Wilson College - Conococheague Yearbook (Chambersburg, PA)

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Cofvocomfjkl 74.72.-Rf-, CHEAGU 3 Nm, . , 3 A Y . f fs., rv,-, X , junior Class History June 1, 1912. DEAR LU: Although it is a long time since I have seen you, it seems to me that just at this time you must be thinking of something that happened thirty years ago, when we tucked our sheepskins under our arms and started out into the 'Kwide worldf, l wonder if you know that next year my daughter, Lucy, will receive the same degree from the same college. It scarcely seems possible that she has hnished her third year in college and yet it is so. She entered in the fall of 1909, with the class of 1913. You remember how superstitious we were about that fate- ful number, 13. l1Vell, this class took it as a good omen, and with 1913 as their numerals, and the red poppy as their flower, expected to march straight to victory. There was no time for homesickness. They were prac- tising yells, making gypsy costumes and chasing Sopho- mores most of the time. But their hrst downfall came in the games. Girls are quite athletic now, you know, Lu. They play some such game as hockey, if you know what that is, and basket-ball. Times have changed since we were there. You remember the sedate little walks we used to take for exercise. Well, anyway, they lost these games. You might think they would have been discouraged, but not a bit of it. They took it as a matter of fact, and went right on planning new achievements. About Thanksgiving, l believe, they began to pack their trunks for Christmas vacation. Girls have not changed much that way since we were there. All we heard during Lucy's stay at home was Wilson, Wilson, Wilsonf' and chiefest in Wilson was 1913. C 29 After the holidays came a period of sad retribution- exams. Then they commenced to talk of the .lunior-Fresh- man banquet. lt seems that the Freshmen always give the Juniors a banquet. Well, many were the weary hours spent in making red poppies and painting place-cards, but it was all a great success, of course. Lucy's letters were full of the charms of some Dorothy Cl believe that is the nameb. She is an upper-class girl, l believe, and she must be very attractive. Easter vacation was very short, and Lucy was anxious to get back tolsee Wilson in the Springtime. You remem- ber how we used to love it. It has a charm that never dies. But l was amused when the letters began to come, telling of the garlic in the butter. It is the same old story. We did not hear so much of K'Dorothy. Her charms must have begun to llag. Commencement was just too grand for anything. lt was the fortieth anniversary, you remember, and now she was really a Sophomore. So far as athletics go, their second year was a repetition of their hrst. Although they dressed as athletic girls in the games, it was of no avail. They lost. There was no discouraging them, though. They seemed to learn persist- ence and good nature. They found great solace in South, I believe that is a dormitory for the seniors, new since our da . Xfhis was their year to give a play. You remember how we struggled over those old things. Well, they did the same, but Trelawney of the Wells was a great success. ln fact, they seemed able to cope with anything but athletics. That year the banquet was given to them, and they were D

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Cofvoco. Mfg -fi. . XCHEAGUEW 5 Q 'kk fyjf' 5,12 , M overjoyed to hnd that their beloved Seniors would take them in town to the Washington, Commencement that year was sad and sweet. They had to part with their Seniors. Many were the tears shed and many the promises made. This year they entered as Juniors. The responsibility of taking care of the Freshmen fell to them now, and they did their best. They were quite hopeful about the games and, indeed, as they won, for the hrst time, in the preliminaries, I had to go down myself to sec them play on Thanksgiving. Such a game l never saw in my life! l thought they were positively brutal. The girls wore short skirts, and tore up and down the held, hitting at a little ball with long curved sticks. lf they missed the ball, some poor girl suffered. l stayed along the side, and l declare, in the midst of such excitement, l forgot how cold it was. The girls yelled until l thought they would have no throats left. By the enthusi- asm l could not tell which side was winning, but, to tell you the truth, I believe thirteen had something to do with it, for they lost again. One thing about it, they have learned to be good losers. During Christmas vacation we planned Lucy's Prom Dressf' which was to be a wonderful creation. lt seems that they have a Promenade down there now, at least they call it a Promenade, but they spend the whole evening dancing. Well, while Lucy was home she asked a neighbor boy here to go to this affair with her, and he accepted. I was very well satished, for he is a very nice, quiet, young fellow. A couple of weeks later l received a frantic note from Lucy, saying .lim could not come-had sprained his ankle. lt was a dreadful shock and disappointment to the poor girl, since she had her dress and all, so l told her to take her brother. That was very well for a week. Then John was suddenly called away to Chicago on business for a month. Poor Lucy! l did feel so sorry for her, for l knew she could C 30 not ask another boy at such a late date, so l wrote and told her that she could just take a little trip instead of going to the Prom, and come home for a few days. Well, the day of the Prom l received a telegram from Lucy saying she would not come home, She had a man, and was going to the Prom. l could not imagine who the man could be. l worried all night about it. l knew Lucy would take cold in that low-necked dress of hers. The next day a letter came, and what do you suppose that girl had done? lt seems that her room-mate was taking a boy from Cornell, and he brought a friend of his along for Lucy. Well, l was shocked to think she had gone with a boy, or, as they call them now, man, she did not know, but she assured me that lots of girls did the same thing, though we would never have been allowed to do such things. Our friends were care- fully chosen for us. The Freshmen gave IQI3 a banquet this year in the dining- room. Lucy had a toast. It was all about poppies and roses. l could not understand just quite what it meant, but it sounded very nice. Lucy says it was a wonderful banquet. On May Day, IQI3 gave another play. The young man whom Lucy took to the Prom came down to see her. l hardly knew what to think of such things. Lucy has grown more serious this last year, and l hear great plans of going West to teach. Now that her three years in college are successfully passed, she is looking forward to her last year with great pleasure, of course, and yet it is mingled with a little sadness, to think that all her college fun will soon be over, and her friends will be scattered so far. ln spite of the fact that many things are changed, l have lived over again my college days with Lucy, and l have come to believe, also, that '13 is a good Omen' Lovingly your old school-friend, MARX' LOUISE GATES. D