Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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History of the Class of 98. PRESUMPTION, what are thy penalties, what thy consequences ! It is with no little fear and trembing that the Class of ' 98 steps upon the arena of life, as never before in the history of Washing- ton and L,ee University has the sub-graduating class dared to make itself prominent. Already have the gradu- ates of ' 97 cast at us glances of mingled surprise and contempt, like a big bull dog looking down at a little pup, as much as to ask, Where did you come from ? It is beyond me to say where we did come from, but nevertheless, we are here, as big as life. Whether or not we have any history, is a question which the gentle reader will not be long in answering. How can a class, which at the present writing is only four da ' s old, have a history ? Well, we will see. Although the Class of ' 98 has only been in existence four days, as a class, it has existed in embryo for — lo ! these many years ; and as this is in- tended to be an exhaustive history, it needs must trace the growth of the class, even when it was a single germ, and study the predominating causes which have produced such a wonderful result. The most primitive individual of the Class of ' 98 appeared on the Washington and Lee campus way back yonder in ' 89, and well maj ' we boast of him as true and loyal supporter of the white and blue. How often has he borne our unsullied banner triumphantly through the raging battle, and brought joy to the hearts of the base-ball enthusiasts ! Of course I refer to Pratt, the dauntless twirler, sans peur ct sans repivche. This gentle- man needs no enlogy from me, as we all know his merits, and greet the mere mention of his name with reverence and respect. Numerous other members of this class deserve mention here on account of their deeds of valor and their great accomplishments, but alas ! time fails me, and thev ' are doomed to pass into oblivion, unwept, unhonored and unsung. But although their brilliant achievements are not recorded in this histoiy their fame is spreading far and wide, and doubtless in the future 3 ' ears they will become beacon lights on the shores of time, so that the proudest boast of the Class of ' 98 will be, that they were once enrolled among her members. Many and memorable were the experiences of our freshmen days, and never will they be forgotten while memory doth hold a seat in this distracted globe. What student will ever forget the fatal day when he first met that bewitching siren of Lexington, called The Calic ! Little dreamed he then, poor innocent boy, that a dangerous snare was hidden behind the meshes of those long black eye-lashes, and that this snare was set especially for Freshmen. Dauntlessly he marches for-

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Academic Class, o Class Colors : Royal Purple and Orange. Class Ykll : Rah I Kliee ! Rhi ! Rho ! ring, rang, rale ! Senior Class 1 Senior Class ! ' y8 ! OFFICERS. Wm. K. McClung, ' a., President. W. W. Wiiitsidk, Tex., Treasurer. Jas. M. Masox, W. Va., Vice-President. S. G. Ha.mnkr, ' a., Historian. Gordon Houston, Va., Secretary. E. McD. Moore, Va., Poet. MEMBERS. CANDIDATES FOR Ph. D. H. W. Pratt, M. A., X ' a. H. M. McIlhany, M. A., Va., CANDIDATES FOR M. A. M. G. Perrow, Va. L. C. Barrkt, Mo. L. W. Smith, A. B., •A. CANDIDATES FOR A. B. R. G. Campbell, Va. R. T. Shields, Va. W. K. Gkavhs, Va. J. L. Morrison, Va. J. M. Mason, V. ' a. E. McD. Moore, Va. J. E. Hodgson, Va. A. G. Snvdkr, W. Va. J. A. McClure, Va. W. K. McCi.LNG, V, . S. G. Hamner, Va. CANDIDATES FOR B. S. V. W. Wiiitsidk, Tex. G. R. Hovston, Va. W. C. W.atson, Va. F. P. Hamilton, Miss. —23—

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ward, but before he knows it, the fatal snare has caught him, and he is stuck fast in the trap. Of course you know the rest — how the poor victim is lead higher and still higher, until his head is in a whirl, and he is almost unconscious of everything except his relentless captor. Suddenly — O horrors I — the victim is dropped from this dizzj ' height, and the heartless siren claps her hands with joy to see his bruised and lacerated form, lying crushed on the rocks beneath. The blow is a hard one, and the painful wounds are slow in healing. By degrees however, the poor fellow recovers, but that fresh bright color of former days has left his cheek, and his haggard face is somewhat sadder than before. He is no longer an unsophistocated Freshman, but a wise and experi- enced student. Pardon me, dear reader, my digression, and I will promise to adhere more closely to my history in the future. Early in the session of ' g6- ' 97, our class spirit began to make itself evident, and the spark was carefully nourished until on March 2, 1897, it burst into a bright flame. Our class was oganized on this day and the following officers elected: W. K. McClung. of Va., president: J. M. Mason, of W. ' a., vice-president; G. R. Houston, of Va., secretary: V. W. Whitside, fcosmopolitan), treas- urer : last, but by no means least, Mr. E. McD. Moore of Va., was elected class poet, and some day, (who knows I, we may all be immortalized in verse by this second Shakespeare. At the present time the Class of ' 98 is in a flourishing condition, but already we can see the clouds of war gathering along the horizon, which are growing thicker and thicker, and which in a short time will sweep down upon us in the form of examinations. Who knows but that some of us will fall in this fierce struggle, and will be severed from our class-mates for- ever ! If such a sad fate should befall any of us, we ask, fellow comrades, that you will shed a tear on the grave of your lost friend, and inscribe the following epitaph over his head : Hie jacct iiicmbrniii c assis ' p S ' . Ud iiiescal in pace . Time passes on in its incessant course, and the dark clouds are one by one dispersed, until the sun bursts through on us again in all its glory. We see in the near future the bright prospects of next session, and our hearts leap with joy at the thought of spending another year under the wall of our beloved Alma Mater. Not seldom have we looked forward to the time when we would don the cap and gown, and assume the dignity of a Senior. It is hard to realize that this looked-for time has almost come, and that we are already beginning to assume the sedate and measured tread of the full gradu- ates. And now as we depart for our homes, to spend the happy months of vacation, may the members of the grand old Class of ' 98 cherish even more dearly than ever the hope of reuniting in the coming autumn, and as well be the first class to graduate under our new presi- dent, Wni. L. Wilson, may we do credit and honor to this noble son of West ' irginia. S. G. H.