Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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IO class, being especially welcome to those whose ranks had ap¬ proached the “fifties.” It is a tradition that the Middle Class is generally respon¬ sible for all the pranks which are played at the Tech, but Ninety was an exception, for her evil spirit manifested itself in her Junior Year. During the first half, fun was at a discount, except, per¬ haps, in the free-hand drawing room, but when the spring Field-day came around, a brilliant opportunity was presented. On the morning of that memorable day, Division B had shop practice, and as the members arrived, it was noticed that Ninety- One, who then constituted the Prep Class, was unduly excited over something. They kept coming down stairs in groups and going to the door, whence they cast proud glances in the direction of the Fair Grounds. Ninety looked also, and were not a little surprised to see a mammoth standard, bearing the figures “91,” floating over the scene of the coming sports. This would never do, so two Ninety men at once repaired to the Fair Grounds, and, although detected once, succeeded in escaping with the coveted flag, which was carefully hidden until it was wanted as a decoration for the hall on the night of the half-way supper. This episode placed Ninety in a light of suspicion which was increased to a glow when she attended the Musee on the night after the half-way examinations. The other classes were well represented, but, when the performance closed and it remained for the police to select the “ first six,” Ninety, alone, was considered. After a spirited interview with the irate manager of the troupe, the boys were let off on terms which seemed more favorable under the peculiar circumstances that evening than they have at any time since. The next evening we partook of our half-way supper. An oc¬ casion for the recollection of past exploits, the supper itself must not be forgotten. Our speakers, fired with enthusiasm at sight of the captured standard of “91,” which adorned a large part of the wall, handled their subjects to the delight of all. Our toast master, so anxious to merit the honor bestowed on him that he scorned to put the pink lemonade to his lips, surpassed the expectations of the class and confirmed the excellency of its choice. ’Twas at this time, too, that the General delivered his maiden speech. What other class can boast of a real General ? Selections by the class orchestra and Ninety’s representation in the Banjo and Guitar Club contributed largely to the success of this supper, which must ever hold a prominent place in our recol¬ lections. We were now the traditional Middlers, and every piece of mis¬ chief perpetrated from this time on, was promptly laid at our door. Our reputation, which preceded us in the Junior ex¬ tended through the Senior year,—if the Doctor’s pumpkins disappeared, we were the cause ; if his hitching-post was sawed off, we had done it. One night, a carriage belonging to a mem- .ber of the faculty took a ramble in the field of Bliss, and was there disintegrated. Although we were Seniors, and in spite of the fact that one wheel was impaled on a goal-post and a Middler was seen walking the next day with a painful limp, the President treated us to a confidential talk. The approaching final examination and the exit of two of our number sobered us so that nothing could induce a Ninety man to lay aside his dignity, even for a moment,— unless, perhaps, we except the class suppers. The various organizations at the Tech are greatly indebted to the Class of Ninety, some for the impetus which led to their form¬ ation, and others for a large proportion of their membership. The Banjo and Guitar Club, the idea of which was conceived and successfully carried out by a Ninety man, was one of the most flourishing clubs that the Institute has had, and gave every indica¬ tion of becoming a permanent organization. The success of the Banjo Club was followed by the formation of a Class Orchestra, which enjoyed a happy life of more than a year. The rehearsals and public appearances of these two musical associations afforded a most pleasant diversion from the monotony of almost constant study, and the clubs bade fair to outgrow the local fame which they soon acquired, when the President confronted them with the para-

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CLASS I T is with a feeling of no slight responsibility that the historian of ’90 begins his task, for, while the class in itself may not be exceptional, many of the most brilliant leaves of the Tech his¬ tory have been turned in its presence. No equal period of time can boast of so many changes and additions,—antiquated systems have been abolished and progressive institutions estab¬ lished ; gifts of inestimable worth have been made by our bene¬ factors ; the Institute is now known by a differ ent name, and with increased vigor and redoubled advantages, it proceeds to fulfill its mission. We were but just entered as apprentices, when the mu¬ nificent gift of the Salisbury Laboratories was announced. To be sure, the destruction of our “gymnasium” and the felling of trees so dear to Professor Gladwin occasioned no little sadness, but this did not