The Republican journal., 1905-12-14
A FRESHMAN AT U. OF N.
XXII,

| gor-ward, closely resembled the same
vehicles of transportation of a date
just previous-when the Sophomores
got WISE to the fact of the Freshman
banquet-except that now they were, if
anything, packed closer. Every avail
able bit of space in every car was occu-
pied, while many, with the wisdom
given by experience, sought the rail
road station and augmented the passen-
ger list on the ''scoot" The way of
| transportation, however, was immater-
ial and the main object was to get
there amy old way Early in the
afternoon the majority of the student
body had arrived in Bangor and, true to
tradition, were celebrating Fast Day
after their own ideas. it was true, but
still celebrating. A procession, headed
| by the band, as in the morning, was
| formed, and wide-eyed citizens gaZed
in establishment at the procession until
some bystander explained the situation
with, ITS only them college fellers,"
or 1T is the [. of NJ. boys" and faces
| assumed their natural expression with
a little additional smile. OF course, if
it was the college boys, that was all
right, You and Jack had elapsed each
other in fervid embrace all the way
down from the house in what proved
| to be successful effort to retain your
footing on the rear platform of an elec-
tric. Being Freshmen. of course your
places were well along toward the end
of the line, and there you found your
selves
OF course the Opera House was your
goal, and up Main street you marched
until your destination, proclaimed by
the striking and brilliant posters ad-
vertising the stock company playing
there, appeared before the eyes of the
leaders. OF course it was far too early
to think or going in and SO the marshal
of the day gave the order of parade
rest" and the cheer leader took posses
sion and leadership for while. The
day, the college. the celebration,
the theatre, and everything else that
anybody thought of and suggested, was
cheered as only college men can cheer.
The hour set for the beginning of the
performance was drawing near, the
audience was arriving from all points
of the compass. and the usual holiday
crowd cast amazed glances at what was
apparently mass meeting in front of
the building. When it was time for
adjourning to the interior of the house,
confusion reigned. You and Jack
separated at the door. he going up into
the balcony, while you had a seat on
the floor. quite we'll back, but i'll the
center of the house. where good view
| of both stage and audience could be
easily obtained. The leading spirits of
the occasion had somehow managed to
get seated near the front rows, and
from that direction the cheering began,
which proceeded the orchestral selec-
ton.
Y GU did not know your neighbors
very well. but that was not material,
for there is little need of ceremony be-
distinctions were sunk beneath the
prevailing air of jolltication. The COM
pany was not SO bad but that it could
have been very, very much worse, and
the play happened to be Just the right
thing. largely comedy. Between the
acts illustrated songs OF the "Bluebell,'
Mammals Boy and Bunker HILL
variety, more than delighted the crowd,
who devoted their very best efforts to
the work when the soloist graciously
invited everybody to join in the chorus.
Rapturous applause from orchestra
circle TO gallery expressed the appre-
citation felt by the college element, and
the rest of the audience settled back in
their chairs, relieved of the duty of
applauding, and congratulated them
selves on getting two performances for
one admission. The actors seemed to
appreciate IL dill, toO, anu UOWeu anu
smiled their qualification in a way
which was charming to see. When the
curtain had rung down on the final,
dramatic tableau, and everybody was to
olive happily ever after a last rousing
cheer was given, and people turned
their attention toward the home-going.
As is usual, the half-hourly car for
Orono had just departed, and those who
were going back by electrcs saw half
hour wait in store for them. The ice
cream parlors you had passed on the
way do wn had given you suggestion
and so. hunting up Jack and two other
Freshman friends from the crowd in
front of the car station, you prepared
to spend fifteen minutes lin waiting
that was anything but patient. and five
more of misery in trying to swallow
your cream down wholesale.
After they had been disposed of one
of the party had brilliant idea, and a
haSty sprint down Main street and up
State resulted in your catching the
Bangor bound car long before it reach
ed the SQUARE, Concentrating yOur