USA > Washington > Whitman County > Pullman > Chinook, 1899 > Part 4
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things to eat, etc., etc., etc. The President is very thoughtful about little matters of this kind. We took his advice and were off for Palouse City. We had marched only about two miles when the commandant ordered a halt. The boys fell out and filled their corn cobs with Durham from a long sack the lieutenant had hanging from his belt. After a puff or two the march was resumed. Thus with an occasional stop, to rest a bit, we marched to Four-mile creek. cap- tured a school playground and camped for lunch. We ate our lunch in less time than it takes to tell it and went on our way a little footsore. We bent a record on that march; the commandant thought we broke it, but we didn't, although we made good time. We camped in the Palouse City park amid the fructifying remains of a barbecue that had preceded us. The lieutenant, meditating over what President Bryan had said to us, became a little dubious about our conduct and as a safeguard published an order something like this:
1. The present encampment will be known as Camp "Tan- natt." in honor of the president of the Board of Regents.
2. "Cadets are requested not to swim in the reservoir," as it supplies the camp with water.
3. Vulgar and obscene language must not be used in camp. No one will sleep aloud without permission.
4. It should be remembered by the cadets that they are at present in a well settled community, and that for their own sake and that of the institution which they represent, they should give no opportunity to others to accuse them of lifting pullets or trying to nip watermelons; it is out of season for these things and they will not be brought into camp. The good sense of the cadets is trusted to stop such practices, and if that fails the guard will be held pe- cuniarily responsible for any one who slips through the line with a" dozen eggs under his arm, unless the offender is caught.
5. Those men having essays or speeches at commencement report to Lieutenant Stockle.
We were treated royally while at Palouse. The weather was fair and the creamery furnished us with buttermilk a la plenty. One
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evening a number of Palousers, accompanied by a brass band, visited camp. The band played the "Sweet Bye and Bye." while we joined the Gesellschaft in stubbing the light fantastic toe on the park plat- form. Wailing was kept up till a late hour and the Palouse belles made such impressions that it was long after taps when some of their escorts returned to camp. The aforesaid escorts tried to run the lines, but were unsuccessful. Bill Todd, after a long chase, was cap- tured by the officer of the day and taken to the guardhouse. The others remained outside the lines and at daybreak were seen sitting on a log near camp. They were gathered in and all taken before the commandant, who issued orders as follows: "Corporal McMeekin, reduced to ranks. Private Todd ten hours' lahor, or leave camp in fifteen minutes. (He left camp.) Lieutenant Burch remain inside the lines until further orders."
One evening after mess the cook's police (Leo. Totten) was wrestling with the tinware of the kitchen and preparing to peel some "spuds" for breakfast. The cadets were sitting by the camp fire enacting some impromptu lies. The men on post were leisurely patrolling their beats, thinking of the pearls that lay before them. A few short hours, then taps sounded and stillness reigned supreme. Sam Huntting had defeated Knify Smith in the fifty-yard water dash, and was content. The cook's police had rolled in and the sen- tirel's "all's well" echoed through the timber.
That very night there was an alarm. the sentinel on number two discharged his rifle: the guard fell in and hastened to his assist- ance; every man in camp was aroused and ready for action. The difficulty was soon settled when it was found that only three hun- dred pounds of Palouse City butter were marching into camp under a flag of truce. No damage was done further than that some of the men on guard became a little nervous. Harry Jackson halted an old black stump, declaring it was a man and that he saw him move. St. Lawrence fancied he saw a something in a ditch that was close to his beat, and it was only after the most minute investigation that the corporal of the guard could get him to believe otherwise. St. said he wasn't scared, but the shake in his voice would lead one to
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believe differently. On Saturday we pulled the tent pins, fired a salute and were off for Pullman.
The next fall all the three-year men retired, thus giving some of the young aspirants to military fame a chance for promotions. It was during this year that the battalion staff grew into prominence. There are always some cadets that by some act of bravery. good be- havior, or inability to drill, must be promoted, and as a result the staff soon assumes immense figures. Occasionally a new office is created for the benefit of a hero who is of no use in the line except as a private. The cadet corps has its little drawbacks.
We are given an encampment every two years and we will not murmur at the fragments of a cast-iron rule, but it is difficult to drill when the basket ball girls are in the armory. "I wonder why?" The college is also infested with "physical disabilities." P. D's, as they are commonly called. We will not attempt to define this term. other than that it applies to those individuals who have successfully evaded drill by presenting a paper upon which someone has written something like the following:
This is to certify that Mr. ... . is likely to die some time. therefore I consider him physically unable to perform military duty. Dr.
Of course, if a man has a wooden leg of cross grain timber, or a glass eye that is too small, it is well to excuse him from drill, because such infirmities might cause confusion in ranks when marching at double time.
A neat uniform is pleasing to the eye, but when we see a cadet with a negligee blouse that looks like an old night shirt, and a pair of trousers rolled up three rolls from the bottom and still too long, we feel like packing a mule and taking a trip to the mountains. Some people may not notice these things, but to the critical eye of a dress- maker they are very apparent, and there is a longing on the part of the seamstress to shirr the blouse and take a tuck or two in the trousers.
