The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-10-19
A FRESHMAN AT u. OF N.


|
so much of task as you had antici-
pated, and, luckily for your pocket
books, you had not engaged your down
town rooms for the entire year. Ini-
tiation-well, initiation was a bit differ
ent from what you had expected, and
it certainly was relief to have it over
and to feel that you and Jack, together
with two other Freshmen were really
full-1edged frat members.
The maine Night" of your first fall
was one OF the times which you would
never forget, and it impressed you with
deeper realization than ever before
what Maine spirit" really was. The
chapel was filled with people: students,
'alums." and friends, and, as you
marched in with the football squad
winch filled the front seats you noticed
that bows of the maine blue' were
conspicuous on the gowns of the ladies
IN the audience. Everyone cheered
Wildly on the entrance of the squad,
and you were so proud to be there that
you forgot everything else and register
ed an inward vow that next Maine
Night would find you at least a var
sity sub. You followed the man ahead
OF you, and finally found Yourself iii
one OF the chapel chairs. But you didn' t
stay put very long, for, in common
with everyone else, you were on your
feet every other minute, putting all
you had in you into the cheers that al
most shook the building. Each speaker
was applauded and cheered to the echo,
and so were many of their remarks, the
college, and everything else that the
cheer leader happened to think of. A
much-loved member of the faculty was
the chairman of the evening, and you
listened to speeches from the president
and some popular professors; from
some alums., whose evident joy at being
present it was a joy to Witness from
some bright undergraduates, and from
the coach, who couldn't be heard at all
for almost five minutes. They said
many things-impressing upon the
minds of the student body the need of
organized cheering, cheering with a
heart in it, cheering that meant things.
They reminded the men of what has
always been part of Names creed,
that honorable defeat, when every man
had done his best, is no disgrace.
They said that Names chances on the
morrow were good-even more than
good; that victory was expected, though
it would mean that every man must
play the game hard every minute. They
said, oh, they said everything that any
one could be expected to say on such an
occasion, and more, and the band play
ed its best, and the old songs and some
new ones went off with enthusiasm,
and everyone cheered himself hoarse
and was immensely proud of it after
ward Then the person who was cheer
ed and applauded, and cheered some
more, was the one who said, with feel
ing that made him forget grammar
and pronunciation, 1--WE must win, fell
| lers, we've got to - and we're going
| to-"
Somebody had announced from the
| platform that there would be an infor-
NAL dance in the gymnasium after the
exercises, and when they We're over
and the last cheer had been cheered as
the squad marched out, everybody ex-
cept the varsity men and subs who had
to keep training hours and rules drift
ed into the gym, singing one of the
familiar songs that was to ring out from
grandstand and bleachers on the NOR
row. In the gym, confusion reigned,
and, as there were 10 dance orders,
girls recklessly engaged twice as many
dances as there could possibly be, and
fellows who met dozen or two girls
for the first time, and asked them all
for dance, got hopelessly bewildered
as to the names written down on the
tiny bits of paper, which they carefully
cherished. But nobody minded, though
it was bit provoking to see ones part
ner calmly going on with someone else,
or to be called by someone else's name
all through the very best waltz Of the
evening. But this was part OF the
game, and no one really cared. You
danced once or twice, but the floor was
we'll crowded and you decided that it
was just as much fun to look on, es-
pecially after you had run into your
English instructor three times during
one dance and your last apology had
been rather coolly received. The re-
mainder of the evening disappeared in
some miraculous manner, and Def ore
the last car the gym was again deserted
and everybody was homeward bound.
1t was with relief that you thought, as
you left the swinging doors of Alumni
behind, that the long walk downtown
was thing of the past, and you turned
into the grounds of your house with
thanksgiving in your heart.
| The next morning was clear, cool and
crisp,-ideal football weather. You
longed to get out of doors fora tramp,
but it was your turn to shoe out" and
no such neglect of duty would be al
lowed in Freshman. You were up on
the field in good time, however, III the