apple tree, like she said she was going to this evening.” Did I fall off the log when I heard this ? Ho, my dear, I didn’t, but it was because I was glued to the spot. Bess had hardly ceased speaking when the men burst into laughter, which seemed to my ears like the mocking of the demons of the lower world, and then that SENSE AND NONSENSE. 63 horrid old Mr. Williams said : “ Say, Harry, let ’s wait here and ask Miss Ellis about our pop ourselves — won’t it be fun. It will be a little mean, I know, but, by George, she gave us the G. B. so often last summer that ever since I ’ve longed for some means to revenge my slighted manhood, and now the moment has come shall I lose it ? Mo, sir.” And then he laughed as though it would kill him. Oh, how I hated him ! I could have strangled him with the greatest felicity (had I but had my shoes with which to get close enough to him), but under existing circumstances I had to sit there like a lamb in a position like a Turk(ey), for, through pure modesty, I had drawn my feet up under my skills and sat there on that log in the most uncomfortable fix a mortal was ever in. Oh, those Yankees, how I hated the wretches ! I looked dag- gers, at them, and they smiled at me. At last Mr. Stone turned and whispered something to Mr. Williams, and they both went under that large oak tree, you remember it, and wrote something which seemed to amuse them very much. After a few moments they stooped down and placed something in one of the buckets and then left, the children following them. With a sigh of relief I stretched out my poor, cramped limbs, gave a long, loud cry, and, then, quietly went with a splash into the water ! I couldn’t help it, Lncy ; an uncontrollable something pulled me down, and I could no more resist it than have flown. Did Messrs. Stone and Williams then instantly rush to the rescue, and by saving my life win my everlasting forgiveness and heartfelt love ? Mot a bit of it. But, instead, it seemed to me that for hours I lay there shivering and shaking and strangling to death ; crying to myself over and over, “ Is heaven far to seek for those who drown ? ” For it ’s the truth, Lucy, I thought my time had come. In those brief seconds or interminably long hours, as I then thought them, there 6 £ SENSE AND NONSENSE. passed through my mind memories of past wicked deeds in such rapid succession that I tho ught heaven and the joys therein could never be mine. Oh, I tell you it was awful ! I never w T ant to come again so near shuffling off this mortal coil, for, mercy knows, the pleasure don’t pay for the pain ! Oh, how I cursed my wretched folly ! How I vowed to myself that never so long as I lived would I wade again ! And, oh, how horrible were my sensations when it first dawned upon me that it might have been that pop which made me tumble off that log ! I then and there joined a temperance union and made a vow, such that no power under heaven could ever induce me to break. With such thoughts as these running through my brain, I sat for at least five minutes on the bottom of the stream, never for a moment entertaining the slightest hope of getting out alive, when it suddenly occurred to me that I was in no danger whatever, hut was merely sitting there with my head above water and no danger done, except the dampening of my clothes. Ha, ha ! I never in my life laughed so heartily as I did when I realized how frightened I had been over nothing— so much for my boasted courage. When my senses returned to me and I saw there was no danger of drowning, hut very great danger of taking the cramps, I rose slowly from the creek and stumbling, hobbling, sometimes crawling, I made my way to the bank and once again sat down and waited further devel- opments. Oh, what a pitiful sight I must have been ; but, oh, how much more pitiful I felt. There I sat, shivering, shaking, crying and laughing, wondering what on earth would become of me, when sud- denly the children rushed down upon me with shrieks of delight and cries of alarm. I know I was ridiculous looking, but I didn’t enjoy their laughter as much as if I had been somebody else, so I sent the SENSE AND NONSENSE. 65 delighted ones out of my sight and begged the alarmed ones for good- ness’ sake to beg, borrow, steal or buy something to put around me. They hurried away, and in a few minutes returned with— two coats — I put one on and wrapped the other around me without asking any questions, for my teeth chattered so that talking was an impossi- bility . I then tried to move, but no. Every muscle refused to work and I was stiff as a board. Well, I despaired then of ever leaving that spot. I sat there, with a heart as heavy as lead, and clothing a good deal heavier. Sud- denly a buggy came down the road. I never looked up, but I could hear it distinctly strike up against every rock in the road as though the driver only cared to reach liis destination. I sat there and counted every bump it made, then I heard it go into the stream; heard the water splash up against the sides ; heard the horses slipping and sliding on the watery rocks, and then I heard no more until a slight cough aroused me from my reverie. With an effort (for my neck was so stiff) I turned my head and saw — Mr. Stone. ‘‘Miss Ellis,” he said, “ I am sorry for what has happened. I know you think I am a base wretch. I beg your pardon, honestly, for what I have done to worry you. I did it thoughtlessly, unin- tentionally, and if you will only allow me, I ’d be so glad to drive you home.” When he first began to speak, Lucy, I was furious, hut he looked so manly, standing there with Ids hat in Ids hand and his heart in his eyes, and I felt so weak and stiff that I just could not resist the haven of rest the soft, cushioned seats of the buggy presented. I thought, though, it would be positively necessary to make some objection, so I faltered out : “ Oh, the children, sir ! I can’t leave them ; please go away and let me alone.” 66 SENSE AND NONSENSE. “ No, Miss Ellis, I can neither go away or let yon alone, for it is necessary that yon get. home, and that as quickly as possible, or else you will be ill. Don’t worry about the children, Williams ’phoned just now for a ’bus to be sent down from the livery stable, so they ' ll be taken care of all right. Come, now, and get in the buggy and go home.” He was so big and I so little, he so strong and I so weak, that I climbed into the buggy like a little child (for I was no more than that to him), and in a few minutes was driving home, miserably uncom- fortable, but remarkably unembarrassed and happy under the circum- stances. Soon I forgot there ever was a picnic, a crate of pop, a log, a stream or anything else, except one man, and he the most delightful I ’d ever met. All this happened months ago, but it seems like yesterday, the time has flown so rapidly. How, with dearest love, I am your devoted friend, Mary. P. S. — Oh, I do wish you could meet him ! A ever mind, you ’re to be maid of honor, but don’t breathe it to a soul, for I don’t want it to get out yet. My diamond is lovely. M. A. E. a prater to Time, to Culalie. Eelentless Time ! A little while, Thy ravages forbear — - This gala day thy havoc cease And listen to my prayer. I have a friend, a bright-eyed girl, With love and beauty crowned (Thou ’It never see a fairer one In all thy weary round). Touch lightly her, I pray thee Time ! She ’s “all the world to me ” — My only love, my hope, my star, Upon life’s stormy sea. Leave not thy wrinkled autograph, Upon her beauteous brow, Nor dim her lustrous, love-lit eyes, That beam so brightly now. Let no destroying dew distill, From off thy wing of gloom, To blast the roses in her cheek, That now so sweetly bloom. But if thou wilt not spare these charms, That so much grace impart, I have a dearer boon to ask Oh ! do not touch her heart ! If wrinkles mar her placid brow, Let loving thoughts be there, If thou must dim her lustrous eye, Affection’s altars spare. Each radiant charm of form and face, I ’ll gladly yield to thee, If thou ’d but leave her loving heart, Unchanged and true to me. 68 jfirst Excursion m- 1 Y first excursion was a visit to Washington. I have resolved V 1 that it shall be my last one. Not that I wasn’t pleased and proud of our grand old capital, but the sacrifices that I had to undergo on that occasion, caused me to make a firm resolution as to future excursions. Nothing would have induced me to take such a trip in the very heat of summer, and under such circumstances, but an ambitious desire to travel. Having just returned from my first few months at college, I had got the impression that to be educated and cultured one must travel extensively, and, being of rather an impatient nature, I was eager to take advantage of the first opportunity that presented itself. This being the first, I grasped it, much to my sorrow. Contrary to the wishes of my people, and especially those of my brother, with whom I was going, I resolutely made my preparations for the trip, which, in my estimation, was in itself an education. And it was, but one whose instructions I had shunned until 1 was forced to take lessons under its worst teacher — experience. With loads of determination I boarded the train, and taking so little notice of dust and cinders, although my eyes, ears and nose were full of both, my brother somewhat relented and all went well until we reached Portsmouth. There we found, to our dismay, that our boat had left. What was to be done ? We were in a strange city, no friends 70 SENSE AND NONSENSE. near, and, worst of all, we carried a light pocketbook ; for we had bought a round-trip ticket and this misfortune would necessarily make us pay almost double fare. After some hesitation and planning, we decided that we could make the trip with a few sacrifices. These I had not expected, but, under the circumstances, I dared not complain. About seven in the afternoon we left the city. It was a beautiful night for my first sail, and it seemed to me the moon shone its very brightest. I have heard it said that a moonlight night on water, the circum- stances being in harmony, one is apt to grow sentimental, but if I had had a tendency in this direction, I was soon brought back to the pain- ful reality of crackers and cheese for supper. We had been sitting out on deck and it was now ten o’clock, but not a hint had been given of where we should spend the night. At last, after a long silence, my brother asked me in a rather timid tone, if I would take a state-room. lie knew as well as I did that such a thing was out of the question, but just for spite I was tempted to tell him yes, however, I knew I must be good, so I answered as pleasantly as possible, that I intended watching the moonlight. But it soon grew cold, “ the man in the moon,” charmed me no longer, and going in I fell down on a seat, and before I knew it was asleep. When I awoke, my brother was standing over me, laughing at my bewildered air ; for it was morning and I had slept all night. I was fully convinced of this when I had to make two or three attempts to raise my head on account of a stiff neck. In a few hours we reached Washington, and took the car for a certain street, where friends would meet us. By some mistake, the cars carried us out in the Chinese settlement, quite a way from the SENSE AND NONSENSE. 