West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

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cordial and heart- felt manner. This week of release from duties does not seem to separate the students one from another and from school as does X-mas or Summer vacation. Convocation week over, and the student begins to look about him to see how he can accomplish the maxi-um amount of work with the minimum amount of study, during the enervat- ing weather of April, May and June. All nature is rich with allurements which entice the student from his books. The campus has grown green in a single day. The soft, warm breezes have kissed red buds on the maple branches. The birds, exiled by winter ' s heartless bans, have x-eturned on the wings of the South-wind, and in merry songs and ecstatic flitting to and ffo. celebrate thereconquest of their summer domain. The quiet streets of the town grow shady and the river ' s placid surface invites the dip of the oar. Surely sjaring comes in no more beauty anywhere than to Morgantown. As soon as the April air ceases to numb the lingers, the base ball players begin to train and practice every afternoon. The same crowd of spectators that watched the development of the foot ball team, gather on the athletic tield and with equal intei ' est speculate on the chances of a suc- cessful season. There are always a few old players, true and tried, that give the enthusiasts no concern. There is the pitcher of last year whose prowess in the box won many a loud, prolonged cheer. But several of the old favorites are missing from their positions and all despair of ever finding others to till them with equal ability. But after the first game, last year ' s heroes are not so prominent and the player of the hour is the centre of base ball interest. Up until Commencement day, the gala days of college life are those whereon we meet here at home some rival team on the dia- mond. Commencement week comes all too soon. The anxious senior has haunted the librai ' y for months searching dusty volumes for material that will make his Thesis immortal. The last day arrvies. From the hand of the Registrar he receives the parchment which testifies to his attainments. This diploma means many an hour of toil and worry, many a hard struggle and bitter failure. The recipient ought to be proud of it, but for the time being he can look upon it only as a certificate, legally delivered,. that his college days are over. What Commencement Day means to the senior — what tender ties he breaks with bitterness, what hopes of future life he looks to for consolation, what high resolves and lofty dreams of noble usefulness, what rushing memories of the dear past days till his heart too full for utterance, we shi-ink from attempting to relate. These are matters for the genius only to touch. So is the whole story of College life. Its sunshine and shadow, its friendship and rivalries, its victories and defeats await the wizard ' s wand to brine: them into life on the written page.

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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

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f » B • RLUMNl Try Officers for 1 899- 1900. President. Seeretar;y and Treasurer. Hon. J. R. Trotter. Prof. Robt. A. Armstronsr. ' ' Come, dear old Comrade, you and I Will steal an hour from days gone by, The shining days when life was new, And all was bright with morning dew. The lusty days of long ago, When you were Bill and I was Joe. Your name may flaunt a titled trail Proud as a cockerel ' s rainbow tail, And mine as brief appendix wear. As Tam O ' Shanter ' s luckless mare; To-day, old friend, remember still That I am Joe and you are Bill. You ' ve won the great world ' s envied prize And grand you look in people ' s eyes, With Hon. and LL. D. In big brave letters fair to see, — Your fist old fellow! Off they go! — How are you, Bill! How are you, Joe ? Bill is serving his third term in Congress, where he has won a degree of distinction that makes him the pride of the state that has sent him to the national capital as one of its representatives. Joe is a physician practicing in a small town in Wisconsin, where he has gained the high esteem of all 23