The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-09-07
A FRESHMAN AT u. OF M.
VIII.

SOmeWay that there was to be class
meeting iii Fernald, and you followed
along with the rest of the fellows as
they moved together toward the swing
ing doors between the lines of grining
Sophomores and upper class men.
Things Lad been known to occur after
the first chapel, and the master spirits
had made it known, in some occult
fashion, that it would be healthy for
the incoming class to keep "bunl he'd
on its way out. You kept along with the
crowd and before loEg found you rself
in good sized room, whose chairs were
placed on the gradually elevated plat
forms that filled the tloorspace, and
which faced the long table, evid entity
equipped for chemical experiments.
The place had the unmistakable odor
of the laboratory that even the vacation
had not dispelled, and you knew that
it must be the chemistry lecture and
recitation room. Somehow the meet
ing was called to order, and there we're
nominations made for temporary lresl-
dent and secretary. Half dozen of
the fellows did all the work, and two
temporary officers were elected-good-
looking fellows, both of them, who had
evidently made themselves popular and
well-knoNn early in the game. The
president protein took the chair, which
happened to he a convenient stoOl be-
hind the bench, and said a few words
about the necessity of hanging to-
gether" lie briefly outlined good
conservative policy which was evident
" approved by the majority OF the
class. \ few of the fellows, however,
scowled their dissatisfaction and one
big. burly boy stumbled to his feet and
made little speech. He said that he
didn't see why Freshmen were not as
good as anybody, and there was no rea-
son in their having to make themselves
ridiculous. He said that numbers were
about even and that they had as good
choice for clicking as the others, but
that that did not matter greatly: he,
for one, was not going to stand any
nonsense from anyone His little ora
ton brought a smile to many of the
faces. including yours. You thought,
with little inward disgust that this
was lust the attitude you had taken,
but, thanks to Jacks common sense
and experience, you had learned your
lesson before you made fool of your
self. The memory of the night before
still ranked. but it was not so bad as
getting up before your class. the best
class that ever was, you were con-
WINGED. and saying things that made
your own classmates smile the smile of
superior wisdom and sophistication.
There was short pause, and then a
a fellow got up whose brother was still
IN college and who had seen more or
less of the University life, and he made
it all plain. He explained that certain
things were college traditions, and
that they themselves, would be as
Jealous about preserving such customs
in years to come, as were the most
rabid of ~ophomores; that the hazing
was only severe when ole tried to
buck up OF was fresh; and that if
one minded his business and kept
quiet" they would get sick of it, and
leave him alone. 1t was a good, clear,
sensible little speech, and was recognize
ed as such by most of the fellows, who
clapped violently, while the orator
TUNED beautiful crimson and looked
extremely silly. Some more remarks
were made about what might be eX-
pected that night and class-meeting
was over
You joined Jack as the class poured
out into the narrow hallway and down
the crooked stairs. After you got out
side you remembered all at once that
the Junior had asked you both to 60
over to his fraternity house to dinner,
and you had accepted without
thought that it would be bit awkward
to march up to the house and announce
that you had come to dinner. You
talked it over as you progressed down
the SIN ub- boldered path, and decided
that the best way would be to forget it
and 90 down town for dinner as usual.
But tie Junior had not forgotten it,
and came out of the library just in
time to join you. Somehow his en-
frances and exits were always oppor-
tune. You wished, when you had time
to think about it, that you were not 60
ing there to meet all those strange fell
lows, but your host kept up such a
'jolly" about the class meeting that it
required your combined wits to answer
him, and before YOU know it you were
entering the big hall and going up stairs
to COW room. where there were two
or three fellows on the big couch. You
were introduced to them, but were
more interested in your observations
than Iu their conversation. The room
was typical one and the fact that it
was a study for three was indicated by
the three desks with their office chairs,
which took up most of the space. There