71 city. Expecting to find anything but friends here, 1 had no idea of waiting for another car, as my brother insisted on doing, but snatched up my umbrella and grip and told my companion he could remain with the “ Hottentots ” if he so liked, but T preferred more congenial company. With more determination than strength, I started down the road, brother following. Soon I met an old white-haired man. He carried a basket of beautiful flowers, and seeing how carefully he shaded them from the hot sun, I knew he must be kind, so I asked him how far we were from 2 1 1 8 1ST street. He said it was about twenty blocks. As he seemed familiar with the city, I asked him to point out the way to us, and he kindly gave us a clear outline of it. My brother still insisted on taking a car, but I positively refused, and as a carriage was out of the reach of our pocket-book, there was nothing to do but walk. We had as yet had no breakfast, and as our supper consisted only of crackers and cheese and moonlight, we felt in no great spirit for a walk of twenty blocks. So, after breakfasting on roasted peanuts, we started on our tramp. That walk will never be forgotten by me. It was a hot day in August. The sun didn’t seem to under- stand the circumstances, and had no mercy upon us. W e walked and kept on walking. My feet were sore, but we walked on — mv feet were blistered, but we still kept walking. They might have come off, and I wouldn’t have complained — no, not for w r orlds — it would have given that brother of mine, wdio seemed as calm and cool as an autumn day, too much satisfaction in saying, “ I told you so.” Still the pain w r as almost unbearable, and I suggested that we go into a park near by. My brother readily assented, out of 72 SENSE AND NONSENSE. mercy to me, of course, thought I wouldn’t acknowledge it even to myself. How delightfully restful those rustic seats did look ! I admired everything around us, from the tiniest rock under our feet to the little twigs on the old oaks. The surroundings could not have been more charming — no, not even if it had been a moonlight night, and my brother had been — “ a friend of mine.” I saw from the unconscious twinkle in my brother’s eye that he understood the charms this place had for me, and I was inwardly grateful to him for not breaking the spell. We spent two or three hours here, and my brother — bless his heart — pretended to be as charmed as myself. But the best was yet to come. It was to dine at a restaurant. At this suggestion, I jumped for joy, forgetting my blistered feet entirely. Once again we set out, but this time I was living on anticipation. Alas ! I found it more enlivening than the realization. I shall never forget what a delightful sensation it was to sit down to a table once more, and how eagerly I snatched up a bill-of-fare and gave orders for half a dozen ices and cold drinks. I had entirely forgotten myself in my happiness. I could scarcely wait to be served, and when, at last, the waiter brought me half chicken on toast, I was more than delighted think- ing it was an extra order from my brother. How blissful was my ignorance. I never once thought of our painful circumstances, although I noticed that my brother actually picked the bones of his chicken, but I thought to myself that that was just like a man. Instead of touching things lightly, and saving himself, so to speak, as I had done, he devours everything before him. But what was my brother SENSE AND NONSENSE. ty® O saying : “ Are you ready to go ? ” Such a question, and so unex- pected. But it brought me to myself — and I wished I had been a man. Oh, the long walk before us ! Iiow I ever reached friends I do not know. I only know mv trip of sight-seeing was now confined to four bare walls, and I felt the raging heat of a burning fever. Thus ended my first excursion, and I shall “ live happily ever afterward” in the knowledge that it shall be my last one. A. C. purity of Ibcart. There is a charm that blighter grows ’Mid beauty’s swift decay, And o’er the heart a glory throws That will not fade away. When beauty ' s voice and beauty’s glance The heart no longer move, This holy charm will still entrance, And wake the spirit’s love. When beauty’s form of grace bereft Is bending o’er the tomb This fadeless charm will still be left To beautify the gloom. When all is past of life’s short dream, And earthly ties are vain, Serenely bright this charm will beam, And light the soul to heaven. And would you know the charm divine That can such grace impart? It dwells within the spirit’s shrine, ’Tis purity of heart. 74 Sketches W HEN our matron shows visitors through the school, there are always two or three rooms she can enter with the comfort- able feeling that they will be absolutely and entirely clean. Isolated cases are always interesting, so let us go in and see this marvel- ous thing — a school-girl’s room in perfect order. Here we are. It is perfect. The books are ranged in regular rows on the table, no ink-spot mars its immaculate cover. For mercy’s sake don’t sit on the bed ! And don’t rumple that head- rest. You had better not sit in the chair with the cushion, either, or you will make a life-time enemy of this model of neatness ! When we enter the neat girl’s room we involuntarily smooth our hair and look at our shoes. We can never feel quite at ease, for the fear of mussing something is constantly before us. And when we close the door in leaving, the uncomfortable feeling comes over us that she is shaking up the cushions and straightening the chairs. -x- -x- -x Let me convince you that all the inventions have not been made by Edison. Walk right in and see the latest in telephones. A girl is standing by the radiator, knocking on the pipe with her tooth-brush. An answering knock conies over the pipe. “ Hello ! ” “ Hello, what do you want ' ( ” “ Can you stay with me to-night ? Julia is going to May’s and I ’in afraid to sleep by myself, you know.” 76 SENSE AND NONSENSE. “ What did you say ? Speak louder.” “ 1 es ; ami have Mrs. L. come chasing in here. Will you stay with me to-night ? ” “ Oh, yes. Sav, have you heard the latest ? ” “ dSTo ; what is it ? ” “John Russell came to call on Mary this evening and they wouldn’t let him see her. lie ’s from her home, too. Wasn’t it rj ?? mean : “ Well, wouldn’t that kill you ! Is Mary much mad ?” Oh ! She ’s been tearing around all night. Said she was going to write home. But he ain’t any more her cousin than I am. Ouess she ' ll be cool by morning.” “ Oh, yes ; say, you slip up when they put out the lights. I ’ve got something to eat and we ' 11 have a hot time.” “ Sure thing. I ’ll be there when that 10 o’clock bell rings.” Then they sound off, and telephonic communications close for the night. How to a student’s room. Sad to relate, this is the most uncom- mon room of all. “ Of the making of books there is no end.” Books are piled on the bureau, books heaped on the bed, scattered over the floor, and stacked on the chairs. Truly the prize for housekeeping will never come this way. Pin-trays and photographs are unknown — dictionaries and his- tories have taken their places. In the rocking-chair by the window a bent figure is worrying from the inner recesses of her brain a compo- sition. She looks up for a moment to rest her weary head, and before her book-dimmed eyes float visions of Horace and Vergil, their togas embroidered with “ Odes to Venus,” and “ Anna virumque,” the shades of Wentworth and Whitney, their garments covered with a SENSE AND NONSENSE. 77 weird design of triangles and the conjugation of aller, hover over lier. She is seeking that unattainable something for which men, ever since the time of Solomon, have spent their lives — the something new under the sun. One sentence can contain all she knows of the subject, but, alas, that one small thought must be stretched out and written in many and various forms before the object of her patient work is reached — the filling of two sheets of fools-cap. With best wishes for 1004, let us tip-toe out gently, and softly close the door. This scene is decidedly more lively. The very room itself is cheerful, the walls are covered with pictures from “ Puck ” and “ Judge,” tennis rackets, Gibson sketches, calendars and photographs. A circle of beaux and actresses, babies and football teams, leaves a hole in the mirror barely large enough to reflect one face. But more cheerful than the room are the girls piled on the bed. A bottle of pickles, crackers and a box of candy add a great deal to the pleasure of the evening. “ Girls, do please be more quiet, Mrs. L. will hear us and send us three packing to the study-hall. Alary and Lois are all right, ’cause they room here, but you bet I don’t want to be sent down. You’d better be careful, too, Kate, you ’ve been in five times already,” says one. The voices are lowered for the smallest part of a minute, but soon they are racing on again, with many “John saids,” and “ 1 saids.” Now a knock is heard. What great results can come from a seemingly little thing ! Under the bed roll three girls, on the bed the vinegar and candy slowly form a combination, and a meek voice says : “ Come in.” No one comes. After looking around to see that no suspicious feet or skirts are visible, she opens the door. No 75 SENSE AND NONSENSE. one there, and then it dawns upon her that Lucy, who wasn’t invited, knocked and ran just to scare them. Calling down all bad luck on the head of the absent Lucy the three crawl out, the candy is rescued, and the fun begins again. When the candy has nearly disappeared and the tongues are somewhat tired, again comes a knock. But, as the wolf turned out to he a fake before, they do not go under the bed quite so quickly this time, and the door, without waiting for the “ come,” Hies open, and shows standing there — Mrs. L. The disap- pearing girls are literally arrested in their vanishing course, and then — there is wailing and gnashing of teeth and three poor girls must spend next week in study-hall. Let us go in this room, now. Five girls are seated on chairs and trunks prepared for the daily horror of “ reading Latin.” They have found out by experience that the quickest way to finish that dread task is to form a “ sisterhood,” in which the meanings of all words shall be common property, and every one shall share the job of looking up the words no one knows. It is the hour before supper, and sentences from Horace are inter- spersed with “ I do hope they ’ll have something good for supper. Don’t you, though ? I ’m so hungry.” “ I ’ve got some potted ham we can have if any of you have crackers.” Investigation shows that none of the company have crackers, so, despairingly, they resume Horace. “ I can’t get a bit of sense out of that first sentence. What ’s the old thing trying to talk about any way.” “ I ' ve got it girls ! This is the way it goes.” So, with due regard to genitives and datives they pull out and patch up a sensible sentence. Solomon was wise, truly “ much study is a weariness of the flesh.” SENSE AND NONSENSE. 