Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-06-26
Glass History.

CidSS nisIOry.
Among the most interesting papers of
the exercises was that OF the class hiss
tory by Mr.. Rowell who read as follows:
The class of ~ is without a parallel in
the history of Coburn. Three years ago
the course OF study was changed from
three to four years. That change left
one year without a class. That year was
1897. In the class oi " therefore you be-
hold violation Of the well-known maxim
EEK nihilo nihil' and behold the miracle,
ex nihilo aliquid, something created
from nothing. Beginning with Il class of
no members, certainly tne smallest class
that ever entered this or any other
school we have become Il cltss of thirty
one of the largt Il classes Coburn has
had in recent t,lts.
Ii is customary for a class historian to
give an account of the experience of each
0f the four years of the course 1t would
be difficult to write the history of ~ dur
ing the early part OF our course, simply
because we did not exist, Unlike some
Glasses who continue to be freshmen for
several years. we never We're freshmen.
OF our present number only four have
been in The school three entire years. and
those entered as members of other
classes. Two of our young ladies' We're
our boys were classed with '9S. Miss Bas-
sett and Miss Mayo preferred to wait a
wear for the privilege of graduating With
ig7 and Hall and Eozier have put forth
graduating in such distinguished COM
pany as the class Of 81 affords.
Toward the end of what would have
been our sophomore year. If there had
been any year there to be designated as
sophomore 5. the city of Everett Mass,
was plunged into deepest mourning
when its distinguished German orator
painter and scholar. determined to leave
Maine His coming marks a new era in
the history of Coburn. A this time alsa
came one whose strong right arm was of
great service in the memorable defeats
which we administered TO the Waterville
high school on the diamond. This, by the
way ended the career Of the w. II. S. in
this department of athletics. This was
only The beginning of the victories in
which our famous twirler has figured.
Your historian also entered in the spring,
OF this year and Wore the crimson in
those memorable games. Thus is told
the story of what corresponds to the first
two years of ordinary classes. We never
were not a class; we We're simply indiviG-
uals and few at that. During the next
year we actually became class. The
annual catalogue of 9o-6 contains twelve
names under the heading Junior class.
81" With this year our history as a
class begins. We doubt ii any class h6sllada
more eventful career IN four years than
we have crowded into these two years.
The first thing to arouse in US anything
of the nature of class spirit occurred IN
the winter term of this year. The senior
class at one of their receptionS, had
placed In Il conspicuous place on the walls
of the chapel. the figures 96- These re-
manned for several weeks until Il &C.
CURED to the minds of sonic of us that
dut respect had been paid to he seniors
Adj dirgly the figures disappeared They
eoA dorled of US and their claims re.
eei1tltlihpartial attention. We were en-
frekuopand plead with by the seniors to
refrain from removing the ornaments OF
the German artist on the ground that
Al ra1 ,fpte1in yriNiic2p- WEiel
the other GLASSES did not, but, though we
now confess to an willingness 70
wound their pride, we could not see II III
that way We were. however. content
of the wonderful talent of our great ar
fist This has represented our class as
well as theirs from that time to the pres
ent The repeated disappearance Of their
cherished numbers many times replaced,
accompanied first by applause ana then
by misses. WAS almost entirely the source
of all the class enmity that ever existed
between us and which guaranteed
which we afterward contended.
During the first two terms OF TINS year
We struggled with Caesar. AS We APP
pry ched the close of the fourth book. we
dete, mined to celebrate the end with ap--
propriate ceremonies. Nothing short OF
the cremation of the old Roman, VINO NAG
led us through so mary hardships would
satisfy us. Plans We're accordingly sel
into execution Scouts were sent out and
guards were stationed at every approach
to the pasture lands where ne was apoul
to meet his doom. Then at the appointed
time with all the brutality which an en-
RACED mob exercises on its victim, he was
rushed 10 the selected spot, bound ana
burned to the stake amid the cheers OF
the exuIting class which surrouEnei the
spot. -,
AT the end of the junior year we had
no exhibition. There were not enough
of us to exhibit. We Were relieved from
those heart-quakingS that nave disiufpeu
the ordinary juniOr classes at this scisol'
We returned to our senior year expect
ing TO lie the smallest class that was ever
graduated from Cpburn. but WhaI We We
our surprise on finding that tffGugn th5
arrival of new recruits our numbers haa
been doubled During the year our num-
hers have been constantly increasing.
Seniors have fairly rained down from
every direction. Liyermore Saflgetpllie.
Danforth and other important centers OF
Maine have made valuable contributions
Even the remote state Of lii1nols ms cul 3i
tributed q pearl of great price to me ula-
dem Of 81 worcester aSaaeins .,, nanwn ,a,v
schools have Joined to make our class tue
pride Of CoblIrn and the admiration ana
of lower classmen.
One of the interesting events or our
senior year occurred at the close OF our
work in Nergii We had celebrated the
iecease Of Caesar by cremation Dug notti. "
ing short of hanging Would GO ier 'i''
famous poet
II was \ beautiful evening in February
mat was determined upon for preparihg
him for the pinnacle of the schooi p@tihu- @
ing from which ale was doomed 70 hails
Dn the following night. So, WAh TINS II
iention a few boys had gathered eaiai
IN the evening and he was provlded VII VII
clothing suitable for the oecasloii. 'ui
ing this trne we had seen, amid the ~
around the building. two or three uhuel
7'ee men, but not anticipating any oppgp
.t.nn we proceeded to accompany Mie
1'1rthy gentleman to an apartment pr
,ilH ily decided upon, when, to our lhllh
le irprise. as we approached the laS
~ way leading to his cell. crowds o.
-3 RS, sophomores and freshmen carne
rs ng up the stairs, while the bell IN Tue
Y neaIed out its thrilling notes aiiu
s..fi : stroke shook the floor beneath our
,4ti We stood almost hypuotfzed, M M
.,.-H between madness and fear we
, r. ely knew what to do, or whlch WY
rn They seemed so numerous ~.
ks few. Then madness ruled ana VIII
.t $ worthy of ten times our hfnipEi'
.stiled into t,aem. ard five minutes lat
~. ter the dust had cleared away, het
,a- was TO be seen and Vergil was saie
r his cell and without opposition "as
= ting up the following night.
The first class reception OF our sSnt"i
ear occurred at the home of Princlpai
ma Mrs. Johnson on Dalton street
gues, lay evening May I. very appro-
3rHtta programme for the evening sn-
srtainment was carried out after W,hch
efreshments were served. Another WIS
eIlde red us by the junior class. at elss no