Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 16 text:

14 inarch was taken up towards the Commonwealth Cafe. Passing Sunny side a short halt was made for a straw¬ berry collation. The column then marched along the Boulevard to Salisbury St., through to Boynton St., where, at the end of Prof. Row, a motley col¬ lection of roughs, seconded by a few Middlers and stragglers from the Senior class, had massed them¬ selves in the middle of the road apparently with the intention of resolving themselves into a deviating force. Just before coming up to this gang an inno¬ cent Junior cried, 44 Three cheers for the Faculty ! ” which was responded to with one wail by the man himself, whom the rest accompanied with innumera¬ ble groans. Disregarding at first the would-be ob¬ struction, the ’81s did not swerve from their course ; but when a certain bully from Conn, was observed to raise a stick as if to strike, and others of his crew assumed the same attitude ; the Juniors, after giving them fair warning, charged, and the canes in the air reminded us of Briggs when safe in a harbor. The roughs fled to the sidewalk and some of them over the fence, earnestly enquiring, 44 What’s the matter with the man on the sidewalk?” and a Newcom{b)er was heard to observe, in a low voice, 44 are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing?” and a Senior, too, was heard to murmur, 44 Howard you like to get hit in the neck with a club?” and still another, brushing his coat, remarked, 44 Whose Harris pulled out by the roots ? Willis wig grow again ? ” Finally the Middlers came to the conclusion that they didn’t have the intention of stopping the procession, and as

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13 Seeing the unworthiness of such a captive, his pursuers returned to the main body, which was soon in line, as the time for the cremation was fast ap¬ proaching. They marched to the sound of the muf¬ fled drums through the Joe. Bill, road to the Boul¬ evard, where they were joined by the corpse and chief mourners, and thence to the top of the hill, passing several picnics. Guards were left at the foot of the hill, but when the preparations for crema¬ tion had been completed, they were called in, and after an opening prayer by the chaplain and several speeches by the orators, the torch was applied to the pyre. Then followed a solemn scene. The funeral dance was admirably executed by the mourners. Minute guns Avere fired by a Hill of a Middler, and the few Seniors present, affected by the sad ceremo¬ nies, as they afterwards were by Prof. S., Avere ob¬ served to shed tears copiously. Lookers on from the Middle class, none of whom were Frisky as formerly, lost their Stone(y) glare and watched the ceremonies Avith quivering lips and moistened eyes. One unfortunate Middler, not feeling so Well’s when he left home, could Barrett no longer and left the scene. When the funeral dance Avas ended the epitaph was read, followed by several obituary speeches. The ceremonies Avere concluded, the procession formed, and- to the un-muffled drums the line of 2

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15 several of them appeared much discomfitted by the pungent odor of ammonia, they retired as gracefully as possible under the circumstances. Immediately the procession moved on its way. The Middlers, on leaving Boynton St., ran pell- mell for the Cafe, and there obliged the weak Senior, easily recognized by his ‘‘wings” and other “Duds,” to “bait” them, as their lean wallets had been forced to empti ness by their laying in a stock of sardines, crackers and sausages, for their sustenance during the remainder of their course at school. The happy Juniors, arriving soon after and preferring a room to themselves without any company, repaired to the Holly Tree Inn, as the unfortunate Cafe man, dis¬ gusted, was busy watching his valuables and his sus¬ picious looking customers. CIDER. HE class of ’81 were famous for the quantity of cider they were able to dispose of. Bear in mind it was nothing harder than the clear sparkling