Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-10-25

that they won the day and had the
JOY. They may rejoice, as the present
sophomore class did when they were
freshmen and won from the present
juniors.
Il hardly need TO call attention TO
afternoon" said DR.. Cessna in chapel
recently. And he was correct, they all
knew. After the crowd had gathered
at the ground Jack Watson took both
classes to one side and gave them
brief talk. 'SophOmores and fresh
men," he began. you are gathered
here TO engage in clean. manly sport
to decide which class is the stronger.
This contest taking place this after
noon is to he in lieu of all class fights
or hazing incidents. and | am In
structed to inform you that after this
matter has been decided any of you
who are caught haZing or engaging in
class scrap will be expelled from
school. You come to school for another
purpose, and, while we are glad TO
furnish you with q clean. manly sport,
we want II understood that the win
ners and the losers must go away
from here with the intention of keep
ing the peace of we'll behaved stu
dents" Jacks talk was brief, but to
the point. and the crowds repaired TO
their respective sides with the familiar
yell. What's the matter with JackT
When the first gun was fred by
Referee Watson the rope tightened at
! once, and a large knot in the middle of
the pond told that neither side was
gaining for several minutes. Finally
the rope gradually began to go to the
Eophomores. and at the end of twelve
minutes the freshmen, who were game
to the finish. mad been drawn into the
water aud given their ducking. The
bophomores were jubilant and repeated
the act on the second squad Of freshies
in twenty one minutes. The third time
up the people We're beginning to re-
mark that II the SophOmOreS won
again it would finish the contest. But
not 50. The gun was fired, and the
rope drew taut, but it remained in its
position otherwise. One minute, two
minutes and finally five minutes had
gone, and neither side had an advan-
tage. Suddenly the sophomores gave
way trifle, only few inches, but suf.
ficient to let the freshmen know they
had really started the pull their way.
A deafening yell went up from their
side of the pond. and even the thou
sands Of supposedly disinterested per-
sons on the ground yelled for the
| freshmen like the members of the
| class.
| The effect was magical. Another
| yell. and at the end of seven minutes
| half the sophomore squad was dragged
| into the water for their turn mt the
ducking. Much time was used in prep
aration, and it was after o'clock be-
| fore the fourth squad was ready for
their bout Eleven minutes and the
| game stood even; the freshmen had
| won again. Both times they had won
in less than the number of minutes re-
quired by the sophOmores in their best
pull.
Freshmen stock went up rapidly
Everybody yelled for the 1911 men
The rope was at last ready, and the
pull began. Steadily the rope went. The
sophomores stood their ground well,
but they were not equal to the task,
The freshmen were too strong. A few
minutes of hard pulling told the tale
and the freshmen once more began
reeling the rope their way. Ten min
utes and the day was won for the
"contemptible preps." Then they went
wild with their joy. Beaten the first
two times only to brace up and win
the last three of the day, they pro-
ceeded to have one of the largest cele-
brations in the history of the school.
The sOphOmores took their defeat
gracefully, and the plan was declared
a success The faculty are as happy
as the freshmen at the college. Any
! thing that will take away the dreaded
hazing germ and implant In the annals
of the institution clean sport in its
stead is heartily welcomed by them,
| anu the tug or war across tne ponu ap-
pears to be the solution. Men worked
hard. Many pulled themselves call
in." But there were no broken bones
and dislocated joints, no mashed heads
and pounded hands and arms to keep
the college physician busy until mid
night. 1t was good and strenuous
sport, and time Is all that can be need
ed to recover from the effects.
Much credit Is due Professors Bow
man, Coover and the two Jacks, Prall
and Watson, for this plan and the way
it was carried out. The three former
as committee Of arrangements form
ed the plan and rules and conduct
ed the contest, while Jack Watson
made the fairest referee that ever
stood Judge Of any contest. Ames will