79 Though school life is one of the happiest of existences it is also one of the saddest. Homesickness ! Can any one conceive of a more dread disease ? Vaccination can prevent small-pox, ante- febrine is a sure cure for headache, but the most patient and painstak- ing search has never disclosed a remedy for a real downright case of homesickness. Letters, with some patients, bring about partial recoveries, but, in others, they only aggravate the disease. Statistics prove that this sickness is most common among fresh- men, though it sometimes breaks out among even the most august seniors. The senior calls it “ the blues,” or if she is very dignified, melancholia ; but a careful diagnosis shows the symptoms to be iden- tical with those of homesickness. Let us, in charity, comfort with a visit one of these afflicted girls. But no, perhaps, we had better not. It would be too harrowing to our feelings, and sympathy lias been proved of little help in most cases. We must wait for Time — the great healer. L. 1). “©ur jftncst Ibope is .Ifincst fll emor ” T O estimate the benefit of one ' s college course is not a simple mat- ter. The knowledge gained was not great; the mental training was not extensive or exhaustive. The impetus given, the taste acquired was the highest good. If the good impulses have not been followed up since graduation, we are apt to think we have brought nothing away from the course ; if they have been pursued, it is hard to say how much of the present result is (hie to tendencies set in motion there, and how much to later influences. Still there are some things of which we can speak with no uncertainty. For example, a single line from Homer, and another from Ovid, met with early in the course, gave me my first and most lasting impres- sions of one phase of the beauty of poetry. A few impressive examples of the forcible use of English prose gave a fortunate turn to my lit- erary taste, the effect of which I shall never lose. Some simple phe- nomena of the material world strikingly presented aroused the scien- tific spirit, which adds so much to nature’s meanings. Who can say what his capacity for true living might be had not these impulses been given at the formative period ? The general air of scholarship, perme- ated with purity of life, that emanated from the place — who can tell how far it went toward shaping his bent for life ! Like the pictures on the walls in childhood’s home, the scenes of our training period mould us more than we know. And that which has become an unconscious part of us, is most potent in determining the final outcome of our SENSE AND NONSENSE. 81 lives ; for it is tire spontaneous element, the force that dominates us in the crises, when the newer acquisitions fall away. Happy is that one whose absorbent, impressionable period was passed in the atmos- phere of some grand old monument to the nobler instincts of mankind. He has implanted in him a love for the quiet way of meditation and the calmer walks of deliberation, “ cool for the dutiful weighing of ill with good,” that never quite leaves him utterly to the dust and wrangle of the lower plane. Such a period it was my good fortune to spend at Southwest Vir- ginia Institute ; and not the least element of impressiveness in my course there was the grandeur and dignity which years and the devoted labors of earnest lives had thrown around this temple of learning. M ay she never lose this spiritual power to shape the lives of youth toward greater things ! S. (Seorge Eliot’s IReltgion ii S ' OMEAYIIERE, in some sphere, to do some part of tlie eternal will, to bear some message, to fulfill some task, — no human being can be complete, no human being can be satisfied without that.” These lines from Phillips Brooks seem to me to express in words what George Eliot expressed in living. It was her constant aim and purpose to help her fellow-men to higher and better living. In her early life she writes to a friend that she is ambitious to “ live and learn ” that she may be able to “ live and teach.” “We must teach,” she says, “ either for good or evil ; and if we use our inward light our teaching must, in the end, be for good.” “ She yearned with a great longing for the good and the growth of the human race. She was one who loved her fellow-men, and she lived to make the doing of good easier to all who come after her.” We can nowhere get a better idea of the religious growth in George Eliot’s life than from her letters and journal. In one of her early letters to Miss Lewis we find the statement that she believed religion not to be a requisite to moral excellence, but it was evidently her desire to receive light on religious subjects, to “ know the truth; ” for, about the same time, in speaking on this subject in a letter to her aunt, she said, “ I shall not only suffer, but be delighted to receive the word of exhortation, and I beg you not to withhold it. I regret that my ignorance and want of deep feeling in spiritual things prevent me SENSE A NE NONSENSE. 83 from suggesting profitable and refreshing thoughts.” A few months later, in a letter to Miss Lewis, she says, “ You allude to religious con- tentions a subject you will, perhaps, be surprised to hear me say, full of interest to me, and on which I am unable to shape an opinion for the satisfaction of my mind. I think no one feels more difficulty in coming to a decision on controverted matters than my- self.” Then she says further, that she has preferences, but that she fails to find “ that comfortable repose that others appear to possess.” For this reason she was at that time constantly afraid of appearing to other people to be what she was not, and said, “ Instead of putting my light under a bushel, 1 am in danger of ostentatiously displaying a false one.” During this unsettled period George Eliot read much, and was so earnest in her desire for truth that she gladly received visits from, and talked with many people of different faiths. Her friend and former teacher, Miss Franklin, introduced to her a Baptist minister “ well read in divinity,” who, after an interview with George Eliot, said, “ That young lady must have had a devil at her elbow to suggest her doubts, for there was not a book that I recommended to her in support of Christian evidences that she had not read.” During this time she saw much of her friend Mrs. Cash, who, after a lapse of about two years, writes to her brother, “ Miss Evans seems more settled in her views than ever. She rests her objection to Christianity on the ground that Calvinism is Christianity, and this granted, that it is a religion based on pure selfishness.” She was eminently unselfish. “ She had no sympathy with that conception of life which permits the individual to become his own guide and law, regardless of the welfare of others.” She saw much of God, much of religion in humanity, in noble 8 £ SENSE AND NONSENSE. manhood, and found much comfort and inspiration in the love and sympathy of her fellow-men. Hers was not a religion of creeds, of forms and ceremonies. She once said to a friend, “ L feel no regret that any should turn to them for comfort; sympathetically 1 enjoy them myself. Men may differ in creeds and yet he of one mind in the desire to avoid giving unnecessary pain, in the desire to do an honest part toward the general well-being.” She was in complete sympathy with all that was noble and pure in the religion of those around her. She read the Bible “ with delight and reverence,” and Mr. Cross says, “ It was a very precious and sacred book to her, both from early associations, and from the profound con- viction of its importance in the development of the religious life of man.” At one time she wrote to Miss Lewis, “ The epistle to the Colossians is preeminently rich in the coloring with which it portrays the divine fullness contained in the Saviour.” Mrs. Cash writes, “ She considered Jesus Christ as the embodiment of perfect love,” and again, “ From time to time, her reverence and affection for the char- acter of Christ and of the Apostle Paid, and her sympathy with gen- uine religious feeling, were very clear to me.” George Eliot’s religion was one of love for, and sympathy with her fellow-men; some one has said, “ a religion of faith in humanity.” “ That faith cheered her, it gave inspiration to her books, and it made her of a worshiping spirit in every act of life.” Hers was the spirit “That watched to ease the burden of the world.” Her conception of immortality was rather that of spiritualizing, of immortalizing, the good that we do in this life, our truly unselfish SENSE AND NONSENSE. 85 living. She lias embodied that conception in that beautiful and soul- ful poem, which some one has called “ the only hymn of humanity: ” “ O may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again In minds made better by their presence ; live In pulses stirred to generosity, In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn For miserable aims that end with self, In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars, And with their mild persistence urge man’s search To vaster issues. So to live is heaven : May I reach That purest heaven, he to other souls The cup of strength in some great agony, Enkindle generous ardor, feed pure love, Beget the smiles that have no cruelty, Be the sweet presence of a good diffused, And in diffusion ever more intense. So shall I join the choir invisible, Whose music is the gladness of the world.” ©ur Jhnal Essayist O UK usual custom has been to invite some prominent divine or lawyer to make an address before the two societies on the evening of the celebration at Commencement. This session we have selected Miss Mary Easley, of Pearisburg, Ya., to write and read an essay. We are much pleased with the new idea. She will most creditably and gracefully represent the two societies. We are looking forward to the occasion with genuine delight. While Mary is one of our busy students, we do not fear but she will put plenty of time and thought on her essay to make it one of which we all will be proud. We, therefore, extend to her in adanvce many hearty congratulations. J. Sentiments of S. W. ID. IF. (Skis •«®aas €=€€; � O NE of the darkest days in the annals of Southwest Virginia Institute was that on which the trustees told us that our beloved president and his noble wife would not be with us next