The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-11-10
By Burton L. French.
(ClaSS of 1901.)

I am sure 1 remember correctly
with regard to the age of the stu
dents in the earlier years of the uni
verSlty. The girls were not very
much older, if any, than the average
now, though not so far advanced in
scholarship, but the age of the boys
and men was considerably obove the
average of today, Notwithstanding
the fact that they were doing that
which would be equivalent to high
school work for the most part, while
the students of today are doing col
lege work. 1 recall at least three of
the students with full boards ond i
recall many of them who were be-
tween thirty and forty years of age.
Student Organizations
The early days of the university
are in contrast with the present from
the standpoint of student enterprises
and organizations. This period ante
dates the period of fraternity and
sorority life at the university, the
period of dormitories and definite
group association outside the class
room. Institutions most nearly akin
to the institutions in the commune
ties from which the students came
were naturally the ones thought of.
| These institutions were literary and
| debating societies. In this field the
Amphictyon Literary society was the
pioneer This organization, made
up at first of some ten or twelve of
the most earnest young men and
women, was approved by the faculty
J in November 1892, and shortly there
| after was granted charter by the
Board Of Regents. The Clionian So
ciety was organized next, but had a
short life. Then came the Webster
ian, strong, virile, aggressive One
or two music groups within the early
years sprang into existence that were
more exclusive, and of which the stu
| dent body generally knew little ex-
cepting through programs given from
| time to time. The literary and de-
batting societies, until they were sue
ceeded by fraternities and sororities
some ten years later, were live CEN
tiers of student activities in oratory,
defamation, histrionics and debate.
They held regular weekly programs,
with the debate feature strongly en-
phasized, and on occasions the So
cieties would compete with each
other in joint meetings. From these
groups were drawn the students, as
rule, who represented the univer-
sity in intercollegiate oratorical and |
debate contests. Probably, too, it is |
worthy of mention that in the spring |
ercises in contemplation in honor of |
the graduation Of class, the Amphi
ctyon Literary society was charged |
by the faculty with the responsibility
of giving an entertainment to mark {
the close of the school year. This
entertainment was held in what was
then the assembly hall of the uni
versity on the third floor of the west
wing, and consisted chiefly of ora
tions, readings, and music, while the
stage was beautifully decorated with
flowers, the dominant kind being the
wild rose which grew profusely on
the hills back of the university, and
which was gathered in large num-
bers by an energetic committee APP
pointed by the Amphictyon society
for that purpose.
It should be recalled that the Uni
versity Argonaut was born during
this early period, and as monthly
magazine it's first number was is
sued in the autumn of 1898.
Likewise, it should be remembered
that the pioneer college fraternity
was Kappa Phi Alpha. Organized as
local in January, 1900, it became
19OS) Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta
Theta. Kappa Sigma was the first
national fraternity to enter the Idaho
campus, the local group recognized
coming into being within the pioneer
period though subsequently to the
birth of it's early rival.
Athletics.
It was very fortunate that there
we're at the University from It's be-
ginning those who believed in system
attic physical development, that play
s an essential as study. This general
notion was not accepted by all faculty
members at that time as 1t is today.
the leaven was working.
We took part in football, baseball, and
n the general run of athletic sports. +
believe it was more general then
han now among colleges for some
wo hundred pound mine worker or
,Oilermaker to take a three months
course in astronomy, botany, or music
Turing the fall of the year and cover
himself with glory on the football
ield, and, as I recall it, Idaho athle-
les profited during the early days by
he scholarships awarded by athle-
ic enthusiasts to such deserving stu
ents I met one Of those dear boys
he other day who told me he
majored" in football.
Referring to the questionable status
f athletics, I recall the fact that in
he spring of 1893 a petition signed
" number of the students was pre-
ented to the faculty asking that body
n turn to petition the Board of Re
ents to allocate the sum of $4,000 for
ssistance in equipping the football
cam This petition never reached the
oard of Regents because it was
lrned down by the faculty. The
aculty did, however, formally recog-
lie the proposed University of Idaho
,otball organization.
to
leet the football team of the Athletic
ssociation of Spokane. A large num-
er of Moscow people and students at
ended the game, and, while I do not
the outcome. one of the Spoil
ane papers carried the headline,