Virginia Polytechnic Institute - Bugle Yearbook (Blacksburg, VA)

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Brownie's life will be more successful. He becomes chief chemist for the Assawannan Zinc and Iron Works, at Hayseedville. Here he is for a number of years successful, but the ruling passion of his race is strong in him, and the desire to accumulate the filthy lucre in a more rapid manner at last asserted itself. He opens a pharmacy, but though he is fairly successful, he is not yet in his element. Something is calling him, and, at last, unable longer to resist, he changes his pharmacy to a second-hand clothing establishment, and-at last is happy- Another one who fain would cure all the ills that flesh is heir to passes before my vision. And should he be as well thought of by other people as a physician as he does of himself, I see for him a glorious future. Covington's doctoring may not bring his patients to the grave-yard, but the prophet, who knows all things, is wise enough to consult some other physician. Another electrician passes before my vision. But with Danforth electricity is bu: a secondary matter. He thirsts for military fame. The important posi- tion which he held in the corps of cadets during his college career, and the arduous duties attached to it, prevented his enlisting in the war with Spain, but, should he have another opportunity, he will, doubtless, distinguish himself. Wliile await- ing this he will use this knowledge of electricity in superintending the street lights of the city of Richmond. The Class of ,98 will furnish to the world many chemists. Another one comes within my vision. Frazier, who adds to his desire to become a chemist a thirst for musical glory. As a chemist he will succeed to a certain extent, but through a rift I see him in another sphere, one in which he will become famous. I see him before the footlights, acting with the same enthusiasm and enjoyment as he did in the Thespians of long ago. A successful comic actor has he become, winning smiles and iiowers from the fair sex, and plaudits from every one. Now comes riding by a man whose soul is in his horse. No need to mention his name, for every one knows it is Ferneyhough. He has, and always will have, but two ideas, his horse and the fair maidens, and his horse comes first. He thinks he will be a veterinarian, but he won't. I see him as one of two things, a horse jockey or a horse trader. He may probably combine the two. As a horse trader he possesses two qualities conducive to success, a large amount of brass and a capacity for hoodwinking others. Should he continue to exercise these qualities his life in this line will be successful. He may marry, if by any possibility he can get his horse long enough off his mind, but the woman who consents to share his equestrian love must either know how to keep silent or talk horse. Graham, the first mechanical engineer before my vision, has a brilliant future before him. As a designer he will achieve success. Everywhere he will be recognized as authority upon mechanics. His fame will be obtained by designing an engine to make the trip to the moon. After that, he will be content to rest on 29

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will, one day, come to him, when he leasts expects, an arrow from the bow of Cupid, driven with unerring aim, and our misogynist will be transformed into the most obedient, hen-peeked -P His electrical ability and fondness for catenary curves will enable him at some future day to succeed in his highest ambition g namely, to reach the head of the electrical department in Lynchburg. They say civil engineering holds many promises for the future. Behold a future engineer, Barnett, surveyor of the long promised railroad from Christians- burg to Blacksburg. This will be the stepping-stone to higher things, and his future, as I see it in my vision, will be as free from care and trouble as the road- bed which he surveys will be free from obstacles. His aims run in another direction, too. Who would have thought that our Despot was journal- istically inclined? But he is, and to his other honors will be added that of editor of The Radford Advance, an organ supporting woman suffrage and the I-'rohibition party. Baskervill, who did not succeed in sending any one to regions unknown while acting as the physician's assistant, will make this his one aim in life. Beware of the Black Pills and physic of any sort which he shall offer you. He will endeavor to do his utmost for the recovery of those who are rash enough to commit themselves to his care, but he will at that time have a very weighty matter under consideration, making him oblivious to the needs of his patients. Better for them in the end, perhaps. Another civil engineer appears, but he combines with his engineering so many other things that my vision is blurred, slightly. But, first, I see him leading to the altar the fair damsel who years before became the object of his youthful affections. Perhaps this is the highest ambition of his life. But I see him assisting Barnett in that wonderful survey, then his aspirations mount- ing higher, he spans the historic James with noble specimens of his designs. His ambition not yet satisfied, he seeks other fields to conquer, and from the masterly hands of Burruss, the great civil engineer, We have one of the most celebrated novels of modern- times. Still desiring to mount higher, he accepts the chair of civil engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and then- sinks into oblivion. Bush and Brownie, whose lives have been so closely connected during their Senior year, start life's career together. For some years they will be fixtures in the chemical laboratory at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Then the pension appropriation being exhausted, they will be compelled to withdraw. Bush will once more assume the office of steward for the college mess, where he will feed future Seniors on growly U and strap. His favorite pastime will be relating to future students of the times when he was inspector of the First Division. ' 28

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his honors, satisfied in knowing that he has accomplished that which never mortal man has been able to do before. His income will be in keeping with the notoriety which his engine will bring him. Guerrant, poor fellow, has the warmest sympathy of the prophet. For him there seems to be no future, because he who is condemned to a life in Blacksburg can not be said to have a future, But this is what the vision tells. He will con- tinue to run the creamery, supplying the Faculty with rich, sweet milk and cream. There is one event in store for him, but the happiness connected with it is doubt- ful. The indications are that he will be mated to one of the rustic beauties of the mountains. The prophet wishes him all happiness, but can not predict for him that ideal happiness which such a union should bring. Qur man of the ifs, Haig, might have a successful future were it not for his ifs. Through all his future runs the same thing, everything is clouded with buts. Yet, as an engineer, running Graham's engine to the moon, he may reach something after all, even though it is only the moon. Perhaps, by the time he returns from there he may have succeeded in dropping his ifs and butsf, If he has, and wishes to know his future, he may do so by seeing the prophet. And now comes one of our distinguished men, Benjamin Harrison. Should his future be as brilliant and should he attain to such high honors as did he whose name he bears, there are some who would think he has nothing more to desire. But the aspirations of our Ben i' are not of a political nature. He will be content to follow the profession of a mechanical engineer, satisfied with the honors which this will bring him. Cf more importance to him than the honors are the finances. Should he continue to cultivate certain traits, he may have a fair share of this world's goods, yet the prophet will not vouch for it. The vision is not distinct at this point. I Another civil engineer, and what will the future bring to him P Sad it is that my vision does not bring me a brighter future for Paul. But for him the Fates have in store no rich treasures of honor and gold. His generosity will always be greater than his pocket-book. He, too, will assist in making the sur- vey for the Christiansburg and Blacksburg Railroad. This will be a beginning, and he will, probably, rise, but very slowly. Though not wealthy nor famous, save as a stamp-collector, he will be happy. He will experience for a time the delightful sensation of love in a cottage, but his better half will, one day, fall heiress to a small fortune, and then life will be easier. Another mechanical engineer, and one whose ambition runs high. For a number of years his name will be on the college pension list. He will become a fixture. Then, his ambition reaching higher, and desiring renown, he will take his knowledge of mechanical engineering into the world, causing it to stand in amazement and astonishment at the wonders which he shall invent. But his 30