Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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24 “ Now that is what call a good question.” We have three men who claim they can tell the equation of a straight line by inspection. The chemistry lectures seem to have struck the popular fancy of ’95, as fully two-thirds of the class attend. Prof. Kinnicutt enlivens the hour by illustrating his new method for doing examples, any step of which will be promptly erased upon satisfactory evidence of a snicker from the class. We have been so absorbed in our studies that there has bee n very little time for sociability. We shut ’94V eye in a snowball fight during our first half, and planned to exterminate ’96 at 4:30 one afternoon last February. On that occasion, bloodshed, loss of life, and possible damage to Institute property was averted only by the presence of mind and masterly foresight of the President of the Faculty, who ordered Mr. Badger to let the Preps escape by the back door at 3 : 30 p. m., an hour earlier than usual. On March 9th, 1893, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Barbers was organized. The object of the society was to raise sufficient capital to procure a hair-cut for Hapgood, a non-member. A subscription paper was circulated and the necessary amount pledged. After the accomplishment of its object the society gave up its charter. For over a year we have been testing the patience of our different instructors. Arrangements are made for the continuance of these experiments for the rest of our course. Our investigations thus far show that Prof. Glad¬ win’s fuses at the lowest temperature, while Prof. Kimball’s fires a few degrees higher. M. P. Higgins’ is non-excusable, and Mr. Badger is a non-supporter of the stamp act. (For full report watch our class book.) We are well represented on the football eleven and baseball team, and with Brigham, Leland, Stone and many others make the other classes hus¬ tle on field days. Taylor is our representative from California. The instructors find it difficult to conduct a recitation without his assistance. He is the only man who objects to using the class towel at the shop. The well-known “ Farwell Hat ” now rests on the shoulders of Farwell, ’95, and with its assistance he draws a straight flush on every semi-annual report. Temple, assisted by Mr. Yiles, teaches German to Division C. This probably accounts for the lead the division has over A and B, as they have to- be satisfied with Mr. Yiles alone. Ours is the most musical class in the Institute, for we began our chorus

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23 seeing us for the first time at the Institute the Faculty thought they had discovered a new ele¬ ment, one that required special treatment. Accord¬ ingly, instead of reading between the lines in standard French works, we began by juggling Sturm’s Theorem for Mr. Beals’ entertainment, and by applying new methods for solving problems in solid geometry under the watchful eye of Mr. Coombs. We were also introduced to Prof. Gladwin in his studio. Here we were all cher¬ ubs, but the models had the wings. Here also we made our mark—on the statues, and were entertained by “ Gladdy,” who gave us some choice bits of acting, appearing at his best as the hero in “ Much Ado about Nothing.” During these theatricals, Dr.-acted as door-keeper. We survived the semi-annuals and began our Junior year with the largest class in the Tech. We went to the initiation exercises in trig, “according to the time-hon¬ ored custom,” without a lesson. In invential geometry we learned the theory of the game of billiards, and applied our k nowledge down town. German crossed our path at the beginning of our Junior year. Descriptive geometry is out of sight to most of us. “Well, just consider the problem in space for a moment.” We are going to have our descrip, problems bound and then sell them to Ninety-six. Analytic is our favorite study.

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25 practice in the Wood-room under the direction of Charlie Bitstock, the Knight of the Tool-room, who has since gone into the grocery business. Our specialists are Chambers, who is advanced enough to play banjo duets with Boyden ; Taylor the flutist, who is a great blow—But hold,we must speak of our future. Although not fortune-tellers, still we safely predict a great future for ’95. If there are five men left to graduate, they will prob¬ ably be in the first six. We intend to invite the Faculty to our Half-way supper and also have Battery B stationed in the wood-yard where we orde r out combustibles. We were going to Chicago this month as part of the Tech exhibit, but the space allowed the Institute was not large enough to accommodate Gilbert’s feet, so the scheme has been abandoned. Since entering the Institute we have seen many changes take place ; the Shops have been enlarged, tuition has become ambitious and gone up another round, and the course has been lengthened. While we cannot positively affirm that we are responsible for these changes, we think Prof. Kinnicutt saw the need of a four years course after conducting a few quizzes in chemistry, and some one has said that the rise in tuition was to replace the glass we broke when snowballing with ’94.