year. The scene was a most pathetic and touching one. Many tears were shed and many hearts saddened at the thought of another occupying the place of one who has discharged his duty toward us so faithfully for nine long years. He has been not only our president, but our friend, a father, ever ready to counsel and guide his “ girls.” It is impossible for us to conceive of any one having the power of swaying the girls in such a gentle, loving manner as does our noble president and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Jones and their excellent faculty have done a great work for the young women of our Southland. In making their school a pleasant home, the cares and trials which usually attend a school- girl ' s life, have been here, happiness and contentment. Although Mr. and Mrs. -Jones will not be with us in person their memory will ever be treasured in our hearts. We will, of course, hope for as noble a president, but we do not expect as much. — F rom the girls of the Institute. — Bristol Times. Kate Lynci-i. Gonzella Byrne. Anne Matt Greer. Julia Melton. Frances Agree. Kate Reeves. Hazel Brockett. Ida Eastland. Boyd Kefauver. Alice Seward. Alma Cleveland. Peg Handy. L,aeta Hartley. Jessie Susong. Toler Moore. Anna Belle Murphey. Mary Hartley. Helen Wainwright. Virginia Miller. mhm mu im Colors: Crimson and Cold. motto : “Jill the world ’$ a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” HE DEN WAIN W R IGIIT, MARY HARTLEY, HAZEL B ROCKETT, . PEGGIE HANDY, . JESSIE SUSONG, . BOYD IvEFAITYER, President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Stage Manager Prompter wwssm ' ms (Smeb be £ .5? -c O Oh ' a _ bfi M jn h . a .2 a 53 S s cj ■fl ' O - © D be 3 z O £ 55 5 H 2 cS a oo a s? be © a +- r- CO H Q be � 5 a S3 i I a sc w a S 5 ae o s H « a r c o M I W tl be a be •- a CO eg A © O Eh Eh a O D © be jd — t- 2 Q GO 7 © 1m O 3 ce O ES oe — ►L - 2 w a co P ,= £ be .2 ._ - -3 © 0 g © e © 5 si £ a S © be a a eg ' O 03 .2 2 S sc a o o H H H s a’ 53 A « ■ O M g ’C s?s?iia®S5j • a, a -Ji a a� .a a s a J a. H E- s m © -f- S .SP a W - - © sS « y g a: ® a: © a o ► . - a - o £ 2 ® � u a a 3 CQ « O H tC bo c3 CL T5 ”. ■a X X a — u be © — •- © 5 Eh ; j- t c a a: ffl • J CO © w a £ 7- - © a s s S � 3 ®NXa3HNM i(jCO|s� 19. Seward, Alice . . . Brownie A “Gun” Scratch under , “Gunning” 20. Wainwright, Helen . Keddy A Kodak That IS right Doctoring sD ' jih j ' iiTimii ' -L; ttixsm “ My Tom,” Frances Acree. “O! XT n e 1 e John,” Gonzella Byrne. “All Coons Look Alike to Me,” Hazel Brockett. “ J’ usque-la,” - Alma Cleveland. “Blue Eyes,” Ida Eastland. “ Sweet Bunch of Daisies,” Anne Matt Greer. “Dixie,” Peggie Handy. “ Oh Promise Me,” Mary Hartley. “ Genevieve,” Laeta Hartley. “ My Sweetheart ’s the Man in the Moon,” . Boyd Kefattver. “ Two Little Girls in Blue,” Kate Lynch. “Just Tell ’Em that You Saw Me,” .... Virgie Miller. “ Don’t Be Cross,” Toler Moore. “ Pride of the Ball,” Julia Melton. “ After the Ball,” Anna Bell Murphey. “Little Alabama Coon,” ....... Estelle Marshall. “ Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt,” Kate Reeves. “ When You Ask a Girl to Leave Her Happy Home,” Jessie Susong. “ Can’t Lose Me, Charlie,” Alice Seward. “ Honey, Does You Lub Yo’ Man,” . . . Helen Wainwright. TJJlsO ' JiXliA motto : Ulc follow truth where’er she leads the way. Tlower : Uirginia Creeper. President : Vice-President : Secretary : Mary Augusta Easley. Laeta Hartley. Alice Seward, Members : Body Bidgood. Kate Lynch. Rose Williams. Fanita Bidgood. Boyd Kefauver, Flora Suddith. Lizzie Barnes. Hattie Surface. Grace Greever. Kate Baily. Oi.lette Harmon. Delle Lockett. Mary Bundy. Maydell Vest. Jo St. John. Lucy Dickinson. Evelyn Robinson. Mattie St. John. Mary Alice Greever. Pauline Morgan. Kelly St. John. Flora Pendleton. Beatrice Razor. Mary Moon. Mary Hartley. Rosa Jessie. Lizzie Price. Flora Pendleton. Nellie Gettys. Harrison Jones. Mad ei. Lee. Aldonia Mills. Lula Dean Jones. Margie Paper. Gertrude Howard. Saunders Jones. Annie Ingram. Fannie Bush. Bouldin Jones. Tlower: Oxeyed daisy. “Good fortune may our daisies tell.” President, FRANCES ACREE Vice-President, ..... ADDIE HUFF Secretary, EMILY DOUGHTY Members Frances Agree Vera Kelley Willie Brabsox Georgie Long; Rate Cole Lena Mills Emily Doughty Dixie Moore Kathryne Doyle Anna Belle Murphy May Doyle Moss ie Quillen Anna Fa ay Kate Reeves Add ie IIu ee Hattie Reynolds Loula Hunter Yin a Smith Bert Hall Dora Susong Lillie Jones Jessie Susong Tlower: nigger Read. Color: Crimson, motto: Cnjoy life, for you’re a long time dead. President, Vice-President, Secretary, JULIA MELTON IIELEX WAIN WRIGHT VIRGINIA MILLER Members : Alba Duke Ida Eastland Effie Gr anbury Cleo Harrison Marie Hodge Honorary Member: Expelled ; Julia Melton Virginia Miller Ruby Stingiley Maggie May White Helen Wainwright Miss Brown. Anne Matt Greer. Tlowcr : Boldenrod. “nothing will come of nothing.” President, Vice-President, ALICE CARTER TOLER MOORE Secretary, HAZEL BROCKETT members: Essie Rollins Annie Tayloe Mae Tayloe Mary Gale Carter motto : Be good and youi’ll be happy, but you’ll miss a lot of fun. Colors: Royal purple and white. President ALMA CLEVELAND Vice-President NANNIE THOMPSON Secretary ....... DOLLIE PADGETT Members : Lora Ashburn Annie Tilson nmmim m m. motto : Ule can live without poetry, music and books, But where ’s the man that can live without kooks. Kook: HAZEL B ROCKETT Assistant Kook: GONZELLA BYRNE Chief Eater: HELEN WAIN WRIGHT Chief Karver : ANNE MATT GREER Waiters : Lucy Dickinson Frances Agree Annie Tayloe Effie Granhurx Virginia Miller Essie Rollins Anna Belle Mukfhey Julia Melton C ' leo Harrison Pantry-Keeper: ALMA CLEVELAND Dish=Washers : Laeta Hartley Alice Carter Daisy Brahy Boyd Kefauvf.r Peggie Handy May Tayloe Beverages : Hot Lemonade ; Milk (water, added to taste) ; Water (dry so). Nothing stronger than Coffee allowed. Favorite Dishes: Cabbage, Bristol Baked Beans, Onions, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs. Desserts: Apple Pie, Ice Cream, Cake. Extras: Dream on toast, Imagination on the half shell. Club Property : Two Spoons; One Paper Knife; One Pair Scissors ; One Bucket; One Box Matches ; One Lamp ; Two Candles ; One Soap Dish ; Three Toothpicks, 1 motto : Bettor lato than never. President : Vice-President : WILLIE BRABSON. Secretary : VIRGINIA MILLER. MARY EASLEY. Members : Ida Eastland. Toler Moore. Alma Cleveland. Mary Hartley. Alice Seward. Gonzella Byrne. Honorary Members : Helen Wainwrigiit. Anne Matt Greer. Hazel Brockett. Effie Granbury. Bodie Bidgood. motto: Better be Dead than out of Style. President: Anne Matt Greer. Vice-President: Alice Seward. .... Secretary: Marie Hodge. Hair-Dressers : Estelle Marshall. Mary Hartley. Eyebrow-Comber: Virginia Miller. Painters : Jessie Susong. Ai.ma Cleveland. Plasterers : Helen Wainwright. Hazel Brockett. Maids: Toler Moore. Laeta Hartley. Fanita Bidgood. Hattie Surface. Ida Eastland Ci.eo Harrison. Anna Meade Lockhart. Alinf. Brady. Members : — Ad infinitum. Club Property. — One Pair Curling Tongs, One and a Half Dozen Kid Curlers, Two Rows Pins, One Toothbrush, Three Boxes Rosaline, Three Boxes Talcum Powder, One Comb and Brush. When Kid Curlers give out use the Bristol Daily Times . a ' Jiiima (ELU3I1B, Champion Player, Emily Doughty. Members : Anne Matt Greer Peg Handy Mary Hartley David Handy Boyd Kefauver Ida Eastland Effie Granbury Kate Reeves Boob Player : Lucy Dickinson. mmm ‘‘they also serue who only stand and wait.” Addie Huff Mamie Coffey Vera Kelly Vivien Coffey Dora Susong Alba Duke Helen AVainwrigiit Hattie Surface Maggie May AVhite Daisy Brady mMmm m PROFESSOR BECKWITH, Conductor. Miss Frances Acree, Miss Pauline Bachman, Miss Gonzella Byrne, Mrs. J. C. Bayliss, Miss Katherine Cole, Miss Alma Cleveland, Miss Vivian Coffey, Miss Emily Doughty, M iss Mary Easley, Miss Anna Faw, Miss Anne Matt Greer, Miss Effie Granherry, Miss Peggie Handy, Miss Mary Hartley, Miss Marie Hodge, Miss Cleo Harrison, Miss Pearl Jobe, Miss Vera Kelley, Miss Boyd Kefauver, Miss Jessica McFerrin, Miss Virgie Miller, Miss Dixie Moore, Miss Anna Belle Murphey, Miss Flora Pendleton, Miss Lizzie Price, Miss Janetta Smith, Miss Jessie Susong, Miss Dora Susong, Miss Bessie Taylor, Miss Juno Thomas, Miss Nannie Thompson, Miss Maybelle Vest, Miss May Wallace, Miss Gladys Wright, Miss Helen Wainwri gK Miss Maggie Mae White. PARTIAL VIEW OF CHAPEL. 1Reat tnci=1Room IRotes H APPY are those who can find time to spend a few minutes of the day in our reading-room, for a more attractive spot can scarcely he imagined ! The large, sunny room, with easy-chairs, and two long oak tables weighted down, literarily, with journals, magazines and daily papers, presents an irresistible temptation to the lovers of our lat- ter-day writers. But “ terque quaterque beati ” are those who can read in a racket ! ! ! For many are attracted to this room, who forget the hand- writing on the wall — “ Ko talking allowed here,” — and often, it seems that to them Rudyard Kipling’s latest novel, or Anthony Hope’s thrilling adventures are of little interest in comparison with the discussion of our next composition, or who Mr. Wall intends punishing by compelling to play at the next recital! It is with much pleasure that we are reading in Pall Mall and McClure a continuation, and, we hope, a happy ending, to the trials of Flavia and Rudolph, who so completely won our hearts in the “ Prisoner of Zenda.” As is always the case, Century is holding forth something good and attractive in the form of a story, “ The Adventures of Francois,” by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, of Hugh Wynne fame, also the “ Good Americans,” by Mrs. Burton Harrison. SENSE AND NONSENSE . im Entertaining and striking are the short sketches called “ Gal- lops,” by David Grey. We Southern girls especially are carried away by “ Red Rock,” and congratulate Scribner upon having such contributors as Thomas Nelson Page, and Richard Harding Davis whose “ Soldiers of Fortune ” made such a happy hit. Our interest has slightly flagged in Hall Caine’s “ Christian,” for it is sweetness too long drawn out, and is glorious with too much “ Glory.” Consequently since the advent of the “ Christian ” and “ Corleone,” Alunsey has lost much of its former popularity with us school-girls, who can’t stand too much of a good thing. To our old friends, Century , Harper , McClure , Munsey , Scrib- ner , Review of Reviews, etc., have been added two English maga- zines, AIcAlillan and Pall Mall, also Harper ' s Weekly and Round Table, North American Review, etc., making in all thirty periodicals and twenty newspapers. M. and L. PARTIAL VIEW OF DINING HALL. Unstitute IKlotes. I N ' the fall, in order to cheer the hearts of the poor girls who were here for the first time, some of whom were suffering with the dread disease of homesickness, a reception was given them by the old girls. The parlors were beautifully lighted and all the girls appeared in their “ Sunday best.” Each girl made her best bow to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, and after a few minutes spent in happy talk and laughter, we betook ourselves to the dining-room where delightful refreshments awaited us. After spending quite a lengthy time at the table, we again went to the parlors and did our best to lift up the drooping spirits of the new girls. Early in the fall when the girls felt tired, and on all sides could be heard “ I wish I was at home,” Mr. Jones very thought- fully gave us a trolly-ride. It took our minds ofl of everything unpleasant and we had a delightful time. About this time we “ took a day off” and went on a chestnut hunt. Strange to say, the chestnuts had all crawled out of the burrs, climbed down the trees and put themselves in nice little green and white paper-bags before we arrived. We were all glad when Thanksgiving came, both on account of the much-needed rest from school-work and the big Thanksgiv- ing dinner, which we hugely enjoyed. Who can surpass Mr. and Mrs. Jones in giving us good things to eat ! Such is the exclamation SEN SE AND NONSENSE. 