The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-01-25
4 FRESHMAN AT U. OF M.
XXVIII.

YOUR air castle of successful base ball
season 60 crashing to the ground in
consequence of the swapping of a bone
1t really was quite a blow to your
hopes, and for some little time after
the accident you had, in college phrase
ology. mo ambish." People were very
kind about enquiring and sympathizlng,
only YOU wished they wouldn't. 1t was
cold comfort to be able to reassure IN
quirers that your finger was getting
along nicely. thank" when the team
was off on that coveted Massachusetts
trip and you couldn't even voice your
dissatisfaction at things IN general by
shving something handy at Jack when
he came in from practice.
By the time the team was back, with
| its allowance of victories to be enron
| icled in the seasons annals, you mad
reasoned Yourself into a more sense
able frame of mind and were GLAD 10
listen once more to the discussions OF
the respective merits and demerlts,
faults and strong points, of the men
/ chosen for the team. Afternoon prac-
| tice saw you, whenever it was possible,
among the spectators out on the leld,
and YOU were actually looking forward
to Junior Week and the games to be
PLAYED then on the home field.
The fast approaching spring finals
were weighing on your mind bit, TOO,
and a good many hours were put IN at
YOUR desk with pile of text books IN
front of YOU. 1t was hard, though, to
apply Yourself strictly to their pages at
that special time of year, when every
thing was looking its loyeliest and the
whole of out of doors seemed voicing
an appeal to everyone to come out
and play" The campus was beginning
to put on its ''best clothes" in seeming
preparation for the advent of the many
visitors from near and far, who were
soon to arrive. The saltwater, whose
banks were taking on most becoming
green tint, was more enhancing than
ever. and during the late afternoons
and on Saturdays and Sundays, the
fraternity canoes seldom reposed long
in their resting places on the shore.
Your experience with that particular
species of the boat family had never
been very extensive, though you were
bv no means "a land lubber' and could
paddle fairly well. After the unfor-
tunate afternoon when the meeting
between your hand and the baseball
had not been happy one, you were at
a loss for some way to use up your sur
plus energy and get your required exer-
else. until canoeing presented itself as
a solution of the problem. GU took
up the sport with the enthusiasm which
was characteristic, and before the term
ended YOU were known as one OF the
best canoeists on the limited available
stretch of water between saltwater ana
Orono. Your trips were not restricted,
however, by these bounds, for several
Saturdays found you starting from Old
Town for an all day jaunt. from which
YOU returned, bit tired, much
tanned and very happy,
The first of these trips was made with
a Senior. to whom it was an Old story.
but whose enthusiasm over the sport
was strong enough to make repetl-
ton of past experiences delight IN
stead of bore. 1t was quite early
when YOU started from the house, clad
in your most disreputable togs and
carefully bearing the receptacle in
which the lunch. hastily prepared by
the cook with your assistance, was
slowed. 1t was no dainty package
either, for your experience on some
what similar occasions had taught you
what to expect in the way of appetltes.
An up car soon landed you in Old Town,
where the Senior led you down past the
Indian Agency to the slip of the Indian
Island Ferry, and canoe fully equipped
with paddles, ETC., was soon forth
coming from the manufactury near by.
The day was an ideal one for trip
cool, bit cloudy, and with just breeze
enough to be refreshing without max
ing a serious impression on the sur
face of the river. Although the spring
eresbets were things of the quite distant
} past the river was by no means low,
,, and you were kept busy at times max
ing the required Roadway. One short
carry was necessary and after that yon
went ahead at good rate of speed be-
tween banks as different from what
you had imagined they would be as pos
sible. No primitiue forests here. On
one side of the river the road wound,
ribbon-like, in and out around the
curves not far from the bank. Green
meadows stretched down to the waters
! edge, and elm trees raised their stately
heads along the roads and in the midst
,, of the fields Tugs, scows and bateaux
swarming with Indian-looking lumber
men were an interesting feature of the
trip. 1t was all so new to you that you
, were almost childishly interested and
nearly forgot about dinner until your
guide, philosopher and friend sug-
, gested the ACCESSIBILITY of making a