Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 23 text:

History of ' 86. HE REV. JOS. COOK has said that he who bloweth his own trumpet awakeneth the sweetest echoes. If a calm and impar- tial treatise of the merits of the Class of ' 86 might be termed blowing one ' s trumpet, then long and loud will be the reverberations. Further than this, exaggeration of our importance is sr an impossibility. Above all other classes could ' 86 force eloquence concerning its past glories and its future triumphs. During the Summer and Fall of ' 82, the majority of us matriculated and duly entered upon the duties of V. M. I. Cadetship. We enjoyed the few, the very few, privileges attached thereto, and endured the burdens also. How anxious we were to drill, and, before many days, how anxious we were not to drill ! Of all obnoxious duty that of sentinel was dreaded most. ' Tis midnight ' s holy hour — a weary rat is pacing the court- yard with the indispensable musket ; half asleep, and weary of his lonely vigil, he thinks of his room-mates peacefully sleeping, but hark ! what is that noise on the stoop ? Perhaps ' tis a sub ! In an instant the challenge, Who goes there? is given; but ' tis only one of us, (rats then, just matriculated) ; with faltering steps, chattering teeth and frightened looks, he replies: Only S , from the fourth story. But we soon became accustomed to our duties, and bore all our trials and tribulations with patience, suffering the penalties of ratism with manly fortitude. As rats we commanded the respect and admira- tion of the higher classes, and won golden opinions from our professors on our proficiency in the Fourth Class Course. With what joy did we welcome the time when we became Third Class men, and were no longer exposed to the humiliation and suffering that falls to the share of the ' ' rat. We were greatly strengthened in numbers and brains by Third Class rats, men in every sense of the word. One of these has stood first since he entered and will undoubtedly sweep away the highest honors of the Institute. In the Third Class Course there are many rocks that founder even the wary and vigilant. The writer can speak feelingly on this sub- ject, as he has been there himself.

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H THE BOMB. nia. nia. nia. nia. nia. nia. nia. HiGHTOWER, J. B., Virginia. HooE R. A. District of Columbia. Hopkins, W. L., . . . Maryland. Hudson, J. I., Virginia. Lackland, T. W. , West Virginia. Lea, D. M ' Virginia. Levi, M., South Carolina. Maxwell, J. H., . . . West Virginia. Marshall, G. , South Carolina. Meem, J. C Virg Miller, G. B., Virg Morton, C. R., Virg Myers, H. L., Virg NicOLSON, G. L., • • • Virg Nichols, H. S., Virg RowE, p., Virg Sims, G. K. Virginia. Settle, E. B., Virginia. Simpson, L. E., Virginia. Steptoe, W. H., Virginia. Tait, W. M Mississippi. Terrell, V. L., Mississippi. Thompson, F. S. , Texas. Trotter, C. P. J., Virginia. Vaden, L., Virginia. Ward, J. D., Virginia. Winston, J. H., Virginia. Wilson, J. W., Virginia. Withers, R. E., Virginia. Woodward, R. H., Virginia. Young, D. M., Virginia. Total, 56.

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i6 . THE BOMB. In the Second Class we have sustained the reputation achieved by us in the last two years. In this class the merit of our officers is allowed to display itself, and we can point to them with pride, for better soldiers and men of finer physique can hardly be found. During the present year the discovery was made by E that three axes could be at right angles to each other in the same plane; and the Class, as a whole, agreed on a startling discovery in the science of Chem- istry, to the utter dismay of J , who takes great pride in his canary locks, viz: that nitric acid would turn red hair blue. We have had more difficulties to overcome, in many respects, than our predecessors. In our fi.rst year the study of the English language was added to our already crowded curriculum, and, in the Second Class Course, we have had more hardships to .overcome than former classes; and lately our Honorable Board of Visitors have considered the advisa- bility of taking away that privilege which v e have so eagerly anticipated for nearly three years, but we still cherish the fond hope that we will go forth in our armor of blue, that badge of servitude to the fascinating ladies of Lexington. ' Tis true that we cannot boast the possession of such heart-renders and lady-killers as my Lord B and V , or even Jim M , but with such irresistible charmers as L , R and E leading our van, we predict a successful campaign against the brilliant brunettes and beauteous blondes of the Athens of Virginia. The Class of ' 86 has furnished three Intermediate Orators, four Inter- mediate Debaters, three Medalists and two Final Orators. We are also well represented in the foot-ball, base-ball, and the minstrel and athletic clubs. In conclusion, class-mates, let us struggle for the highest goal , we have a proud position, let us strive to keep it ; let us work for still greater success, until we are known far and wide as the best class, in every respect, the Institute has ever produced. We are already the first class in the Corps of Cadets, in intellect, in brain and in muscle! I assure you that as long as memory remains to me I will look back with feelings of pride to those halcyon days, which perhaps have been the happiest of my life, and will ever cherish in my heart a warm place for the Class of ' Z6. W. P. Barksdale, Historian.