114 of the girls as on Thanksgiving evening they enter the dining- room where a repast fit for the gods is spread. We all felt thankful to George Washington for having a birth- day when we learned we were to have a holiday and also that the new girls were to give the old ones a return for their reception ot the fall. This proved quite an enjoyable affair. After refresh- ments were served we -were all invited to the chapel to enjoy the minstrels which some of the girls had gotten up. How truly we could say “ All coons look alike to me ” for we could scarcely tell one girl from another. Professionals could not have made a better success than our girls and we were justly proud of them. The friends and “ old girls ” of the Institute, as well as the “ new girls ” who hope to enter our school, will he delighted to hear of a piece of good fortune that has befallen 11s. Mrs. Black- more has given to the Institute library quite a large number of hooks. A good library is almost indispensable to school work and w r e heartily appreciate this help towards the one which we wish to establish. This is a good work and any help from our friends will be acceptable. F. A. flbock Damage. O N January 27tli the chapel Avas the scene of a beautiful mar- riage. To the soft strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, artistically rendered by Miss Anna Belle Murphey, the bridal party moved sloAvly up the aisle. First came the ushers, V. M. Miller, M. Hartley, B. Kefauver, and G. Byrne, followed by the bridesmaids, Miss Marye Hodge, attired in blue taffeta; Miss Helen Wainwright, in gauze over heliotrope satin; Miss Ida East- land, in pink taffeta and real lace ; Miss Alice Seward, in white silk mull over white silk, and Miss Toler Moore, maid of honor, in white embroidered mousline de soie over white taffeta. Then came the bride, Miss Hazel Brockett, attired in white satin, leaning on the arm of her father, A. Cleveland. They were met at the altar by the groom, L. Hartley, and his best man, E. Granbury, Avhere they were joined in the bonds of holy wedlock by Bishop Greer. After the ceremony the bridal party retired to the home of the bride, Avhere a sumptuous repast was served. Mr. and Mrs. Hartley left on the 8:40 a. m. train for the SouthAvest Virginia Institute, where they Avill remain during the school term. The Annual stall wishes to tender the young couple their hearty felicitations for a long and happy future. II. II. W. Christmas IboUha s C HRISTMAS conies but once a year! Who will say that the Southwest Virginia Institute girls did not have their share? Indeed all things connected with the holidays are to be long remembered by those who participated in them. In the first place, our President was liberal with his time, and gave us from Decem- ber 23d till January 4tb. On the morning of the 23d, when the last girls who were to spend Christmas at home had left, the girls left behind decided that although it was perfectly terrible to be away from home then they would not be overcome with home-sickness, but overcome home-sickness with mirth. So they went to planning, and with the kind and loving aid of Mrs. Jones they soon had plans laid for almost every night and day during the holidays. But to our readers these “ minutias ” are not so interesting, so we will just begin and tell how some of these plans terminated. On Friday evening, Christmas eve, there was given in the chapel a Christmas tree for the benefit of the younger persons of the Institute. Of course Christmas cheer clustered around this tree as around all others, and after the distribution of gifts the school met in the chapel for a grand game of “ charades.” If you want to know the particulars of the game just ask Mr. Jones if he knows a “ cantelope ” when he sees it! Saturday, Christmas day, was spent in quiet pleasures by the girls. If any one could know how many boxes were disposed of SENSE AND NONSENSE. 117 that day great would be the wonder thereof? The “ Potato Race ” that night was very exciting, hut we will not tarry. Sunday was spent in about the usual way, church m forenoon down-town, and services at night in our chapel conducted by Dr. Rylancl. Monday night we had our reception. Quite a number of young men from the city were present; and with the sweet smiles, pretty dresses, and dainty refreshments the evening was most enjoyable. The girls enjoyed every minute of the holidays, but the thing the city folks enjoyed most was the “ Old Folks Concert ” on Wed- nesday night. In this the girls imitated old-fashioned people in their costumes, music and everything, and the fun they had in get- ting it up, with Mrs. Jones as leader, more than equalled the pleas- ure of the audience at listening to it. With one thing more our happy week closed. That was to the girls the thing of Christmas, the “ Electric-Light Picnic.” The chairs, etc., had been removed from our large chapel and in their place trees had been brought in and leaves scattered all over the lioor. With real springs of bubbling water, lunch baskets, settees and parasols under the trees it was most certainly a tine place to be in, when out-doors the thermometer stood below freezing point and the snow was falling thick and fast. And when the young ladies came down in picnic costume and mingled with the young men under the trees, truly it was a sight to be remembered. A nice lunch was passed around, and “ Henderson’s ” fried chicken and cheese-straws were enjoyed in regular picnic style. Who is willing to account for some of the wishes made over those wish-bones ? But all good things must come to an end. Just as the old year was ringing in the new, both the young ladies and the young men were standing at the large doors, bidding Mr. and Mrs. Jones “ goodnight,” and wishing them a happy blew Year. SENSE AND NONSENSE. 118 With a few (?) unimportant (?) feasts, our Christmas week was over, and only too sorry were the girls that it had passed so quickly. With many, many thanks to our beloved President and his wife, we draw the curtain forever on that happy time, and take up our work, hopeful and in earnest, thankful that during our school years of ’97 and ' 98 we have had them to guide us on the long, hard road to knowledge. E. G. MISS PEG HANDY. Elocution IHotes. T HE graduating recital of Miss Jessie Susong, of Newport, Tennessee, was one of the most brilliant events of the year. Her programme was unique, being a continued story, instead of the usual selections from different authors. The author for the evening was James Lane Allen, and the story, “ A Ken- tucky Cardinal.” To say that nothing was lost of the author’s grace and power of expression, is to pay Miss Susong a high com- pliment, but it is one that she deserves. The enthusiasm of the audience showed that her artistic work was thoroughly appre- ciated. The Times says : “ All who were so fortunate as to be present spent an evening of practical enjoyment, which was both interesting and instructive.” The Courier says : “ Her manner was easy, her gestures graceful, her expression and tone perfectly suited to everything she recited.” The News says : “ Her gesticulating, expression and tone showed a great deal of earnestness and training. She was heartily encored by the audience, who showed their appreciation for the excellent manner in which she entertained them.” Miss Emily Doughty, of Greeneville, Tennessee, who assisted Miss Susong, reflected great credit both on herself and her teacher. Miss Doughty’s singing was of a highly artistic order, and it was thoroughly appreciated by the audience. 122 SENSE AND NONSENSE. This was Miss Doughty’s first public appearance, and she is quite a young girl, still her work showed evident talent and earnest training. W e have bright hopes that she will make a great suc- cess as a singer. This department has been very large during the present session, and the work, as always heretofore, has been of a high standard. From time to time recitals have been given in the chapel, and each pupil has had an opportunity to display her powers of expression. Frequent mention has been made of the talent of this or that particular one, but it was not until all were brought together in the presentation of “ David Copperfield” that the real strength of the department was realized. Who will forget the girls who impersonated the women of this novel? And who will forget the sympathetic reciters who entered into the humor and pathos of Dickens’s words? This arrangement of David Copperfield for the stage was made by Miss Selman, teacher of Elocution in Southwest Virginia Institute. By means of scenes and recitations from the book, the entire story of David’s life is told in less than two hours. J. E. S. MiSQ PART OF ART STUDIO. Hit Motes T he art students this year are an enthusiastic, hard-working band, and we who know their teacher are not at all sur- prised at the good work being done. Drawing from models has been one of the most striking features of the work; and of all sorts and conditions have been those called in for this honor — from “Uncle Barney,” who, although he is only an old and black negro, is beloved by the Institute girls for the goodies he sells us, on down through chambermaids, cook and waiters to the little colored boys who bring back “ mammy’s washin’.” Many weary hours have the girls, too, stood in tiring postures, but the honor of “ posing for Miss Righter and the art pupils,” compensates for many aches of back and head. One of the most enjoyable events of our school year was the reception given by Miss Righter on September 27th, 1897. After we had met the little Nebraskan woman who has so completely won our hearts as a friend, and our admiration as an artist, we were shown