Morning journal and courier., 1884-06-18
Ye Mighty Fence Orator.

Yale Undergraduate EIOquence and Wit
 The Fence Given Away-WinG Versus
 AiRkIe.
 Last evening the seniors held their annual pow-wow on the campus, dancing, bowling and knocking around hats to the music of the American band. After this celebration had lasted for half an hour, rush was made for the sophomore fence, and soon in re- sponse to repeated calls MT. F. E. Wing as- cended the post and prepared to give the fence to the freshmen. After the applause which greeted his appearance had subsided MT. Wing said: My dear young friends, a year ago when the train rolled into the depot and the brakeman called, New Heaven, pas- sengers from the southwest go forward two cars, as you thought of the parting with your Sunday school teachers at home you wiped the tear from your bright blue eye, alighted, and asked the first gentleman you met where MT. Porter lived. We had ip tended to meet you with a brass band of eighty-seven pieces, but at the last moment the player of the bass drum kicked He said he could play at funerals. but he drew the line on '87. I grieve freshmen, to see that you have contracted evil habits since
 
 the vile cigarette in your mouths. But my pain at the sight is lessened when I think that the smoke conceals your faces. But you have two men among you who are still won ders in biblical knowledge. I overheard them one day talking about their ancestry and one of them claimed descent from the apostles. The other replied Stuff; I don't believe it. How could you trace it back .of the rdeluge? I had intended to introduce the time-honored bath gag, and went over to the gymnasium to interview the dusky jani- tor, but could gain nothing; not freshman had been near the baths this year. Fresh men, you are great class, but in rushing you don't amount to much. Even with the aid of the combined seniors and juniors you barely succeeded in pushing sixth of the sophomore class. You resembled the first of the college chimes, you merely served the purpose of showing that there was something to come after. Speaking of athletics, your ball nine has surprised the college To be sure you did not arouse any irrepressible enthusiasm in the WilIiston game, but later you covered yourselves with honor The college was wild with delight
 
 ologues, janitors, sweeps and freshmen shout ed themselves hoarse. President Porter said it was too good to be true, and would not believe the victory until he was shown the official score. Freshmen, your nine had de- feated the Grammar school. This fence which we present you is old and not as pretty as the polished bars you are so fond of. But the poverty of the college forhids improvement. Our enterprising daily lately suggested shat in view of your heavy weight. it would be advisable to replace the present structure with iron rails. The proposition was voted down in faculty meeting on the suggestion of Tggy, who remarked that you would all see iron bars soon enough. Freshmen, let me entreat you, do try to appear like Yale men. Why one of your classmates recently went down to shown him nearly every straw hat in the store he timidly inquired if they had the Yale kind. The clerk answered, Yes, but you can't have one, only Yale men wear those You followed the regular custom and defeated Harvard at base ball, and in the evening your glee club sang to us. Oh that singing! One man compared it to a combi- nation of the bag-plpes and 8 buzz saw. The Salvation Army heard you and tried to explain it and of them finally concluded that you sang to eighty-seven, be- cause none of you would ever have the re- motest possibility of reaching heaven. Freshmen, you have reached the end of your first year and the faculty have given you all numerous conditions. But it is the uni7er- sal verdict that there are no conditions to your freshness. In behalf of '96 I tender you this fence and bid you as you sit on it think of the glorious history of the classes which have preceded you, and when you meet Harvard in base ball, football and on the Thames show them that ysu possess that Yale quality called ''sand'' which is not found in dambridge or the Jersey flats.
 Mir. Hinkle next arose and replied for the freshmen. He said "GentIemen and mem- bers of 'S6: had been for some time ex. pecting to receive this fence from you, but had never any idea that should be up stump. However, let us try and climb on Wing. 86 as class has many fixtures, but | in rushing it really don't amount to much. l Our first experience with them in this line l was on the Grammar school lot last fall. | The next day, in one of those bright, clear editorials for which the News is so | we'll known, we read that if the seniors and | juniors were going to help the freshmen '86 | wasn't going to play. And when we put our darling, our baby, our man mountain to wrestle, 1t was pitiful to see his form clear cut against the evening sky, anxious for 8 fight, and no one to fight with. We were treated by you from our entrance to New Haven with all the courtesy usually shown by B sophomore class to freshmen. We were | invited out to innunerable suppers. Cham pagne flowed like water and at the snd thsre was always a fight as to who should pay. We always won We were honored by being allowed to act as hosts. I do not remember a single instance I when We did not foot the bills. Speaking of your morals, never has there been so de- prayed class. Never have the blinds of South been used so freely as fuel for fires, never has such singing been heard at the .ence. Mrs. Moriarty's coffers are all full 0 overhowing. All her customers are full to overdoWing. All her sophomoric bills are filed to oVordowing, but are not paid. suppose it is real mean to speak of the race, put, gentlemen, can't help it. Your creed vas very good one. You did very we'll, md it was not your fault that you were so erribly beaten. You would surely have won lad you not had so wonderful a competitor Speaking of athletics, you have some prodi- yies. But they should not be so rash n their feats of strength. Our athletes are great too, but they nev- IT try to butt 8 locomotive of the rack. It is dangerous business breaking up locomotive. It doesn't like it. By the way, is the crew going to be photographed 1 { his year? Is it to be in group or individ- laIly in the Hanlan style2 Let me beseech ,oe not to adopt the latter, or If you do, lon't hide the result in Bowman's window | Dur class may be to some extent fresh, but lone of us walked in front of the camera I Vhen the junior photograph was being taken i s an 'S6 man did. He may have thought that | Is he was sophomore he wouldn't show, 1 but he was wrong You have always paid us i rsat attention and last February you at ended us most persistently. Every brick { 7as covered by asophomore looking for flags. ] lou could not open 8 window without hay ng several come in with the air. But in { pite of your precautions we rather got you I n the flag. In hanger time all the streets ( 7srs guarded. Several of your members anne to my room. Now, I had 'laced my banger in one quarter T the room, and there happened oIbe some bottles in the other corner Gen. emen, my visitors went to the other corner. Fentlemen, we receive this fence from you nd shall try to enjoy as many pleasant hours t } you have done. We thank you and re | lain, seven dollars and eighty-six cents in f ebt" The different classes formed phalanx on [ le conclusion of the fence exercises and c receded by the band marched about the f smpus, after which the seniors left for Ssvin |; ock, where about sixty sat down to the lass supper. t