Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 17 text:

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

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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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16 juice, fresh from the press. Whenever we had a spare hour and were all together, some one would propose to go to the cider mill. Not a dissenting voice would be heard, and away we would go at a 2.40 pace for that Mecca of the jolly “ Tech.”—the old cider mill on the Boulevard. When we arrived there, Donnie passed the hat around, and cider for the crowd was ordered. The accommodations for customers were not of the best. In the whole estab¬ lishment there was only one chair, and Josh always managed to get hold of that first; and there was only one drinking vessel—an old wooden mug—but this did not dampen the ardor of the cider-loving “ Tech.” Divers measures, buckets, pails, etc., were called upon to perform service, and the fellows were as happy as clams in high water, drinking their punch, astride a barrel, out of anything which would hold it. No one would believe, but those who saw it, the quantity of cider some of the fellows were able to carry. Chub’s usual dose was three quarts, but Long Slater could beat that by another pint. Jim used to say that he could get away with a half¬ gallon without feeling a bit dizzy, but a quart was all Whitie dared to take. All things considered, Robbins, for his height and the smallness of his paunch, could drink more cider than any other man in the class. When we were all satisfied and glori¬ ously full, we’d wend our way along the Boulevard towards the “Castle on the Hill.” But before we arrived there, many an apple tree suffered and many an apple was shied at many a cider filled “ Tech.”