into her studio. “ Lovely! ” “ What a perfect artist’s den ! ” “ Oh, we won’t possibly have time to look at them all ! ” were our first exclama- tions. Then, with breathless interest, we gave to each picture some of the attention due it. The room was filled with sketches, paint- ings, and souvenirs of her jaunts as a student. The corner tilled with sketches of the old French shoemaker’s shop; the low, little- windowed house on which the words, almost erased by 7 the hand of 126 SENSE AND NONSENSE. time, “ Le Pension des Jeunes Demoiselles,” were written ; the old friendly buildings, leaning over to each other as though whispering of the people who, long ago, crowded the narrow alley separating them, and the peasants plodding along in their wooden shoes and laden with huge, old water jugs, made us feel as if we had been spirited away to the picturesque little French villege of Crecy en Brie where Miss Righter spent part of her student life. The more we looked, the more the wonder grew that in such a studio any one could keep his eyes from the pictures long enough to draw. From the studio we went to the “ Art Room ” where over a delightful little lunch, we discussed the pictures we liked best and expressed the admiration our interest had silenced in the studio. It will be long, indeed, before the memory of this delightful even- in o- leaves us. L. B. I). MISS ALMA CLEVELAND, Representative of the Vocal Department. ■ flfcuslc n USIC and light are twin angels of God, the lirst born of heaven, and mortal ear and mortal eye have caught only the echo and shadow of their celestial glories.” Too much can not be said of the tine musical talent and train- ing of Southwest Virginia Institute. A sample of this was given us, on December 7th, 1897, by a pupil of Mr. R. S. Wall. The occasion was the piano recital of MissLaeta Hartley, of Petersburg, Virginia, assisted by Miss Alma Cleveland, of Houston, Texas. The following programme was most artistically rendered : Sonata, op. 53 Beethoven. Marche Militaire Schubert-Tausig. Miss Hartley. Scena E. Racconto (II Trovatore) Yerdi. M iss Cleveland. Toccata Ballade in G. Minor Staccato Etude M iss Hartley. The Voice of the Sea Creole Love Song Miss Cleveland. La Campanella Faust Waltz • Miss Hartley. . Dupont. Chopin. Rubinstein. Van Lennep. . Smith. . . . Liszt. Gounod-Liszt. 130 SENSE AND NONSENSE. Botli of the young ladies were acknowledged musicians in our school, hut never before did they display such rare gifts. Judging from the tiowers and applause of the appreciative audience, they were universally recognized as artists. We predict for them a bril- liant future. On the evening of November 25th, 1897, we were delightfully entertained by America’s favorite quartette, “The Schuberts” assisted by Miss Frances Hughes, the celebrated harpist. It was a treat in every respect. Especially enjoyable were the harp and violoncello. The deep soulful tones of the violoncello were beauti- fully blended with the sweet melodies of the harp, giving a most charming effect. Signor Nicolini, husband of Adelina Patti, has recently died at Pau, France. lie was a famous Italian opera tenor, and was married to the great prima donna in 1886. Alexander Siloti, now touring in this country, resides in Leipzig, and devotes considerable time to teaching. Rosenthal spent last winter in Italy. Some of his projected recital work has been given up. It has been our good fortune to have in our chapel a most delightful concert given by Rogers-Gilley Co., celebrated harpist and elocutionist. Those who are fond of music were admirably entertained, and everybody was charmed with the wit and humor of the elocutionist. It is a matter of common memory that when the hoy, Josef Hoffmann, played some years ago, he created wonderful enthusi- asm, and many predictions were made for a bright future on the basis of solid enduring musicianship. Ilis return as a young man, after earnest, faithful study, has but deepened this feeling. One critic says: “ Josef Hoflmann is now one of the greatest living pianists.” SENSE AND NONSENSE. 131 Although we have enjoyed the many concerts and recitals we have heard this year, we do not forget our semi monthly musicals. Not one has been given in which credit has not been reflected on our earnest faithful teachers. We never dreamed that the chorus class was doing such mag- nificent work, unti l it was delightfully proved to us on the evening of April 7th, 1898, by their rendering of the Cantata, “ King Rene’s Daughter,” arranged by Henry Smart. The class was fortunate in its selection of this cantata for study and public presentation. It is full of light, taking melodies, choruses, trios, duets and the like, yet it has its difficulties and styles, which are fascinating to the classical mind, thus appealing to different musical temperaments, and assuring a delightful treat to those who enjoy art in its high and light form. The poem itself is written in an excellent flowing style by E. Enoch. It tells the story of King Rene’s daughter, Iolanthe, who was betrothed in infancy. Stricken with blindness when but a year old, this knowledge has been kept from her. A magician promises her restored eye-sight on condition that she is informed of her loss. This her father refuses. However, her betrothe d, wandering as a troubadour, comes upon her abode and unwittingly aids the magician’s art by revealing to her the faculty of which she has been kept in ignorance, thus restoring her sight. The solo characters are Iolanthe, the heroine, soprano, taken by Miss Wallace, Marta, mezzo soprano, and Beatrice, contralto, lolanthe’s maids, divided between the Misses Hodge, Murphey, Cleveland, Acree and Doughty. The ladies of the chorus, num- bering about thirty-five, represent Provencial Vintagers. Miss Laeta Hartley acted as the accompanist, and the whole work was under the direction of our instructor of singing, Mr. Beckwith. 132 SENSE AND NONSENSE. The Cantata opens very brightly with a four-hand overture played by the piano graduates of this year, Misses Laeta Hartley and Alice Carter. Then follows a brisk opening chorus, teeming with melody and musical spirit. From there on the music and poem are gradually developed, through the channels of choruses, solos and the like, until the grand finale is reached, when Iolanthe, fully restored to sight, is welcomed as “ the peerless daughter of Rene the King,” a “ bride in her beauty ” is escorted by “ rebes and lute and with drum.” Alice Carter. Miss Carter’s modesty forbids her mentioning her own recital which look place March 24th, and it is with pleasure we take the liberty of speaking of it. Her recital was a success in every particular, and portrayed her great ability as a pianist. Her artistic rendition of the following compositions was highly appreciated and enjoyed, while her assistants, Misses Hodge, Cleveland, Murphey, and Acree, showed good voices and thorough training, and the Bristol audience expressed great appreciation, by repeated encores. Menuet, Op. 14 Paderewski Sonata, Op. 7 Beethoven Miss Carter. Serenade Schubert Misses Hodge, Cleveland, Murphey, Acree The Two Larks Leschetizky Silver Spring Mason La Papillion Lavallee Miss Carter. Rock-a-Bye Neidlinger Good Night, Good Night, Beloved Pinsuti Misses Hodge, Cleveland, Murphey, Acree. Spinning Song (Flying Dutchman) Liszt Polka de la Reine • Raff Miss Carter. PARTIAL VIEW OF PARLORS. 15 . m c. h. T HE reli gious spirit in the school this year has been good, indeed. As much interest has been manifested in the prayer services and Young Women’s Christian Association as could be ex- pected. Our few moments spent in prayer on Wednesday evenings after supper are the sweetest and dearest of the week. At this time we meet in one of the girls’ rooms and ’t is then that young faces are bent in sweet reverence, young voices raised in heart-to-heart talks with God. ’T is then we get closer to each other and to our Father and receive greater blessings. In the Chapel on Sunday afternoons from five to six, more formal meetings are held under the auspices of the Young Women’s Christian Association. These meetings are often led by one of the girls, but the following-named have given us sweet and instructive talks : MHs James Ella Selman, Professors Beckwith, Steed, London and our President, S. I). Jones. At our night services, Dr. J. A. Wallace, Professor Morse, Rev. Townson, Rev. T. G. Murray, Rev. W. Y. Quisenberry, Rev. A. B. Dunaway, Rev. J. F. McConnell and Rev. Meese. The encouraging words spoken by these kind friends will not return unto them void. In many hearts they have fallen like seed sown in good ground and have already begun to bear fruit. Some of us to whom the success of these meetings is very dear, felt discouraged at first, but now the sunshine of Ilis love seems to be shining upon our work and the days are becoming brighter and the meetings more interesting. Mary Augusta Easley, President Alice Carter, Vice-President. Jokes. Poems, novels, all convince you That to write ’s a “merry jest,” But when called upon to do it, You will think it is a pest. T EACHER: “What is the meaning of one twenty-fifth ? ” Miss V. M. : “ I — I don’t remember.” Teacher: “If you had twenty-five girls visiting you and only one apple for them, what would you do ? ” Miss Y. M. : “ I ’d wait till they went, an’ then eat it myself.” Jessie S. (seeing cat): “That ’s the first cat I ’ve seen since Tom Wall died.” Mary II.: “ Oh ! he didn’t die, he was killed .” Don’t fail to have your picture taken when visiting at Southwest Virginia Institute. Miss D. is ready and waiting, and will give you a good likeness. SENSE AND NONSENSE. 