Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 26 text:

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.”

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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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NEW YEAR’S EVE. ® N the eve of the 31st December, 1880, the class of ’81 met, that they might make ever memora¬ ble the going out of the old year, and their entrance upon the last year of their course. When the time for supper arrived, the class went to the Commonwealth Cafe, and partook of a hot one, to brace them up against the terrors of the raging el¬ ements. At 11 o’clock, the order of march was re¬ sumed, and on their way they collected whatever fuel they could “lay onto,” for the glorious bonfire on the Hill. Arriving at that spot, preparations for a bonfire were immediately begun, and soon the crowd were warming themselves and munching the doughnuts provided liberally by four or five of the class. The temperature was near zero. All went lovely till 12 p. m. ; no sound broke the stillness, save the crackling of the flames, as we wait¬ ed for the tolling of the hour. But no sound reached our ears. The clock, by carelessness, or precon¬ certed plan, had run down ! No sound from the tower! However at 12.10, something got into the clock, and as it rang out, every stroke was made stronger by the assistance of the assembled Techs., and a battery of field pieces, manufactured at the W. 3