Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 22 text:

“ ERA OF GOOD FEELING.” UR middle year was near its close, and the groups of excited Juniors seen everywhere around the “ Tech.” showed too plainly to our vigi¬ lant classmates, that the annual cremation of Chau- venet was near at hand. We were intending to treat them as the class of ’80 would have been pleased to have treated us, a year before, had they had the moral and physical courage necessary for the success of their plans. But we were disappointed; for long before that eventful eve arrived, the Juniors cordially invited us to accompany them as a body-guard. Thus was the “Era of Good Feeling” inaugurated. For the © © first time in the history of the Institute, the Mid- dlers and Juniors met as friends at the sepulchre of Chauvenet. Both classes were out in full numbers, led by the Worcester (Tech.) Brass Band, and followed by the usual crowd of “ Oregonians,” among whom a Senior might here and there be seen, looking rather blue at the prospect of “ no class row.” After the procession had reached its destination on Johnson’s Hill, the Juniors took charge of their cre¬ mation, and the Middlers defended the lemonade from the too rapacious spectators from “Oregon,” and the members of ’80. In the order of exercises

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19 ii. Yes : we’ve seen that liall of learning, That little school up on the hill, And our thoughts are now returning To our “grindings ” in the mill. III. But our hearts are full of gladness, We have finished half the grind; Yet perhaps, with thoughts of sadness, We shall leave its halls behind. IY. Tor firm friendship now unites us, And with pleasure on we pass. Thirst for knowledge still incites us, Examinations still harass. V. Tor they’re always full of questions, Straightforward, (full of crooks), Of course the boys will have congestions Of the brains, when stuffed with books. YI. We’ve seen the boys to the office called To face the well known terrors there, To face the chief who’s there installed, The dreaded sentence to declare. VII. Yes : we’ve seen the wondrous working Of that school up on the hill, Where the boys are cured from shirking, By the Doctor’s well-known pill.

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21 the following poem occurred, by the “ Spenserian” poet of ’81, the band playing a dirge after each stanza. ERA OB GUDE EEELIN. I. Dis yere am de era ob gude feelin, Peace reign in de land. Nowhere can’t be found no double dealin; Musick by de band. III. De Juniors lub de Middlers, Grip by de hand. Look out dar now, you fiddlers ! Musick by de band. IV. Dem matematics we hab stood, Dem we jus kin stand. Tell me, duz dey do us any good? Musick by de band. VII. Dis yere am de era of gude feelin, Brudders, jine de hand; While from ten tousand brazen troats is peelin Musick by de band.