Wellesley College - Legenda Yearbook (Wellesley, MA)

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NINETEEN THREE 17 This was also the year when entered a strange race of beings: Trojans never were they, but tlie Harpies that preyed on the Trojans. No matter what we attempted, there were they to disturb us. Heads had they like a common bird that swims in the water. Body and form like a girl. Their quack was Nineteen Four Scrogal, First heard on their Tree-day, the day after that eventful occasion When that mysterious robe designed for the chief of the Harpies Came to the power of the Trojans. Say, was it guile or compulsion Wrenched from the Harpies bold this precious, pricele.ss possession ? Neither; ' twas Chance, blind Chance. Unstained were the hands of the Trojans. And further, O Muse, relate whojirs to Pallas Athene Went and with hands uplifted be.sougiu that the dress be retiuned them. WMio but the Harpies? Nor did their Patron goddess refuse them. Promise was made by the Trojans that the robe should go back before morning, Yet this was not sufficient for the greedy soul of the Harpies, Scorning all honor and fairness, scorning the promises made them. Straightway, with keys in their talons, they swooped (alas, fickle Fortune!) Down on the room of our leader and stole the spade from the closet. T ii t did Nineteen Three Wellesley assuredly seek out the godde.ss ; T ie i, indeed, did she swear that never the garment should leave them Till in the hands of the Trojans the spade was safely reposing. Nor could the keeper of Justice and Concord withstand this petition. Once more she promised, and with her promised the class of the Harpies. What is a conscience? Where dwells it, if not among the Immortals? Or was it not in {he powe ' r of the goddess the spade to surrender? Certain it is that when evening came and the time of appointment, Naught did the promise of goddess or Harpy avail. In their stronghold Still the spade was reposing. Now truly did Nineteen Three Wellesley Peal forth her far-sounding warcry and gather her heroes together. All through the night we struggled the stolen spade to recover, While, with restraining hand, in our midst moved the Pallas Athene. Now this hero caught by her foot; now that one sent to her chamber. A.nd as in ancient times the gods entered into the contest, Aiding now Greek, now Trojan, so eagerly watched the Immortals Whether the Fates would give to our side or the other the victorv. Long raged the battle and fierce, but fortune lav with the Trojans, Till when the rosy dawn, the morning of Tree-clay appeared. Few of their cherished secrets remained to the class of the Harpies. Yet had we also suffered and both sides were weary of striving. Thus all the morning was spent in scheme upon scheme of surrender. Till after hours of debate we agreed on the following treaty. Worthy it was of the Trojans. That noon in College Hall Center Alone stood our leader surrounded by scores and dozens of Harpies; Alone received from their hands the spade and returned them the costume. Then she marched quietlv back to her room, and the insolent Harpies Watched her with shnme on their faces. The prophecy we delivered. ' Beware! The tables will turn. But scorn was their only answer.