hinder us from lending our voices to the songs of universal gratitude to our worthy friend. Having participated in the ceremonies attending the laying of the corner stone, and having watched with eager interest as the building grew, course by course, we entered the finished structure, the first Senior class to enjoy its increased facilities. Soon after this, a change occurred which, however, will affect future classes more than it did us. The discovery was made that the Institute would have to confine her endeavors within narrower limits or devise some means of raising money. Although the chemistry dues still continued to be a fertile source of revenue to the heavily burdened treasury of the Institute, something else must be done to relieve the financial strain. The name Free Institute was changed to Polytechnic Institute, and the catalogue HISTORY. announced that “tuition will continue to be free to a limited number of students who are not over twenty-one years of age.” Directly after the adoption of the new name, through the exertions of a member of Ninety who seemed to be the only man who was con¬ fident of the success of his undertaking, the Institute was admitted to the Intercollegiate Athletic Association ; and such a boom was given to athletics, that later in the course the faculty felt obliged to impose restrictions upon it. Ninety has always taken an active interest in Athletics, and if Field-day did not award her the palm, it was never because she was afraid to enter her proportion of contestants. Although fortune did not favor her with many record-breakers, her ability and record for team work has been an enviable one. For two years of the three, her base-ball team secured the championship, and until the sport was restricted, her foot-ball eleven held easy sway. With the allusion to foot-ball, one of the darkest pages of the Class History is presented to our view. In vain were our earnest appeals for the re-instatement of foot-ball. Silent witnesses of many a manly contest, the goal-posts stand decaying monuments of a restricted game. Perhaps, after all, this action by the faculty reverted to our good, for little did we dream when we were arguing for foot-ball of the many pilgrimages we would have to make to Dr. Smith’s Shrine, the Public Library. The change in the marking system, whereby the custom of giv¬ ing each student only his rank in the class, was abolished, and the system of letters substituted, met the hearty approval of the whole

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POLYTECHNIC ii graph in the catalogue which allows a Tech one night in the week for recreation. This accomplished the death of the Orchestra, and the retirement of the Banjo Club to a life of more modest preten¬ sions. The Camera Club owes its existence to an exhibition of photo¬ graphs by Ninety’s amateurs, and we can only hope that the vacant spaces left on the membership roll by the exit of Ninety will be as creditably filled as they have been—with the names of some of its foremost members; and that in the future its exhibitions will be as creditable and pleasing as those in the past. But the clubs have not all been for recreation alone, as the mem¬ bers of the Political Economy Club can testify. This organiza¬ tion was formed at the suggestion, and continued under the leader¬ ship of Dr. Smith. Composed wholly of members of Ninety who were studying Political Economy, this Club had many a lively meeting in which the economic questions of modern civilization were discussed. When we recollect that the Thompson Club has collapsed, and that the O. T. V. is no more, we should hope that so worthy an association as this might have every year a large, active membership. It would be an injustice to some of the members of the class not to mention that association of shy and retiring dispositions known among the students as the Sons of Rest. The information which the historian has at his disposal concerning this society is of a vague and disconnected character. Immediately after initiation, the members receive new names, by which they are forever after¬ ward known to each other. During the Prep year, he who was known as Jigger was the controlling spirit, and after he left the Institute, the partnership of Sweeny Seal interpreted the Con¬ stitution and By-Laws,—if they had any. The history of the Class, as written beforehand by the Faculty, is exactly similar to that of other classes, and may be found in the study and recitation plans of any catalogue. It has often seemed to us that work has been crowded in with too little regard for recreation, but a retrospective view shows that we have had many a good time, in one way or another, and that our self-denial in the constant application of our minds to study has so much the better fitted us to hold our own in the race of life. The time has now come for us to leave the Institute, and, laying aside any unpleasant recollections and treasuring those of lasting joy, it is not without a sigh of sadness that Ninety closes this chapter of her history. A farewell tear for old associations, a parting tribute to those whose wise instruction has guided our efforts in the acquisition of knowledge,—and we are gone. May the Tech never have a less loyal class than the CLASS OF NINETY!