137 AY ho is the sharpest girl in school ? Miss Razor. (Two young ladies hunting “ something good to read ” in the Harrisonian library.) G. AY.: “ Here ’s Henry Esmond .” J. M. : “Goodness, we don’t want anything so long and deep ! Here ’s something tine, The Broken Wedding Ring. I bet that ’s great ! ” (Botli girls, much interested, look through it. They happen to turn to the title page.) J. M. : “ Sermons by Talmage ! Mercy; Let’s go.” AYonder why a certain oculist in Bristol didn’t take a certain young lady’s hand when she offered it in pretension of receiving her room-mate’s glasses t AYe had a visitor this year that tried to blow out the electric light, and that ’s no joke.” Jessie S. : “ Oh ! Emily I have a new nephew.” Emily : “ Boy or girl ? ” AYalking down Broadway, on the door of room Xo. 75, the fol- lowing sign: “ Spooning lessons free ” ; ten minutes every night. Miss M. A. G. : “Oh, Alba ! You got anything good for the hands ? ” Miss A. I). — “ Some water and a bowl, over there.” Miss E. : “ Reese, what kind of cream are we going to have for dinner to-day ? ” Reese (the cook): “ Ice cream.” AAOiat is Miss T. A.’s favorite exclamation ? He! lie! He! 138 SENSE AND NONSENSE. Ida E.: “ _M ay, who wrote Gray’s Elegy ? ” May: “Tennyson.” Ida: “ Who wrote Gulliver’s Travels ” May: “ You can’t catch me now, Gulliver.” Miss M. T. wants to know why that Dramatic Club don’t have a Drama. Miss M. drew a picture of the Mississippi River and in explaining, she said, “ This is where it rises and this is where it sets.” Upon entering a room the following conversation was heard: “ Won’t you hate to see your sweetheart go to Avar ? ” “ He shan’t go.” “ Well, then, you don’t loA r e your country.” “ Yes, I do, but I love my sweetheart the best.” “ That is right.” Our second-floor music-hall needs repairing. The floor has turned to glass and the Wall fell doAvn. Miss G. : “ What kind of an animal is that in the air anyway ? ” Miss Q. : “ A kite, my dear.” The staff promised to give Miss A. B. M. a “ puff ” in the Annual if she Avouldn’t cry Avhen she Avas vaccinated. But, however had she Avanted that “ puff,” she cried — and who didn’t ? After the girls had been vaccinated during the small-pox scare, some of the following signs were seen pinned on their sleeves: “Small- pox, get aAvav;” “Don’t meddle, nor touch, or you Avill get in trouble;” “ Hands off.” The most common expression though, Avas, “ Oh ! my vaccination ; please don’t touch.” Miss L. D. : “ Oh ! Avon ' t it he horrible to have war ? ” Miss A. H. : “ It Avouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t kill all the men.” ©ur (Sang You ’ll think it rather strange perhaps That there ' s only one poor jay, In all our gang, whose name begins With the great big letter A. And that is Acree, don’t you know She ’s big enough for three She hopes to change her name sometime And change the A to D. The Bidgoods next come in the line. But oh ! I ’m full of shame ! For I never could find how the good came To be within their name. Bundy and Barnes and Harman came And are the best of friends, They room on the “ fourth ” and have much fun And there the story ends. Now isn’t this passing strange ? That “ Gonzalice ” come next in turn, Their first names are put together And their last are Seward and Byrne. Miss Brabson is from Greenville Although she ’s not much green, She ’s the most peculiar person That ever I have seen. SENSE AND NONSENSE. 14.0 Hazel Brocket!, is very popular Her room on the second floor Is nearly always tilled with girls, But yet she still wants “ Moore.” At present we have “ Cole and Coffey ’’ But the war has come you see, So we will drink for supper Only ice-cold tea. Alice Carter is a darling To Kate Reeves she is entrancing, But “ mercy sake® ” how we do run When she gets on that subject, “ ( And then comes that Alma Cleveland She ’ll make your head just whirl, Every one around Bristol knows her As that “ high-born singing girl.” We have a “ Duke ” in school And if papa knew he ’d write For me to come away at once And would put me out of sight. Miss Dodds she is our talker And Miss Doughty she can sing, Kate Doyle is our artist And May Doyle is everything. And there is Lucy Dickinson Of the Annual she is “ boss,” And when the girls don’t do their work I tell you she gets cross. Next comes “ Kute Ike ” Eastland One thing she has “down pat ” Is that awful slang expression, “ I should cough-up a rat.” SENSE AND NONSENSE. m Miss Everett and Miss Jessie Way up on the fourthly floo’ Keep up a mighty racket A-playing their banjo. Miss Mary is very little But only in one way, If there ’s anything to be done She ’ll “ Easley ” carry the day. Now Miss Cleo Harrison I hope this verse won’t hurt But you are what every one calls you A regular up-to-date flirt. And now comes funny old Ad Huff, Math, and Latin are her delight She ’ll argue and discuss with you Till, weary, you say she ' s right. We ’ve all been busy wondering Since first we saw Miss Hodge, How that tremendous voice of hers In one small form could lodge. Miss Hunter and Miss Howard Just came to see us this year But after all they ’re not so bad As some who ’ve been longer here. Lilly Jones rooms o n “ the Bowery ” She ’s in love with only one, And the name that girl is known by Is the short sweet one of “ Gun.” Laeta Hartley next comes in She ' s fond of Etfie and Jess, The trouble with the poor girl is To decide which she loves best. SENSE AND NONSENSE. U 2 Miss Faw she comes from Bristol And without a doubt she ’s great, There ’s not another girl like her I know, in this big State. And now we have Anne Matt Greer Who is so powerful tall But she ’s all right in ‘ ‘ Minstrels ” And when she gets that tennis-ball. Misses Gettys, Graves and Greever This year to our school did come And their sole object in this life Is to have “ a little fun.” Miss Cranberry is from Mississip’ If at night you should wish to meet ’er Just step around to the corner-room You ’ll find her spooning with Laeta. Katie is her first name Though Kathrine we should see I tell you we have to keep a watch To escape a “ Lynch ”-ing Bee. Annie Ingram is in our school, Though perhaps you didn’t know She ’s very fond of Emory For there she found her beau. Two Susongs liven up this school The “ yellocuter’s ” Jess, But if you want a 1 1 zample worked Dora ’s the one, I guess. Maggie May is very small And also she is “ White,” But when she ’s elocutin’ You ’ll say she ’s out of sight. SENSE AND NONSENSE. n Rollins ’s from the “ Tar-heel State ” She ’s happy in her way, But let me tell you now, dear friends, It ' ll have to lie near May. If something smart there ’s a chance to say It 11 ne’er he neglected by Tayloe, May While Nina and Annie with smiles so sweet Are always giving us goodies to eat. Next comes Flora Pendleton Who is better known as “ Pat ” I tell you she looks stunning When she wears that “turned-up hat. Next comes Miss Mossie Quillen Though her name is not much gay She sets us all to laughing When she uses that broad a. We have some sharp girls in school But Beatrice “ Razor ” beats them all She rooms with smart Miss Bailey Upon the fourth-floor hall. Our Class of English History Holds Robinson, Vest and Mills Who we hope will come through flying Without too many ills. From Roanoke Boyd Kefauver came She ’s very fond of “ Ike ” I ' d advise no one to cut her out Or else there ’ll be a strike. The Bradys live in Florida But two of them we ’ve seen, A Daisy is the younger one The older is Aline. iu SENSE AND NONSENSE. In Harmony, Miss Dixie Moore Is right as sure as fate The lowest grade she ever made Was a little “98.” Ruby Stingily is so quiet She ' ll never show her knowledge Margie Raper ’s in for all the fun Her “ cousin ” is at King College. And now we have found out A Surface can he deep, This fact in Mathematics To Wentworth would be steep. Anna Meade from Bristol Is in love with Mabel Lee This need not be told you For it ’s very plain to see. Hattie Reynolds and Georgie Long On third floor have settled down Their greatest joy is to see a boy And go each day to town. Gladys Wright and Julia Melton For spooners take the cake Their loud and constant kissing At night keep us awake. World-wise Estelle Marshall From Selma ventured here She uses more slang in a minute Than you could use in a year. The “Mocking-bird” of S. V. I. Is called Miss Pauline Morgan But when she plays “ Manhattan Beach ” It sounds like a hig-liand organ. SENSE AND NONSENSE. Vera Kelley plays with a dash And sets us in a whirl Out of all the creatures in this school She cares but for one girl (?). We ’ll deal with this one gently For our hearts 1511 with fear When we look at Anna Belle Murphey So short yet so “Sevier.” Miss Thompson from big ' Texas wild, The reading-room finds fair And would you know the reason ? Why, ’cause Munsey ’s always there. There ’s one girl in this school, Peg Handy is her name, And when it comes to fun I tell you she ’s not tame. Waimvright, “ a gay deceiver,” Is our advertising-ed., Her very large collections shows She has a brilliant head. Miss Miller, better known as “ Pard,” Likes very well to play, But better still than this she likes, That young man known as “ Bhea. Mary Hartley from “ Petertown ” Is artist of this place, Just look at the editorial staff And there you ’ll find her face. U5 Calendar DATE MONTH EVENT 15 SEPTEMBER School Opened. 17 SEPTEMBER 1 Trolley Ride. 21 SEPTEMBER Old Girls’ Reception to the New Girls. 1 OCTOBER Art Reception. 7 OCTOBER Joint Meeting of the Two Literary Societies. 23 OCTOBER Frances Hughes’ Concert. 30 OCTOBER Othello. 1 NOVEM BER Evening at “ Fairmount.” 15 NOVEMBER Chestnut Hunt. 24 NOVEMBER Thanksgiving Reception. 30 NOVEMBER Rogers-Grilley Concert. 7 DECEMBER Miss Hartley’s Graduating Recital. 15 DECEMBER Carl Herrman, Violinist. 23 DECEMBER Christmas Holidays. 24 DECEMBER Christmas Tree. 25 DECEMBER Christmas Dinner. 27 DECEMBER Reception. 29 DECEMBER Old Folks Concert. 31 DECEMBER Electric Light Picnic. 1 JANUARY New Year Reception. 3 JANUARY Work Began Again. 23 JANUARY Examinations Began. 29 JANUARY Holiday. 4 FEBRUARY Evening at Tip Top. 10 FEBRUARY Musicale. 22 FEBRUARY r Washington’s Birthday Reception of the New | Girls to the Old Minstrels. 28 FEBRUARY “ May Queen,” by Eoline Society. 1 MARCH Miss Susong’s Graduating Recital. 11 MARCH Band Concert. 14 MARCH Dr. Ryland’s Ninety-fourth Birthday. 24 MARCH Miss Carter’s Graduating Recital. 7 APRIL Cantata by Chorus Class. 8 APRIL Boh Taylor’s Lecture. 19 APRIL Miss Marie Knibloe’s Entertainment. 22 APRIL Julius Caesar, by King College. 28 APRIL David Copperfleld, by Elocution Class. 3 MAY Picnic Excursion. jfov Sale ARTICLE. “Any old kind of giggle ” . “ Hair for sale ” “ Old shoes ” “Dreams” “ Rats, all sizes, dead or alive “ Music, from Dixie to Sonatas “ Trigonometry’s” .... “ Herself” “Magazine” (Munsey’s) . . “Compositions” . . , . . “ A photograph of herself ” “Poetry” (to burn) .... “ Fichues ’’ . “ Roaches ” “Peculiarities” “ Sweet smiles ” “ Slang ” “Paintings” 1 1 Room-mates ” “ Love-Letters ” Al ' PLY TO. Zelda Dodds. Anne Matt Greer. Effie Granbury. Hazel Brockett. Mary Hartley. Vera Kelly. Dora Susong. Helen Wain wright Nannie Thompson. Lucy Dickinson. Jessie Susong. Mary Easley. Alice Carter. Anna Faw. Willie Brahson. Gladys Wright. Addie Huff. Kate Doyle. Kate Cole. ( Mamie Lockhart, ( Lillie Jones, (Jo Handy. “ Sense and Nonsense ” “ The Staff ' ” (Reduced rates given subscribers to Sense and Nonsense). Business flfeanaoer’s Carb. The Sense and Nonsense makes its first appearance this May, and we heartily solicit the patronage of all of our friends. It is with pleasure that we call the attention of the public to our advertisements. All business communications should be addressed, for this session, to Anne Matt Greek, Business Manager Sense and Nonsense, Bristol, Virginia. H. P. KING CO., When in need of a nice pair of Shoes or Oxfords, where you will find a complete line of Shoes and Oxfords in all colors and up-to-date styles. In fact, the only place in Bristol where you can find a complete line of fine Shoes and Oxfords at prices lower than anywhere else. DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS. Our Lilies of Dress Goods, Silks, Linings, Wash Goods, and No f ions, Of All Kinds, are Complete and Up-to-Date With a full line of Car- pets, Rugs, Matting, Trunks, etc. Give us a look before buy- ing ; will save you money. MEN’S PINE SHOES A ' Large Stock of Tans in Vici Kid, Russia Calf and Patent Leathers. H. P. KING CO., 606 Main Street. J. Bunting, Jr., President. Frank Winston, Vice-Pres. J. W. Read, Sec’y and Treas THE BRISTOL TELEPHONE CO. THE PEOPLE’S COMPANY. EEEICIENT SERVICE : : LOW PATES : : EXTENSIVE TOLL LINES Directors : Judge William S. Stuart, J. Bunting, Jr., Frank Winston, Samuel Read, J. Winston Read, Our Goods are Fresh and Clean. Our Prices are the Lowest, Consistent with Quality. Ilc ' ir yP ionc, 282. v Everything for Hire Known to the Trade. Telephone 111 — Day or Night. Come to . . Hodges Art Gallery If you want FINE PHOTOGRAPHS. We make specialties of Fine Lightning and Artistic Posing, and are always lip with the times in the latest style backgrounds and accessories. Child’s Pictures and Groups. Large Portraits from any old faded, scratched, or defaced pictures, in Crayon. India Ink or Water Color. When you are in the city, call and see our work, or write for prices. S. C. HODGES, Manager. 