The Oregon daily journal., October 04, 1908, Page 44, Image 44

THE ORECOtf SUNDAY JOURNAL, rOnYt AND, SUNDAY Munrunv, OCTOBER 4
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The Gi A S S Ku S H
sweater
JUST how ft began" Elton never knew. lie had
heard whisperi of the class "rush" for sev
eral days, but nobody In his crowd seemed
to know much about it Bel four, who came
from his town, told him that it was the cus
tom for the Sophomore to wait until the
Freshmen were coming from gymnasium
practice, and then meet them on the lower campus. A
cane seemed to be the bone of contention.
Elton had been at-follcge just one week. On Tues
days and Thursdays, at fdur, every man in the Fresh-'
man class was required to report at the gymnasium '
for practice. On the second Tuesday the Sophomory I
met them at the door.
Elton was among the last to leave the main floor of i
the gymnasium. Half-way down the steps he heard a
sudden, sharply punctuated roar outside i
"URabl Rahl
URah! Reel
Varsity 1 Varsity I
Nineteen three !" .
Triton' bearf heflran tn heat wit1, vMt ft..-
. .. , - - w " . ... -vv.-A1I14U i UUSO
were the Sophomores. And then he heard a defiant
, yell weak at first, but gaining strength as lusty voices
swung into the refrain :
"URah! Rahl
URah! Roar!
Varsity I Varsity!. , rr-.
'J ' Nineteen four!"
Those were the Freshmen that was his class. His
eyes brightened. Ho was beginning to understand
, class spirit now!
Down at the door there was a little blockade. Im
patient at the delay, somebody at the top of the stairs
gave a mighty push, and the whole crowd swept down
to the bottom tumbling and sliding and eager, but
! not laughing. From outside came the Sophomore yell,
drowning all else.
At last Elton came to the door. Just when the ten
, sion was almost too great As far as he could see
across the lower campus were swarming groups ' of
young men, all elbowing and closing in on a 'jingle
mass of fellows, that swayed first one way-and then
the other.
Elton ran forward. A student in a red
blocked his way.
"Nineteen four?" he asked threateningly.
Elton threw back his head. "Yes, sir, I am," he
said. It was the first time since he had come to the
university that he had not repeated it meekly. -
The fellow nodded.. "So am I," he said, "and lots
of these fellows around here. But we are getting
pushed and jostled and walked on, just because we are
not organized. You see, the Sophs know one another ;
we don't Here, let' bunch ourselves."
He threw back his chest, and called out in a voice
that rose above the din :
"Nineteen four this way!"
He turned to Elton. "I know you," he said. Saw
you doing stunts in the gym ; and I saw your muscles,
too." He smiled grimly.
Elton looked up. "Oh, I say" he began', then his
curiosity got the better of him. "What does it all
mean?" he asked, pointing his thumb at the struggling
mass of humanity.
"It's a class rush," explained the other. "At least,
that's what they call it It's really a cane rush, a bit
disorganized here !n the West; and the Sophomores
use it as an opportunity to walk over the Freshmen
and throw them into the lake. It's the nearest thing
to hazing that's allowed."
By this time there were thirty or forty students, red
of cheek and short of breath, srathererf
The man in the red sweater held -up his hand.
"Fellows," he said, "this is Elton, 1004. He's going"
to lead us."
There was a moment of silence, then clear and sharp
came the yell:
"URah! Rahl
URah! Roar I
Varsity! Varsity!
Nineteen four!"
More Freshmen came, and still more, till the crowd
was a small army. Then Eton began tf understand.
The longing to do something for his class grew strong
upon him. The fellows hoisted him high upon their
shoulders. He turoad to the crowd.
"AH right fellows," he Waid. "We want that cane:
let's get it 1" .
They were still tugging it it when the crowd of
Freshmen came, in a solid mass, bice a bullet Some
body weakened and let go: somebody rl'i hold
slipped. Everywhere were Freshmen -crawling smder
the upper-classmen, scrambling over them, shoving be
tween them. 4
FT; on. as leader, hit the twtJ first Back of him
were two btmdred rturdr fellows, pent cp with ex
rHrmertt. He wert through and ever a score of as
tonished yemng men. Almost before be rrx'Ared H. he
bad his band 00 tbe precfcrai cane. Then snore Fresh
men eame. and pulled the Sophomores off before they,
understood the nudden energy.; And all at once, pant
ing and with clothes torn, Eltoa found himself in
possession of the cane.
