Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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23 of that, they voted that the battalion should carry no transparencies. But as we were Company C., and so entitled to the colors, we made up our minds to content ourselves with a banner, and to spend all spare time in drilling. The rapidity with which the boys became acquainted with the tactics was surpris¬ ing ; for when we went to Fitchburg and Clinton, we were declared to be the best drilled company in the battalion. This was proved by our going through the platoon movements, which the other companies were unable to perform. Another feature of our com¬ pany was our cheer, invented on our way to Fitch¬ burg, and the enthusiasm with which every cheer was ended by 4 4 Rah-rah-rah — T-E- C-H—rah-rah-rah ” attracted the attention of all the bystanders. This cheer is not likely to be soon forgotten, as since the campaign, it has been informally adopted by the school, and is used on every occasion. Having done our duty to our country, and seen Garfield safely placed in the White House, we dis¬ banded, feeling well satisfied with the part we had taken in the Presidential election of 1880. COASTING. NE fine moonlight night not many winters ago, seven men of ’83 with one of the class of ’81 went sliding; on West St. A double-runner couldn’t O be found anywhere, and they were sorely perplexed until M. P.’s pung was suggested by the veteran Senior.

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GARFIELD GUARDS. JPjURING the Fall of 1880 the question which ✓V 1 excited nearly every one was : “ Who shall be our next President ?” This interested the school-boy as well as others, and it was not surprising that, before the nomination had been made, papers were circulated through the school to find out its choice for President. The result of this ballot was pleas¬ ingly similar to the results at Chicago ; Grant and Blaine being the favorites. We did not, however, dream of Garfield’s nomination. But no sooner had his nomination been made than it was heartily en¬ dorsed by the school, and they decided that instead of getting up a burlesque on Hancock, that they would turn out solid for Garfield. Accordingly a company was formed, Mr. Chas. Mann was chosen Captain, and uniforms were discussed. Our captain belonged to the Garfield and Arthur Battalion, and so we were invited by him to join, as his company. We did so, fifty men strong, which was not very agreeable news for the other companies as they did not wish to march with a lot of green school boys. On hearing we had adopted a uniform, they imme¬ diately decided to adopt a different one for the whole battalion, hoping in this way to shut us out; but we quietly conformed to their desires, and set about making transparencies. As soon as they got wind

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24 All succumbed, and it did not take many minutes to take the bells off and drag it out on West St. The bells have never been seen since, and it is doubtful if they ever will. Two of the fellows held the shafts, and the others hung on to the sides and steered the Great Eastern with their feet. It went rather slow at the start, but about half-way down the hill that old pung just hummed. All went well for the first four slides, and then the pung came to grief. The fifth time, when near the bottom of the hill and going so fast that tears were running from their eyes, all at once the pung left the ruts and steered in a “ Bee” line for a telegraph pole. The crash could be heard for miles around, and away went two Juniors. It was some seconds before they landed in a neigh¬ boring pasture. They were not hurt very badly, but the pung !— The fills were smashed, and one side of the Great Eastern was a total wreck. It was brought back to the barn and all its parts were nicely placed in their proper positions. Will hitched up next morning and started the plug. When behold ! the horse walked off with the shafts and the dilapidated side collapsed like the Deacon’s One Hoss Shay. M. P. accused Will of being run into down town, who emphatically denied the base accu¬ sation and in turn made a counter charge against M. P. “Where ignorance is bliss ‘tis folly to be wise.”