Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 28 text:

MEETING of the Socialists was called for Jan. 15, at 8 o’clock, in the Lincoln House. Owing to a slight misunderstanding a few of the men did not make their appearance, hut by half past eight enough had arrived to form three card parties, and all started in to “buck the tiger.’’ That twelve men could get together and pass three hours play¬ ing cards and singing songs without betraying the slightest symptom of “that tired feeling,’’ would indeed be nothing short of a miracle to those who declared the inability of fifteen to do the same thing. But it is a fact that, at this and the succeeding card party, more downright enthusiasm was manifested than had been seen at any thing since the “Half-way’’ celebration. On the evening of Jan. 21, the class of ’93 repaired to “Grange Hall,’’ to hold the high carnival of “ Half-way-thro.’’ They were all armed with huge canes and other instruments, with which they defied some expected inroad from other classmen. On the same evening, some degraded rascals appro¬ priated several gallons of Middler ice-cream. On the evening of Jan. 22, the Socialists had an ice-cream party. Vague rumors had been flying about all that afternoon that the Socialists were invited to pay a visit to a former landlady of one of their number, that evening, but were warned to come in squads of one at a time, because there was a party sick four or five streets below. The boys adhered to the instructions. The first dropped in about half past eight, the s econd about five minutes later, the third about quarter of. Then the rush ceased. The last man arrived just as one member was preparing to leave. The first thing was cards. Nothing exciting occurred, except Eastman succeeded in 16

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In the midst of a full-fledged drizzle and, several minutes after the appointed time, Collier was accidentally found and hurried into line. Nothing exciting occurred on the march, but at the hotel a strange spectacle was observed, when one of the Socialists forgot his name and was obliged to sit in the corner for five minutes in order to recall it. Considering the list of names which pre¬ ceded his upon the register, he was, perhaps, excusable, but the look of mild surprise which adorned the face of the hotel-clerk was certainly very amusing. An half hour was spent in the parlor at the piano, and with such good effect that several of the other guests of the hotel felt themselves obliged to chassez up and down the corridor, out of pure sympathy. Then the folding doors were thrown open and the dining hall was disclosed to view. The menu was taken up and discussed for about an hour, after which the cigars were lighted and “ mascots ” passed around. The meeting now adjourned to the parlors. Here the real fun commenced. The piano was tuned up and echoes awakened by recitals of the woes of the Gam- bolier, Solomon Levi and the Prodigal Son. 92’s famous quartette entertained the company with sev¬ eral selections during the evening, and a hymn, very appropriate to the occasion, was given in German, by one of the quartette. All the musical selections of the evening were beyond criticism, and well deserved the encores they received. But those poor cider mascots! How they suffered ! Although, at first, they may not have known how to waltz, yet they must have learned that evening, for at the end of the dance, they were pretty well broken in. At half past eleven the men saw “ Nellie home,” and then gathered ’round for “Auld Lang Syne,” with which the festivities of the evening ended. 15

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(3) Whist,