Some instinct told him to rum In an Instant there
were five hundred men after him.-
Elton could run with the best of them, but there was
no hope of getting away with a crowd closing in from
three sides and the lake in front
Back of the gymnasium lay the boat-house. Elton
made straight for this building, circled the walk to the
front, and took a quick glance at the boats along the
piers. All were chained securely except one. In this
a man with a heavy sweater was just leaving the pier.
There was no time for delay, no time for apologies.
Straight for the boat Elton ran; when he was near it
he jumped.
The man was startled there was no question as to
that. For twenty minutes he had been loafing idly
about the pier, alternately arranging the cushions in
his boat and smoking a bulldog pipe, as he waited im
patiently for a friend. And now
"Well," he gasped, taking his pipe from his mouth,
"who are you r"
"I'm Elton 1904, you know. I've got the cane.
though he pulled with the whole strength of hU young
body. , v ,
At best it was an uneven race. Two men In a row
boat could not outrun four men in a racing-shcIL
Elton did not realize this, however, and strained and
tugged at the oars till the perspiration stood out on
hit forehead in great drops,, and trickled down th
aide of bis nose.
He began to pant He was not in training, and the
pace was beginning to telL Ha wondered who tha
other chap was, and whether he had to learn to row
that way, or whether he had always been able to do it
lie felt, an insane desire to stop rowing the boat and
ask the man. ' ,
The boat-house and gymnasium began to grow smaller
and smaller as tbey receded in the distance. Elton no
ticed that the water was bluer the farther out they went
There were waves out here, however, that caught the -boat
occasionally, and tipped it so much ha nad to
shoot hit oar deeper down. ' It irritated him.
Then the recollection of the mad, confused rush on
the campus came back to htm. He thought of the im
provised class yell, and it got to ringing in his earn.
lit kept time with the oars, and pulled and pullecfj,
and whispered and whispered the yell over to himself.
And all the time the roan back of him was saving.
"Steady! Steady, now! You '11 get it; don't dig so
deep Steady! Steady, old man!'
But the race was too unequal. Bit by bit the lighter
faster boat crept upon them. Dton began to wonder
if he would be hazed, and if the torture would be great.
It was worth while, anyhow ; anything was worth
while for a crowd of fellows like his class.
Then the boat grated on the lake bottom, and
stopped abruptly.
Straight across the lake, Picnic Point juts out a
long, narrow peninsula. They had been rowing for
this point, and it was here that the shell overtook
them. Elton wondered what the upper-classmen would
do to him. He was not afraid ; he was only sorry that
his class could not win the coveted cane.
As a matter of fact, the Sophomores did nothing.
After several boat-loads of them had come, they
bundled him into a rowboat, leaving his cpmpanlon
to return at his leisure.
Perhaps a hundred yards from the boat-house
shore, the boat stopped. Back from the water's edge,
twenty deep, was a vast crowd.
"Now, Elton," came the command, "stand up and
give your class yell."
Elton stood on a seat and gave it, not hurrying it,
not mumbling it, but yelling it out with a pride that
was in every note. He was glad to give the yell.
PTTrnrrni mwrrrTTn ir L Jirf' 1 1 f I
By .Agnes Lee
i : : I
The china dog on the table sat,
And the ivory elephant round and faf,
And the crystal cat, and the little square dock
Tick-tock, tlck-tock, tick-tock, tick-tockl,
Down came a fairy so dear and sweet
Golden-gowned to the tips of her feet;
No taller she was than a light, soft quill,
And she asked them to wish, as fairies will.
Loud rose the dog's beseeching wail:
"I have lost my tail, I have lost my tail 1
A Fairy free, if thy power be true.
Give me a new, give me a new!"
Up spake the elephant spirit-sunk t
"I have cracked my trunx, I have cracked my trunk!
O Fairy free, if thy power be true.
Give me a new, give me a newl"
Quoth the crystal cat: "I much rejoice! ?
For I've lost my voice, oh, I've lost my voice !
O Fairy free, if thy power be true.
