Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 23 text:

Sixteen men signed the articles of confederation. The object of the club, as stated, was— “to provide for the social well being of its members,” with the understanding that the means taken to insure such “well being” might include sleighing parties, skating parties, theatre parties, or, in fact, anything which might be recommended by the very efficient committee of arrangements. Variety was the watchword of this “new departure,” but it was understood from the first that the society, though social, was not to be convivial. That its members had no aspirations to be “ howling swells,” but were simply men who wished to become better acquainted with one another before the final leave taking in June. 3

Page 22 text:

EFORE the Thanksgiving recess, the formation of this club was urged by several men, but action was not taken upon it until after that vacation. Upon Nov. 30, we may say that the continued and highly successful society drama. The Socialists of ’92, was commenced by eleven actors, some of whom occupied boxes of a greater or less degree of warmth. In place of the regular orchestral music, we had the plaintive “chug-chug” of the steam pipes, the patter of the janitor’s feet and the wild, wierd eloquence of the opposition. The curtain rises upon a farce comedy entitled, “Hoodooed; or among the Molecules.” Three honored gentlemen of the class were determined to be the comic villains of the play, and proceeded to read their parts with tragic effect. These gentlemen perhaps did not rehearse their characters. They did not need to, for nature had none that part of the job only too well. During the comedy several operatic gems were rendered by the trio; “There aren’t fifteen men in the class who can keep the thing alive.” “The whole thing will be blamed slow.” “Don’t want to say it will go under, but don’t think it can work.” “Didn’t come in to join.” “Just thought I’d see what you were going to do about it.” There were no encores. The next appear¬ ance of the Senior artists, Dec. 2, was signalized by much enthusiasm. Perhaps the dead men were coming to life. This appearance, or rehearsal, was notable for the fact that the cast contained no villains. Two of our prospective actors, fearful of temptation, and remembering it was growing late and very dark, hurriedly made their exit.

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“starter,” it was deemed advisable to arrange a theatre party for the following Friday evening, and as the idea met with a warm response, tickets were soon secured. Jo see a party of sixteen of the Tech’s “finest” sitting in the same number of conspicuously situated plush chairs at the new Worcester Theatre, was doubtless a novel sight to the city’s play goers. The party were compelled to think so any way, for such a siege from leveled opera glasses they had never before been called upon to endure. But not even “beauty’s eyes” could move the dignity of the double row of sturdy Socialists, and they were soon absorbed in the amusing scenes of “Blue Jeans.” The phenomenal brass band, the “barbe¬ cue scene,” and even lovely “ June ” and “the baby” won Socialistic approval and elicited their hearty applause. The executive committee soon began to show signs of further activity, and the result was that a proposition was sprung on the club to have a “ Love Feast.” The committee was very fastidious. First, Rebboli was going to cater for them; next, Estey had the inside track ; then the advantages of the Lincoln House were discussed, but paled on consideration of those of the Bay State, whose claims were extinguished at mention of Parker’s Chop House; but the latter suffered the fate of its predecessors by failing to counterbalance the obvious inducements of the Brunswick. The Brunswick was decided upon at the last moment, probably because there were no more claim¬ ants for the honor of feeding the Socialists, or, at least, if there were, there was no time to find them. 14