The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-06-20
STATE UNIVERSITY CLASS DAY

Imany things of interest besides our stud
les. We began to lay the foundations fol-
friendships that shall never die. Man!
of our classmates have left US since then
but they are not forgotten. Invitations
| to become members of the students or
carnations, especially the literary sOcie
ties, were plentiful enough. The sophie
mOres insisted eloquently, the juniors wert
| very anxious to see us members, and ever
| the seniors assured us of a warm welcome
| A number of the boys joined the fraterni
ties. and the girls soon began to claim
brothers in some chapter. Most of oul
| time was occupied in endeavoring to mem
orize the names of some Egyptian kings
| to comprehend the theOrems of geometry
| or to learn the Greek verbs. When, how
| ever, Il few leisure moments were at Our
disposal, we could enjoy interesting and
| scholarly lectures on all sorts of subjects,
debates in the societies, ora tOrical contests,
etc. Soon the fall term had ended and
our knowledge must be tested. We en-
tered the examination room with almost as
much trepidation as on that memorable
morning three months before, when our
title to the honorable name of student
| was still doubtful.
When the holidays were over we worked
as zealOusly as before; but, recognizing
the value of the advice, 'mingle little
folly with your WISDOM" we greatly en-
jOyed attending occasional fraternity ban
quets and receptions. Great, indeed, was
the surprise of us freshmen when, after
the exciting contest, the judges announced
that one of our girls had one the MOrri-
son medal for elocution. The Dist of
April and of May in that year will long
be remembered by this class; the former
was San Jacinto day, the latter the first
Field day in the history of our University.
The March examinations had already been
passed. another term was drawing to Il
close, and the final test was upon us. After
much labOrious study this was success
fully over and, glorious thought, we were
sophomores. How we enjoyed commence
ment with its speeches and its music;
and when the last day came, looking back
upon the path we had trodden for the
past nine months, we felt that we had
made at least Il fair beginning in the as
cent up which we were toiling.
How delightfully."- important we felt
when, as sophomOres, we entered these
halls which we considered partially our
own, and saw so many that stood at the
very bottom of the ladder of learning up
which we had climbed to what appeared
to our sophomore minds Il considerable
height. How patronizingly we assisted
the freshmen, reassuring them by relat'
ing how we had been forced to go through
with the same routine and to stand the
same trying examinations. NotWith-
standing all our pride and condescension,
it was not with perfect assurance that we
entered upon the second stretch of the path
ND the mountain of knowledge; for We
knew that ''too great confidence in
success is the likeliest to prevent it," The !
accounts we heard from former sOpho-
mores of the unpronOuncable Anglo-SaXon,
the Buckheim exercises and the essays of
great length We're by no means encourage
ing. But these mysteries cleared up as
we approached them; our love for univer-
sity life increased and we shared with
pleasure all its events. When the time
for examinations came that year, we were
not so apprehensive as before, for we now
lad the aid of personal experience, and, be1l
sides, we had the privilege of exemptions.
How we bothered our brains over mathe-
Mates, touching on all subjects, from the
simplest theOrems to the possible method
If communication between Mars and the
,arth. We had never imagined THAT such
discussions could be made so entertaining.
Some sat for hours with knitted brows
,yer Greek and Latin leXicOns, and in
studying the productions of Homer and
Horace were themselves almost filled with
he poets inspiration. Our holidays were
.niOyed fully as much as during the pre-
.iOus wear, San JacntO was especially
to some as having been spent
Gaming up and down the rocky hills ad-
accent to the lake, gathering bright leaves
nd berries, or rowing on the placid waters
f the river. Others made visits to the
Ountry near by, but all enjoyed the day,
nd we returned to our books much re
reshed. Finally commencement come
gain, another section of our way was
ompleted. and we enjoyed the honor OF
alling ourselves juniors. n
When in the fall of 1893 we returned
0 our studies it was with different feel
lg from that of the year before. we {
yere equally as proud to be Juniors as /
70 had been to be sOphomOres and real {
.ed little more fully the Importance of {
ur college life Seeing the enjoyment the {
pniors derived from Il class organization {
'e resolved to have Il similar one to i
ring our class into closer social contact. t
recall WILDLY our first meeting; there Y
'aS a large attendance and we settled
ne important question of who should be I
ur officers for the year. Our boys, true t
} their noble selves, were very gallant
nd elected girls to fill almost all the {
ffices. We are proud of our first pTesi- 5
ent and her associates, and | am sure c
luI lllc CluSS VI JD VIII hNNOl iNSAN' I
aving trusted her interests to their care q
he all absorbing consideration for the /
ext few meetings was the selection of !
APP IAN outsider awouEl have been I
unused had he seen our handsOmest boy I
landing by request before t
he class that we might i
y the effect of al lstyles of caps The &
equation Oxford was finally chosen, but 4
must confess the boys of 30 have not l
hown their loyalty to the class by don 9
ing the caps very often; perhaps they 7
ave been keeping them as mementoes. Y
here was much enjoyment for us dur
IL this session. The delightful recep- |
on rendered us ny our president will
YER remain with us a pleasant memory, la
nd we will often recall her charming
oSpitHlity. n
But the days were not all of rejoicing; 5
firth and laughter were huShed by Il
he tidingS of sorrow, for there came {
nd day in the history of our University. /
'hen all hearts were filled with grief {
t the announcement that DR.. Lefevre {
ad passed away. Though it was with 5
he deepest sorrow that we hade him
God bye, vet we know death makes no ,
onqueSt of this conquerOr. for now he
YES to fame though not in life"
We had plenty of studying to do. hut it |
id not seem drudgery as it had before. .
was privilege to he present while the
Masterpieces of literature were being GiS- 5
Nd