Give me a m-e-w, give me a m-e-w 1"
The fairy's wand had 1 Wen'dJWll ftttlrfi
Each gift came forth and began its work.
And then she saw and she turned quite red-
She 'd forgotten the little square clock, that saidj
'My corners have never a crick or crack,
My hands are whole, and I have n t a lack.
O Fairy free, dost bid me chooser
Give, on, givo me somtthing to lottf ,
The crystal cat mewed a silent mewj
The dog and the elephant wondered, too.
The fairy nodded a nod sublime,
And flourished her wand, and gave it time.
She gave it time, since when tha graca.
Of satisfaction is on its face.
And all day long, all night, 't will tit, ' .
Losing and losing and losing it
HIS DREAM.
"One night I had a funny dream," said little Tommy,
Drew ;
T dreamed that I was wide awake, and woke and
found 't was true 1"
Cornelia Charming Ward.
E lea n o'r s C o 1 o n el;
By Annah Robinson Watson.
E
STKAIGBT FOR THE BOAT ELTOW RAN; WHEN HE WAS NEAR IT HE JUMPED.
"Oh I" The man moved his big shoulders in silent
laughter. "Then the class rush is on, and you've got
away with the cane."
"Not yet," said Elton, anxiously, as he fitted the
oars into the locks; "they're coming."
They were not one or a dozen, but scores and
scores of them all eager and determined. A whole
row of boats was launched as-quickly as they could be
unlocked from the pier. Groups of stalwart fellows
dropped into the seats, and a hundred muscular arms
dipped the oars into the water.
Meanwhile the man in Elton's boat had shipped his
oars. As he saw the pursuit, however, his face
brightened, and he slipped the blades into the water.
Elton noticed that there was no splash, hardly a ripple.
"You'll help me get awiy?" he asked.
"I'm a Junior, old man; I'll help a Freshman any
day. Now row for all that's in you."
With his back to the man, Elton dipped his oars
and leaned forward. He pulled steadily, with all the
force of his muscles. He knew the man behind him
had caught the strokj exactly. The boat leaped for
ward n a mad rush that cut the water sharply be
fore it. r
Elton could see the pursuers coming. There were
some husky pairs and fours among them, and Dton
wondered if it would be possible to get away. He was
cooler now, and began to wonder if it were all worth
while.
Then, suddenly, back on the shore, a hundred Fresh
men sent up the class yell It caught Elton like a
powerful stimulant. His heart throbbed; his eyes
brightened; his muscles fe't fresh and strong. He was
doing it for the class. It wu worth while.
Tbe man behind him never .spoke. He was simply
rowingwith all the power that was m him. Sometime
when Elton was a little slow in catching the stroke he
could feel the boat shoot forward with a tremendous
jump. Hit admiration for the man grew as he watched
them draw away from the pursuers.
His oar slipped sf last and sent a shower of water
back on the man The fellow only grunted and said,
"Steady! Steady! IWeadv. old man. We've just be
gim to fight now. Thev have launched the four-oar
shell."
FJton hi rterer seen a heH. but his eye caught
sirhf of the boat bx-k st the lndm- It was altm
and frail nd ft. lit rxr.t to bis work with renewed
mtrrr. Pack nf bm voir krrt rfrf, "Steadv!
Srad. '4 S'eadyP It qnieted hin and tnnde
bin do his best He knew the man outclassed him.
five hundred
Elton began
He sat down again. On the shore
voices took up the yell and repeated it.
to wonder what it all meant
"Now give our yell," cried the 1903 leader.
For a moment Elton's head swam. Two hours be
fore he would have done what they demanded. Now,
the thing the men call "class spirit" was strong within
him. He sat perfectly still.
Somebody prodded him from behind. The four
fellows in his boat lifted him to hi feet. He stood
there helpless, looking over the crowd of boats farther
out on the lake. Suddenly his plance fell upon the
man who had rowed with him. The fellow waj lean
ing forward with a queer, half-doubting look on his
face.
Without a word, Elton shook his captors free, raised
one arm, and dived from the boat into the lake.
There was a wild clamor in the Ijoat. Oars were
slipped Into the locks, and Sophomores jumped to the
scats.
Elton had a start, however, and the confusion In the
boat proved too big a handicap. W illing hands helped
him ashore, and he climbed out of the water, dripping
but happy.