529 Main Street, BRISTOL, TENN.-VA. TWIN CITY MILLS, BRISTOL, TENN. Manufacturers of and Dealers in FLOUR, MEAL, FEED AND GRAIN. SPECIAL BRANDS: “ Royal Crown ” and “ Pride of the South.” CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED. C. C. MINOR. J. L. WILLIAMSON. minor ft Williamson, LEADING DRUGGISTS. We keep the Best of Drugs and take Special Care in filling prescriptions. A well selected line of Toilet Articles, Perfumery, Stationery, and fine Package Candies. COR. MAIN AND FIFTH STREETS. TELEPHONE 24. T. F. WOOD. A. P. MOORE, M. W. WOOD, President. Cashier. Vice-President. merchants ' Exchange Bank OF BRISTOL, TENN. Authorized Capital, $50,000.00, « « Surplus, $10,000.00. I guarantee the payment of all deposits in this bank. — T. F. WOOD. Receive accounts of merchants, traders, farmers and professional men on favorable terms, and will be pleased to meet or correspond with those who con- template making changes or opening new accounts. INTEREST PAID ON TIME DEPOSITS. G. SCH RMER, Jr. ( THE BOSTON MUSIC COMPANY.) IMPORTERS PUBLISHERS DEALERS 26 WEST STREET, BOSTON, MASS. We carry the finest and most complete stock of foreig n and American sheet music in the couutry. All orders filled promptly and at the lowest current discounts. Accounts opened “ Music Teachers Vade Mecumj (A graded and annotated guide in the choice of music for the use of teachers and students). Also The Singers ' Guide,” (A classified list of recent vocal music for the use of singer and teacher, and a source of information and suggestion). SENT GRATIS To any address on application. We publish the works of the most promi- nent American composers — Ethelbert Nevin, Clayton Johns, Wilson G. Smith, and many others. Music sent for examination when desired. THOS. CURTIN. HAL. H. HAYNES. CURT IN HAYNES, LAWYERS. ROOMS 7 AND 8, OVER THE NATIONAL BANK OF BRISTOL. BRISTOL , TENN. R. J. F. CARTER, Reliable Jewelers. Watches, Clocks, Diamonds, Jewelry, Silverware, Spectacles, School Medals and Badges. Fine Watch Repairing a Specialty. 511 MAIN STREET Bristol, Va.-Tenn. Dr. 7 } at. 7 J. ' Dulaney, $r., 522 77} ciin Street, IPristo , Tjennessce. ?7 ,SS 27 it ter . J?7 eSO l . 77 -s. cr77. 27. S jcc u 7c7S i c?. 77 lss !Phla. jillison Sc Co., 77 me 77 llllnery and TPancy Soods. Correct Styles. {Popular Prices. 272. oZ 5 , TDcr isSrtso i . 77 o rcccc 77. 277 - y SP. X. Davidson dc Co., J?ob Printers. JPlr si- C ass 7 S or 7c In ? n y S ty e. {Pristol, Cennessee. j . jP . Clio m as, jeweler. Dealer In . . . Watches, Diamonds, jewelry and Silverware. 9 o. 429 9 a,n Street, Pristol, Tjennessee. TIP-TOP RESTAURANT, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN Fresh Oysters, Fish and Game. ALSO ICE CREAM AND ALL REFRESHING SOBER DRINKS. No. 16 and 18, Cor. Front and Cumberland Streets. B RISTOL, f A.-Ten N . W. G. SAN DOE Sc CO., Proprietors. FARMERS TAKE YOUR PRODUCE TO W. H. HICKS CO. Wholesale Produce Dealers Bristol, Tenn. J. C. AN DERSON , PRESIDENT. J B. BAUMGARDNER , CASHIER. J. H CALDW ELL, VICE-PRESI DENT. The National Bank of Bristol Solicits deposits from Merchants and Individuals in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Collections on all points free of charge to depositors. CAPITAL, $50,000. SURPLUS, $10,000. DIRECTORS : John E. Baumgardner, j. H. Caldwell, S. V. Fulkerson, J. C. Anderson, C. J. St. John. DR. C. M. PEAVLER TREATS DISEASES OF THE EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT, BRISTOL, TENN. RICHARDSON BROS., Dealers in All Kinds of Hot House Plants, Raspberries and Stra wherries. Cut Flowers and Floral Designs a Specialty. TELEPHONE 39. BRISTOL, TENN. Both Plants and Cut Flowers are very cheap, and prompt attention given to all orders. A. FULKERSON S. V. FULKERSON P. M. PAGE J. IRBY HURT Fulkerson, Page Hurt, COURTS : STATE AND FEDERAL. OFFICES: ABINGDON, VA. ; BRISTOL, TENN. ST. LAWRENCE HOTEL, R. L. COX CO., Proprietors. BRISTOL, TENN.-VA. DR. J. M. KING, Resident Dentist. OFFICE : Corner Sixth and Main Streets. H ouv lfoatronage Soltclteb. LATEST SHADES AND SHAPES IN BOXED AND BULK HIGH GRADE WRITING PAPER. Complete Xine IDniggists’ Sundries. jfront Street 0rug Stove . . W. B. LOCKETT CO., Wholesale Grocers AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS. CIGARS AND TOBACCO A SPECIALTY. KNOXVILLE, AND BRISTOL, TENN. The Largest Seed House between Lynchburg and Nashville : Bristol flIMlltng anb packing Co. BRISTOL, TENN. Dealers in Flour, Buckwheat Flour, Meal, Ground Feed, Grass Seeds, Salt, Plaster, Fertilizers, Etc., Etc. We make our own flour and pack our own meat. “QUEEN PATENT,” the best flour on earth. MILLS : Foot of Sixth Street; Old ' Phone 242. OFFICE and Salesroom : 618 Main Street ; New ' Phone 31 ; Old ' Phone 298. HART CO ., Staple and Fancy Groceries. Vegetables, Fruits, Confectioneries, Tobaccos, Cigars, Etc. TELEPHONE 38. : : : : : 307 MAIN STREET. ALL GOODS DELIVERED. Bunting $ Son, No. 420 MAIN STREET. Prescription work a specialty. Agents for Gunther’s Chicago Candy. A complete line of Eye Glasses and Spectacles always in stock. ' PHONE No. 48 J- J- . DR. S. W. RHEA, DENTIST, OFFICE OVER MERCHANTS’ EXCHANGE BANK. CROWN : AND : BRIDGE : WORK : SPECIALTY. Special Rates to Girls and Patrons of Southwest Uirginia Institute for the Summer at «« Botel fairmoum Jfpply to® G. Z. O’Terrall, 3r. Bristol, Ccnnessee. W. P. BREWER JAS. P. BREWER J. ALF. BREWER W. P. BPEWER SONS, Dealers ia STOVES AMD TINWARE, No. 530 Main Street, BRISTOL, TI:NN. MISS S. A. BOICE, 416 Main Street, j J- Bristol, Tenn. Fashionable Millinery and Fancy Goods. HAIR GOODS BUTTERICK ' S PATTERNS ORDERED EROM SAMPLE. HER MAJESTY ' S CORSET. jfccive 2 ou Sot a cjCiuer ? Keep it regulated with ST. ANDREWS COLD TEA Greatest remedy on earth. For sale by dealers. To get free sample package send two cent stamp to -A - jincirews JT anufacturiny Company, BRISTOL, TENNESSEE. W. P. HAMILTON, Owner and Proprietor. $2.00 PER DAY HOTEL HAMILTON. Opposite Depot. BRISTOL, TENN.-VA. Leading Hotel of the City. FIRST-CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS SEND YOUR LAUNDRY TO TJhc Set ecit Steam jCaundry, 222 WATER ST. BRISTOL, TENN.-VA. (Seo. HI. Steffner, Baker AND Confectioner 421 Main Street. BRISTOL, TENN.-VA. THE : USE : OF : BUTTERINE ..V .Jt IS A MATTER OF EDUCATION , .. Steffner’s Restaurant . . . Its continued use will confirm the claim that it is BETTER THAN BUTTER, because it never gets rancid, therefore is more healthful, is more uniform ; also far more economical. We make only HIGH GRADES of Butterine, especially adapted for table use. Write for prices and other information you desire. THE CAPITAL CITY DAIRY CO., COLUMBUS, OHIO. 00 10 Che tUMsses Xa (Sarbe, FASHIONABLE DRESSMAKERS .A S A For Perfect Fit. French Designs Used. Satisfaction Guaranteed. No. 514 MAIN STREET. Dooley Bayliss, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL furniture UP-TO-DATE STYLES. PRICES LOW AS THE LOWEST. SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO UNDERTAKING. Bristol, Tenn 616 MAIN STREET, Hedrick Smith. . ..• . .4 ,4, .4 .4 .4 J. J, ,4, J, J. ,4 ,4, ,4, ,4. ,4. ,4. K 4 Wholesale and Retail . . . CHINA, GLASS, EARTHENWARE, SILVERWARE CLOCKS; Fancy Wares, Lamps and Lamp Goods a Specialty. The only Jobbers in this Line between Lynchburg- and Knoxville . . . . ORDERS SOLICITED. MAIN STREET . . Bristol, Tenn - V a. fiyland . fianlcin, Jewelers and Silversmiths 809 Main Street, LYNCHBURG, VA. Represented in Rristot at dfart dc Co. ’ s by 97 r. Will 97 ooro. fashionable 9) re ssm akin g and Senerai {Purchasing flgency. MRS. B. MEYRICK, Caperton Block, LOUISVILLE, KY. All orders filled in first-class style and on short notice. Style and fit guaranteed. A long estab- lished and reliable house. Send for samples and give us a trial. fowler 9) rug Company ‘liJho esate and Retaii. SPAys c ans ' Supp ios a Spoc ci ty. R risto j ijenn. - Va. . . Corner 97 a in and Sixth Streets. Our Prescription Department is in charge of a Registered Pharmacist at all times. We use Merck’s Fresh Chemicals. Your trade appreciated and goods delivered when you trade with us. ¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥tr¥U¥tr U ¥ 2 ¥ U ¥ rr ¥ u ¥ tf ¥ tr ¥ u ¥ I no. A. Phillips, Successor to Bristol Baking Co, Breads, Cakes, Confectioneries, Groceries. Staple and Fancy I can furnish you anything in bread or cakes at low prices. Orders by mail solicited. Address me 400 Main Street BRISTOL, TENN. ¥ tr ¥ U ¥ U ¥ U ¥ U ¥ U ¥ rr ¥ rr U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥tJ¥U¥U¥U¥tT¥U¥U¥U¥U¥tT¥ rr I School and College Printing ¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U¥U ¥ u ¥ rr ¥ rr ¥ rr ¥ U ¥ rr ¥ ¥ rr ¥ s s s H ¥ J J 5 ¥ $ H V A modern, up-to-date Printing establishment with the latest styles in Types, Borders, Ornaments, and EXPERT minds and fingers to arrange them, in conjunction with the best machinery obtainable, is not to be found on every corner, nor in every town. We state a very evident fact when we say that our work is the standard for all this section. We hold an acknowledged position — one that has been won only after years of diligent, systematic striving. It always gives us great pleasure to maintain and substantiate our position ; so, if you need a Visiting Card, Invitation (engraved or printed). Program, School Journal or Annual (plain or illustrated), a plain Dodger, or an up-to-date Poster, we can interest you, we’re sure. The Stone Printing and Manufacturing Co. EDWARD L. STONE, President. M0-I2-I4 North Jefferson Street, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA. Sum a� wi i. ' OTtrx:: ■ t.. U l l}