West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

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has taken cognizance of his enti ' ance to college, and conspired with the University authorities to make the opening of his career auspicious. All day long groups of laughing, chatting students dot the campus. The Fraternity Fathers, with vigilant and anxious eyes scan the changing orowd for men wliose prepossessing mien bespeaks for them the inherence of those qualities that make the good fraternity man. And when one is marked by one of these carefully discriminating fathers, he is not a little astonished at the polite and solicitous attention bestowed upon him. The rushing season is on, and a few vveeks later the innocent Barb begins to realize the meaning of the attention he receives. Commencement Hall, each night during this wondrous convocation week, presents a scene of varied and absorbing interest. Mu.sic, wit, wisdom, folly and elocution are dealt out from the rostrum for six successive nights to all who will partake thereof. The verdant Freshman and insatiable Prep are to be found there every night. It is supposed — nay it is true that these two much berated classes of beings are dazzled, enraptured, transported by this all-overpowering display of the University ' s coUatei-al forces. About the time the new ari ' ivals begin to think they have indeed reached a realm of never ceasing earthly pleasures, wherein the dwellers have immunity from mankind ' s primal curse, the fun comes to an end. Convocation week, like all other mundane joys, can not last! By Friday, the most self-pos- sessed of Juniors, with commendable indifference, has dropped casualy into the President ' s Office and matriculated. On the following Monday, all are confronted with disillusionizing fact that they are expected to be prepared for every recitation and to have reached that state of mind in which it is possible to receive, comprehend and thoroughly digest an hour-long lecture fx-om the most learned professor. A nucleus of last year ' s foot ball players,upon whose brawn and brain de- pends the success of this year ' s team, has been back for some time. Under the generalship of these experienced leaders, a score or more of the fittest assemble on the Athletic Field every afternoon for practice. The accommo- dating scrubs with touching fidelity line up time after time to be knocked down, run over and tramped on for the sake of improving and rendering the regulars more aggressive and confident. Around the edge of the field a fringe of enthusiasts watch the work of the new team and speculate on the possibilities of a winning season. Here the blatant Sophmore is in his glory. He knows decidedly more foot ball than the coach or captain, and is willing to impart his knowledge to any one who desires to learn. He talks loudly in hearing of Freshmen and Preps of the strong points of this man or that, of the possibility of certain ones making the team, singing all the while the praises of last year ' s team and its immeasurable superiority over any that can ever be gotten together again. From the first of October until Thank.sgiving, foot-ball is the chief thing of interest in College life. With the team at home and abroad are all our hopes and sympathies. 1«

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When we meet some old rival on the gridiron here at home, with pennants, canes, and lusty voices the loyal ' • rooters help the way to victory. And when our heroes are away from us, with anxiety and jiatience we wait around the office for the telegram. And if the little insti-ument ticks off a score that is favorable, then, if ever, the too often latent spirit of W.V.U. becomes rampant. The town is ours by unwritten law. What noise we make, what fires we kindle, what speeches of encouragement and sympathy we demand and get from sympathizing professors, can only be known by those who have taken part in a genuine thuse. Thanksgiving at last arrives, and the season culminates in a big game that day. A week after- wards and other interests have succeded in their logical order. Examinations are drawing near, and the sometime idler must begin to cram. Nevertheless, he yet has time, or at least he takes it, which is one and the same thing, — to attend those delightful, informal bi-weekly dances. In days gone by, each Saturday night saw the big gj ' mnasium turned into a dancing pavillion from eight until eleven; but new authorities, with new ideals, have seen tit to deny the students, and their fair friends in town, this privilege. But merry Terpsichore will have a shrine, and her devotees still find ample halls wherein to trip the light fantastic. To the ladies in town, who, by their sweet and gracious patronage, stew flowers of social intercourse along our rugged road to erudition, we pledge devotion while in college, and after that life-long remembrance, o the college girls, who daily in the classroom rival, nay excel, our most strenuous efforts, and then when occasion demands in ball-room or parlor, from good comrades, transform themselves into gracious ladies, reserved and serene, we bow most humbly in recognition of their superior and charming versatility. Examinations for the Pall Term are over about the twentieth of De- cember. In an incredibly short space of time, the room that once knew the students ' tread and voice is silent and deserted. The places where they are most wont to congregate are lonely and desolate. So quickly, surely and quietly is this universal departure accomplished, it seems the hand of magic has spirited them away in the night. To their six hundred different homes, we cannot follow them. What X-mas pleasures the stu- dent has, it takes him the three months to relate. Suffice it to say that one of the very best things about college life is going home for a vacation. The first week of January sees the greater part of the students again assembled in Morgantown. But what a difference between the reassem- blage and the departure! The return of the students is like the passing of the minutes — they come one at a time. A few of the faithful are here bright and early on the opening morning. Every train during convoca- tion week brings in its quota. And, perhaps it is two weeks before the last returning st) ' aggler, delayed so long by too much X mas cheer, coraes reluctantly in. It is during the three long winter months that the hardest work is 20