"Now, fellows," he said, "the class yell"
And they gave it defiantly, proudly, thunderingly,
as it had never been given be.fore these boys who an
hour earlier had not known the meaning of class
spirit
On the wav home Elton rubbed a little mud off one
cheek, reflectively.
"I wiih," he said, "that I could have kept the cane.
But I suppose it 's customary for the Sophomores to
get it."
"Of coure."'said a hr.i-fy voice behind him.
Elton looked up and fiw the man who had rowed
with him grintttng pleasantly.
"You don't know me," he said, "but I'm Kenton,
captain f the varsity crew. I say, Elton, yon are a
stayer al! rieh and I want you to do something in
athletics while vou are here. The old college needs
men like you. Don't forget." And he turned down a
side street.
"I h:nk." aid Fltn to a young fellow beide him.
who had evidently been in tbe lake also, "that I'm
going to like thi nrtirrrsity. And hewt rww. have
n"t we the bet el that ever got tojrether? Let 's
gire the yell arain "
And trier gave if. not only once, but tbey gave it
twice a doren time. One and all, they bad at lat
caught the class pirit.
coprmoMT mr tmk cc situ at company
LEANOR FAIRFAX was a little girl who
lived in the Shenandoah Valley, one 01 uic
most beautiful parts of Virginia.
Her home was the prettiest rose-covered
cottage in a small village, and here her
vonnor mother lived, with only Mammy Liza,
the old colored nurse, to help her take care
of the household. .
Eleanor's father had gone off to the war with the
Southern soldiers, and Mammy 'Liza's husband, Uncle
Reuben, had gqne, too, "to take care of young
marstuh," he said.
As yet, no Northern soldiers had been seen In the
town, and Eleanor and her little friends often paused
in their games to wonder what these soldiers were like,
and whether they would ever really come.
Eleanor was the eldest of three children, and often
her mother would take her in her arms and talk long
and seriously.
"You must help mother," she would say tenderly
"help mother to lead the little ones right. Baby sister
and little Edward wiil both watch you; they will do
what you do, and speak as you speak. Father has
gone, and mother has no one but Eleanor to help her."
"Father is a Sesech, is n't he ?" said Eleanor, slowly,
one day, when they were talking.
"Yes, father is a Sesech," answered the mother,
smiling.
"And you are a Sesech?" continued the little ques
tioner. "Yes, of course; I am whatever father Is."
"Then I am a Sesech, "too a great big Sesech," ex
claimed the little girl, sturdily. "I'd like to be a
soldier, too, like father.
"Well, a soldier must be loyal to his colors. That
means he must be true and always keep his word.
Even if the enemy should come and want to shoot
him for it, that should make no difference to a really
brave man, and he must always tell the truth, no mat
ter what it costs."
Eleanor looked very solemn as her mother said this,
and exclaimed: "I 'm not a coward, mother. If the
Yankees came, I would n't he afraid one bit. I 'd
tell them right out I was a Sesech, and I 'd try to
get them to let you and little sister and Edward go
free, and just take me."
Tears came to the mother's eye, though she laughed
as she caught the small soldier to her breast. "Oh,
there 's no danger of that, darling," she said. "If the
Yankees came they would n't want such a little rebel
as you." '
It was only the next week that the Yankees came,
sure enough, and pitched their tents in the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley, just on the edtre of the little town.
This caused great excitement, for no one knew why
the soldiers had come, whether there was to be a
battle, or what was to happen. Even the children
shared in the general feeling of anxiety and unrest.
They had been in the habrt of visiting each other
freely, and of playing upon the beautiful green spaces
between the houses ; but now they were kept closely
within doors, lest as the" thought to themelves. they
should be captured by the Yankees and carried off to
prison.
But several days ped bv. nothing terrible hap
pened, the soldiers bad d-we no harm to any one, and
the citizens began to feel more comfortable, and the
children to return to their tnual occupations and
pleasures. Day by day. in their games noon the mea
dow, they came nearer an I rearer to the Federal camp.