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lb THE LEGKNDA When our beloved ruler, the President of the College, Took from the hands of the Flounder the College keys and tlie charter. Not much later than this occurred the Sophomore german, When we were given favors and danced and danced all the evening. Thus we went on our course, balancing work with amusement, Till the revolving months brought around the season of Mid-years. Not as yet had we chosen a leader to marshal our forces; Scattered we were and unformed, and lacking in vigorous purpose; So in the season of Mid-years we secretly gathered together. Chose to marshal our forces a president trusty and loyal. Highly approved by the Powers that be and loved by her people. Now did we work with a will, with zeal and class spirit o ' erfiowing, Making our plans for Tree-day, for cheer, for color and motto. Haud ye leal is our motto; our colors the rose and the crimson. Alas! our musical cheer most resembles the famous Narcissus. Dying of too great beauty, only the memory lingers. Even echo, constantly pining, is lost and silenced forever. Yet can we never forget the fame of our dancers that Tree-day, How the rose-garlanded maidens moved in and out o ' er the meadow, While from among their number, two, light as the breath of the roses. Glided with sinuous grace and danced before the assembly. Now when springtime was come and the season of out-door athletics, Oft in the fields we sported, at golf or at basketball playing. Meeting many adventures and fighting perilous battles. Once we were out on the playground throwing the ball to our neighbors. When we descried, coming toward us, the dreaded Cyclops of Welleslev. Monsters, the class of one I, and that I prominent ever. Wellesley Nineteen Two ! .sounded their warcry over the meadows. Swift they descended upon us, bearing aloft on their shoulders A cup, and Win it! they cried; come, win the championship from us! Straight we accepted the challenge, and fought with the flower of our forces. Bravely we struggled, like Trojans, yet all in vain was the struggle; Still was the championship in the hands of the single-eyed Cyclops. Naught could we do that spring, only work and wait for the future. Thus passed a year of our course, and we, with September retui ' ning, Entered our Sophomore rank, an older class and a wiser. This was the year when first the class of Nineteen Three Wellesley Proudly claimed as a member the President of the College. This was a year of wonders, of outbreaks and revolutions. Many the mass meetings held in College Hall Chapel till sundown; Many the speeches excited that told of wrongs and oppressions, Promising liberty free if Student Government conquered. Hard the committee woiked preparing the way before us, Framing a new code of laws and pa.ssing new resolutions. Then was a covenant passed ])etween the Powers and the People, (iiving the People the right to govern themselves in the future. Loud were the cheers that hailed these articles of agreement; Bravely the College took up the work of self-government novel.

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i8 r H K LEGEN DA Swiltly revolved tlie year on its hinijjes of golden moments, Bearing as ever along toward the goal for which we are striving, Mailing us Juniors, and now must come the awful decision Whether to steer our course tlirough the rocks of Charybdis or Scvlla. Roth we cannot avoid, as in ancient times did the Trojans. She who fails not on the slippery rocks of F orensics must founder Against the jagged, sharp-cutting edges of pitiless Scylla. Hard indeed was the struggle, and sore were we wounded, yet bravely Reached we the farther shore, the blessedest haven in College. Proudly we bore in our hands the trophies secured from Charybdis ' Perilous ledges, or dug from the bristling caverns of Scylla. These we proceeded to l:)urn in accordance with time-honored custom Tlie eve before Tree-day. And tirst we chose a forest secluded. Down wliere the waters, gurgling, flow in a smooth sliding hollow. Where by a giant tree in the midst of shadv recesses The funeral pyre was erected. .And thither, ghostly and silent, Shrouded in white, and bearing aloft a glimmering candle. Late in the hours of the evening gathered the .solemn procession. Slowly into the fire we cast the battle-stained trophies. Groaning aloud, and murmuring doleful dirges of Latin. Swiftly the lurid frames shot up to the inky black heavens. Till, at our feet, naught remained but ashes, gray as the morning. SilenUy one by one in the deepening gloom of the evening. Softly we turned away, and were lost in the shades of the forests. Thus on the tifth of June the Trojans l)urnc(l their Forensics, Nor were their solemn rites disturbed bv the hovering Harpies, Whether because of morals, of ignorance, fear, or compulsion. Po.ssibly had they not yet the occurrence of Field-dav forgotten. How with the gallant Trojans they strove in a basketball c ontest, Trying which should become the ba.sketball ( hampions of Wellesley. Possibly had they not yet forgotten how they wt re beaten : Considered the tables alieady turned nor wished them turned yet farther. So through our Junior year we Trojans won glorv and honor, Growing in knowledge, anfl giowing nearer and nearer the Seniors. ' Twas one misty evening in June, and we sat sinking together, Out on the chapel steps. As usual was Nineteen ' I ' wo sitting Above on the highest stone, and directly below her, the Juniors. P ' inally came the hour when the Seniors their seats must relinquish. Then with one movement uprose the class of Ninteen Three Welleslev, While adown either side, in single file marched the Seniors, Singing a parting song for the spot they were leaving forever. A raindrop fell from the sky. In a body the Juniors marched slowly Up to the highest ste]). W ' e had taken the place of the Seni ' rs.