The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-11
University Program Is An
Eventful One-Community
Awaiting To Greet Gather
ing.

ANuSA diS tclcTdUS TNCuIioh LII
mingham are dying away. there may
be heard the sound Of q gat sering
OF much younger generation OF
veterans" clad also In the historic
gray of the old Confederacy, as they
march through the Old Dominion
State toward the University OF Vir-
gfnia, from whose classic walls there
went forth fifty-five years ago two
bands of historic youths to fight and
die for the South. Led by the class
of 1918, dressed in rejuvenated Con-
federate uniforms. Virginia's alumni
in all the cities of the South and
many in the North and West have
modified for a forced march on
Charlottesville to atteld the closing
exercises of the universities ninety
seventh session. Old and young, far
and near, the graduates of old Vir-
ginia are rallying to the standards
OF Orange and Blue, for no matter
how long an alumnus has been away
or how far he may stray from the
university, he always retains an af-
fectionate regard for his alma mater,
which makes him come to her cali.
At finals the attraction is much
greater than usual. for he not only
hears the voice of his foster mother.
but the call of friends of his student
days.
The second week in June finds the
university community awaiting with
Interested expectancy this great alum
nj gathering. For the past three
months campaign. rivalling In
intensity the more serious one in Eu-
rope. has been waged by the officers
and committees of the reunion ella sses.
OF which the oldest is 1851 and the
youngest 1919 The classes which
left at intervals of Ave years between
1s51 and 1911 are also to come back.
and each is strenuousiy working to
walk off in triumph with the beauti-
ful Reunion Trophy Cup. which was
donated in 1918 by the ColonnaGe
Club of the university, as "a psrpet-
ual trophy of college loyalty and class
spirit" The class which has the larg-
est percentage OF attendance at the
dnals exercises is awarded the cup,
which is the highest honor a reunion
class can win. AT the finals of 1913
The men of 1903 were the +ytctors: in
1914 the class of 1912 held first place.
and last June the French students
OF 1910 walked away with tho trophy.
Competing for Trophy.
The City Alumni Associations in
and out of Virginia are also compet-
Ing fer handsome cap. which he's
to be won three times in succession
In order 10 he permanently held, The
number in attendance and the total
number Of miles Travelled are the de-
teFtnlninE factors in this contest
Richmond won last year by a close
margin and is maktag every effort
20 win a second leg this year. Re-
ports which have come To the uni
vcrsity In the last few weeks from
ynrtoas Virginia cities and also from
Washington. Baltimore and New York
ia 1ieate that the contest this year Will
be an exceedingly close one.
Time WAS when the nnal exercises
Mt tho university were attended ny
great nam hers OF alumni. The pro-
gram teemed with dances and debates.
with fun and trolic for graduate and
aIumnus alike Sometimes whole
week was spent in a round of pleas
Iire which wound up with the famous
firai bail, which commenced at mid
night, when the student literally
danced all night till broad daylight"
Then Easter commenced to absorb
some OF the events. and In a few
years the most attractive dances and
ball games had become n regular fea-
ture OF the post-Lenten period. The
"Finai Girls became Easter
Queens" and the alumni. tenderly af-
fected by their beauty transferred their
affections from summer 10 early
spring, and finals became a barren
feast For ten or fifteen years only
handful of alumni returned 10 help
usher the fedgling doctors and law
yers and prospective business men into
The serious duties OF life.
In spite OF a never-dying interest
In their alma mater, the alumni of
the University of Virginia for nearly
n century never enjoyed the annual
reunions which have been the feature
OF the commencement eXc-cises OF
other institutions. The ca were
tho absence of clearly de....ed class
system, the variety of courses taken
by the students. and the large number
of departments which made up the
academic life OF the institution. These
initiated strongly against effective
class organization, and prevented the
alumni from returning in groups at
regular intervals
The new era began In June, 1913,
when the pioneer class OF 1908.
clad as jolly sailor lads. and led by
their admiral" Tom Williamson, Of
Norfolk. came back nearly a hundred
strong and made finals the most pop
hundred attended the 1919 finals and
last June fully four hundred enjoyed
every minute of their stay. While
graduation week at Virginia has al
ways been impressive and interesting.
the alumni reunions have added just
the proper touch of crowd and color.
The mere presence OF half a thousand
enthusiastic sons of the old university
II in itself an attraction. And when
these graduates, old and young, deck
themselves out in rare and festive
raiment 1t makes a picture no artist,
not even a post-impressionist, could
paint.
Assumes Military Character.
The reunion campaign this winter,
in keeping with war times. has as
umed quite a military character.
Early In the spring militant Dispatch
es made their appearance as the Off
cial campaign documents Of the re-
union classes. All the official orders
and maneuvers Of the allied alumni
armies have found place in these bull
letiris. Division generals" and able
'lieutenants' in all sections Of the
country have been enlisting reunion
recruits and calling for Virginia VOL
unteers. until the standing army has
reached prodigious proportions. When
the ANAL call to arms Is sounded 1t
II estimated that at least 200 alumni
Of the classes of 1911, 1919 and 1906
viii take Charlottesville by storm for
the first move OF the finals engage
ment. The Colonnade Club on West