West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

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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

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•done at the University. Then, if ever, the student settles down to busi- ness, striving faithfully to accomplish some advance in his intellectual attainments. But we must not speak too long of work — that is taken for granted. Even the bleak winter is full of diversions that woo the too easily won student from his tasks. Dances occur with more frequency and on a larger scale, and are consequently enjoyed with more zest. No week passes but that the lights of hospitality beam out across the snow from some home in town well known of old for its delightful social functions Now and then tihe appearance of some well known artist for a single night at the Opera House in a favorite play, grown older far through several seasons of nine- teenth century popularity than the dramas of Pre-Shakesperean writers, is hailed with pleasure. It is during this season, too, that the footsteps of ye unwary student are lured aside with startling frequency by the blazing lights and clicking balls of ye Pool Room. And ye irate parents ' reluctant • ante too oft requested comes accjmpauiei by words of appalling admoni- tion. Then, some cold, crisp morning, from the class-room windows, we look down the snow covered slope and behold with joy the Monongahela, a broad sheet of glistening ice! A lonely skater here and there on the wide expanse shows that it bears, and as he swings to and fro in graceful curves excites the observer ' s imagination. All that afternoon, from the bridge to Mechanical Hall, the glassy surface of the river is covered with skaters. There are skaters of all degrees of proficiency, from the expert who wheels and backs, reverses and circles, twisting through a hundred rapid evolu- tions with easy grace, to the novice whose skating consists in a few stag- gering strokes and an unsteady slide. There are scores of strong and active athletes with hockey-sticks and Karpet Knights by the dozens who stand apart with girls who need much assistance. But one and all have fun in plenty, and deplore the feathery snow clouds that threaten to spoil the ice. The twenty-second of February is the tirst and only holiday of the term. The night of this jiatriotic anniversary brings the crowning social event of the season — the Military Ball. Old W. V. U. puts on her tinest toggery, assumes her most courtly manners, and entertains herself and friends in right royal style. Many of the society beauties of West Virginia can remember one of these as an affair fully worthy of the State University. Coincident with the stormy winds and pelting rains of March come the Winter Term examinations. Here, at least, let us pass them quickly — a thing we seldom do elsewhere. A week ' s vacation is ahead! Between the close of the Winter and opening of the Spring Term, there intervenes a week of rest for the loeary, struggling, broken-down student! Most of them hasten to their homes to recuperate, which they accomiilish by a week or tenda.ys of constant disslpatio)!. In straggling parties they return and the same experiences of the first week of October are repeated, but in a less 21