The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-11-23
A FRESHMAN OF U. OF N.

which was to live long in college an
nails and traditions, had died away a
bit, the Annual Interclass Indoor
Track Meet doomed large on the
horizon, and every afternoon a visitor
to Alumni might have heard the thud,
thud of running shoes on the track,
interrupted, occasionally, by the sound
of splintering wood as some one
was trying for the high jump or the
vault, and punctuated, now and again,
by the crash of falling hurdle. You
were quite ofte4> an interested specta-
tor, and devoted some little time,
watch in hand, to Jack, who was out
for the Freshman relay train. He had
never done any running before, but the
| track captain had spotted him." and.
| true to his ideal of class spirit, he went
at it in his usual whole-hearted way.
Personally, however, this form of
athletics did not appeal to you, but in
its place came basketball, and MANY an
evening found you in the gym with the
Freshman squad, playing center with a
whirlwind energy that spoke well for
your prospects for making the class
team. 1t was with unspeakable de-
light, however, that you and Jack
shook hands after the announcements
had been made, and you found YOUR
selves chosen to represent the class
once again.
The evening of the meet came. as
evenings have habit of doing if one
only waits long enough for them,
and you found yourself up in the gym,
in the corner under the balcony assign
ed to the Freshmen, where most of the
class had already gathered, and where,
under the guidance of the special cheer
leader chosen at recent class-meeting,
the Freshman slogan was gaining in
unity and force at every repetition.
The shot put was the first event, and,
as it took place directly in front of
your class section you had ample
opportunity to watch it closely, and to
wonder, in company with good many
other people, why in the world those
great muscular fellows couldn't send it |
farther over the floor than they did |
Afterward, when you experimental |
with the ball yourself, you understood,
and had an increasing respect for the |
record-holding men, ever after. First |
place, counting 5, went to the Juniors,
while the Seniors claimed the 8 of
second, and the third place added
another 1 to the Juniors account.
Next came the trials for the 25 yard
dash, in which number of Freshmen
were entered. One made good" and
carried off third place in the finals,
while a Junior took both first and sec
ond. The class cheer rang out with
renewed vigor, with the name of the
first Freshman place winner to end it
with. Next came the 25 yard low
hurdles, which event also Melted the
Freshmen one; first going to Junior,
and second to Senior.
The track was cleared, next, for the
Freshman Sophomore relay race, and
you managed to climb up the iron
ladder and wedge yourself into the
crowd which had reiterated from their
places at the edge of the track. The
few moments were exciting ones,
though it was a foregone conclusion
that the victory would GO to the expe-
rienced Sophomore runners, as the
Freshman representatives were all
green men. When Jack went by,
bending low. with set teeth and hands
tightly clenched over the corks, you
almost landed out on the track beside
him, and you fancied his pace quickened
after your go it, old man." shouted at
the top of your lungs, but which he
afterward confessed that he did not
hear at all. 1t was, as expected, a
Sophomore victory, but, as the Fresh
man manager grimly expressed it, "We
gave 'em run for their money!
The high jump one of the prettiest
events of the evening, was also one of
the most interesting so far as the class
was concerned, for here one of the
Freshmen took second place, adding
three points to the score of his class,
and cheers which almost drowned the
voice of the announcer greeted the
fact that he came within an inch of
the height made by the ord-holding
Senior, who had taken first place
Third went to a Sophomore. The tug
of-war came next and the excitement
which had risen rapidly during the last
event, had reached fever heat by the
time the long narrow framework with
the beribboned rope run through the
middle was placed in position. The
eight contestants four Sophomores
and four Freshmen-took their places,
facing each other, braced their feet,
got firm hold on the rope, and, as the
pistol rang out, expended all their
strength in an effort to pull the blue
ribbon, tied exactly between the two
sections, toward either side. The
cheering was continuous during the
minute and half, which stretched