They watched eagerly all the movement ef the
oldier. and one dav a half-dorm of ihe tniwt darirg
among- them decided to go nearer stiH. "iut to ee
whit the "bluecoat" look like.' thry said to one m
tbr. Tbe yemaj?t of the tin croon was FV-anor She
looked very vrio'ns. if ber little heart m bur
dened wHS ma'tera r.f great Importance. SVe mar
have been thiHnr that tbe tf f trial baf rme
that if she ! tv terrible YarVer be n-:cvt teT
them ber faVrr per to fgrt tbenj. and tvt if
tber rar-e1 mT. tber wrpt taV hrr. and M
nothing but her "dear mother, baby sister, and ttile
Edward. -- . .
Anyway, she was one of the band of children, and I
they approached with quick-beating hearts the Federal j
camp, which was only 3 few hundred yards distant.
As they neared the place they saw a group of soldiers
out in front of the tents, and one o the number, the
colonel, called out cheerily: "Come on, Jittle people;
I'm glad to see you."
At this the children looked much startled. Two of
the number took fright and beat a most inglorious
retreat. Only four obeyed his summons. ; These came
somewhat reluctantly, and stood before' him, 6ilent,
and with anxious eyes lifted to his face ' ,'
The colonel began to talk to them, and at last snid
he wanted to know whether they were- rebels . r
Yankees whether they were on his side or1 were for
Jeff Davis. r
ine cmwren were speechless, and turned to one
another with wondering faces. But he continued :
"Now, I'll tell you what 1 11 do : I'll make a very nice
present to the little girl who gives me the best answer
to that question." . .
With a common impulse, the children drew back and
began with great excitement to talk to one another.
"What'a he going to do with us? asked one. -"Maybe
shoot us." answered a little cirL shlverlnir.
"unless we say we're for the Yankees." I
"But that would be a story!" exclaimed EleanorJ
hotly. "We're not for the Yankees, and you know itP
"I'd rather be for the Yankees than be shot" taii)
little Eunice Clarke, looking frightened, j
At this moment the colonel called thenar "Come on 1 1
I'm ready for your answers." .'
A group of soldiers had gathered about him, at- i
traded by the unusual scene, and the children looked I
fearfully at the "bluecoats." . ,
Eunice happened to be in front of the group. '
'Well, my little girl" asked the colonel, "what are'
your sentiments? Whom are you for?" , !
"I I'm for the Yankee:, sir!" she said in an almost!
inaudible tone.
The colonel smiled and asked the next in line. ' t
If you won't shoot me. I'll be a Yankee for for aj
little while," she answered, twisting the corner of her '
apron. ... , f '
"And you?" was asked of the next; but the child j
covered her face with her hands and said nothing.
Only Eleanor was left. She took a step toward the I
00 1 j H'r 8unhor"1,t had fallen back, and her '
tangled brown curls were blown by the summer breere.
And you. my little lady, whom are you for? The
lankees?" he asked.
Eleanor lifted her brown eyes with a flash to his
face, while her cheeks glowed, and ht-r lips, though
they quivered a moment, parted, as she cried, stamping
her little foot: . t
"No, no! I'm a Seech. Ill lire a Secesh, and 111
die a Secesh. That ? what I am. Now, if you wart
to, take me and shoot me!"
The men gave a loud cheer. "Hurrah for the little
Seceh! Hurrah for the brave little Secesh T thev
cried. 4 ,
"Hurrah for the little- heromeP exclaimed "the
rolrmd. "That 's what she is a little trump of a girl
who ' not afraid to tell the truth. 5he 'a a dear, loyal
little rebel r . .
Then e caught her in bis arms, lifted her to
shoulder, and. followed by the other children.
were shamefaced and abashed, he carried ber info t: -town,
then to a bop. where, snre enough, he Select
for rer a beantiful gift. " .
"Jnt MtT said Dink Clarke, with wi.fe-or-n
ere, "That what she rot for te!Lng the tn -Jnt
-nkf I don't believe 171 be afraid next time."
After this tbe colonel fncV Eleanor to her own rt".
and left ber. sayinc tendertv. at be bell ber ban-i -raning:
"I hope, my dear little re VI. r-a
be as true as yon bare been to-day." Then lei
her and wer.t back tl ramp.
TTii ore cr4onH ha-i ffi a ene err re J f
town, ard for wear tSe rKMren U" - i ,'
mfil he Waire their fr-.-i:e f-.-a 1 . , ,
always "Eleanor's ColwL" '