But notwithstanding all this, the scalding tears coursed down many a fair face as the battalion marched away to Whelan for en-
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campment. It meant an additional question in "exam." for the girls. We camped in a grain field near Whelan, where many peo- ple came to visit us and were delighted to see our sunburned noses greased with oleomargarine. Some of them went so far as to vio- late the rules of camp and were promptly arrested and cordially taken to the guard house. They became rather indignant over the way in which the cadets obeyed orders, but were soon released, however, and allowed to go their way.
When the girls of the dormitory visited us, refreshments were served to them from the general mess. The menu was simple and was served without fingerbowls or napkins.
Some of the more industrious cadets bought eight chickens, for which they paid twelve dollars. The boys did not care to make this purchase, but the person from whom the chickens were ob- tained insisted on it, so they bought them. For want of space we will simply give a few quotations and go more into detail in the next issue.
Man on Post-"Corporal of the guard post number two, I lost all the 'potaties' out of me cartridges."
Man on Post-"Halt! who is there?"
Man challenged-"Friend with countersign."
Man on Post-"Advance, friend, and give the chewing to- bacco."
(To be continued.)
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OUR CLUBS.
So many clubs, both great and small, Can furnish offices to all Who love to be high cock-a-lorum, But one hard problem comes to each, One maxim every club can teach,
Its beastly hard to get a quorum.
THE GLEE CLUB.
There was at one time a long felt want in W. A. C. life. That want came from the inmost depths of the heart of man. It was a desire for music.
Who has not read those immortal words of Longfellow, or some other fellow fully as crazy, "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast?" We believe that Brother Longfellow (it might possibly have been Nalder) was strictly in the right when he wrote those words. At least we have noticed that all the lower animals behave very strangely when forced to listen to W. A. C. music. But then, you know, the poor dumb creatures cannot be expected to have the forbearance of a human being.
The college also needed one more thing, without which any in- stitution of such pretensions as are here put forth, must go down to posterity as an everlasting blot upon the cause of education and civilization. We needed a fake. We got it. We wanted some- thing to make us laugh and grow fat. We got that, too. We wanted something whereby certain of our comrades could pour forth the melody of their souls in tones which the rest of us should never forget. We wanted something whereby people might show them- selves off to what they considered their own advantage.
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We wish to say right here to any one of our posterity who, in the dim and misty corridors of time yet to be built, may in some quiet hour rest his weary eyes upon this volume in the vain hope that herein he may discover the cause of some of his hereditary, in- nate and irrepressible wickedness, that the formation of the W. A. C. Glee Club filled his forefathers with the utmost of ghoulish glee and exultant satisfaction. They encouraged it, they fostered it in their bosoms, they paid it money, and were sorry of it. They went to hear it and came away sighing.
The formation of this organization took place at the opening of college in the fall of 1896. About this time in the history of the institution, one Darrow arrived from the far east. Now this Darrow was long for this college. He came and looked over the institution. He remembered how they used to do back in the little hamlet where he went to school, so he said, "We need music, let there be a Glee Club," and there was a Glee Club.
And this same Darrow did, out of the fullness of his heart and the length and breadth (principally length) of his generosity, give instruction to the club. He tamed it and trained it till it would do his bidding, then he decided to travel with it. and exhibit it to the wondering gaze of neighboring cities. Ere long this club became notorious abroad. Fair ladies came to hear and see it, and the mem- bers of the club did smile upon them. *
The second year of the club opened up auspiciously, but by this time so many freaks had applied to enter that it was found necessary to limit the membership.
The third year the manager smiled and said. "We'll have a Man- dolin Club, too; won't we. Barnum?" Now, this Barnum had just been imported to the W. A. C. in the fall of 1898, and entered the club as assistant trainer. The Mandolin Club was added and the club started on its third year of existence. The beginning has been brilliant, but we shake our heads sadly as we contemplate its future.
In conclusion, should any one of the above mentioned freaks chance to peruse this article, we wish to give the club our blessing and our best wishes for the future. Go on, oh delightful sirens in
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disguise, go on. You have proved yourselves a "howling" success! What would we do. what could we do, without you? It is true you come high, but we must have you. Go on, as you have done in the past, lightening the heavy heart by your ceaseless attempts at music. You never yet have given us too big a dose to recover from, if we have only sufficient time. Go on, your mission is a high one. We appreciate your efforts. We know you mean well. We love you as though you were a brother (or even a sister), and we would not let any one abuse you, no, not if we died for it. You have become a necessity to our well-being. We would really rather listen to you than to a first class hand organ. What more can you wish? Again we say, go on, and may Heaven bless your efforts.
THE COLUMBIAN.
In the year 1894, a yearning for higher literary attainment manifested in the hearts of the collegiate students of the W. A. C .. coupled with the realization on their part of the difficulties and em- barrassments everywhere attendant upon first attempts at public speaking, made the creation of a literary society an absolute and undeniable necessity.
So the knightly spirits of our predecessors, of those never-to-be- forgotten days, brought together all the intelligence, wit, and non- sense available and the magnificent production of their combined genius, the Columbian Literary Association started on its unpar- alleled career.
At the time the brave resolution was made to form a real, live literary society there were eight immortals enrolled in the college proper, so it is very evident that to be a collegiate student at that time, it was necessary to be a Columbian, and the judgment of later years must be that this was well. For in the infancy of any institu- tion it is highly desirable that the students should receive only the very best literary training, so that as they go out into the cold, damp,
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mouldy world, the institution from which they come may gain a suit- able reputation. We tremble with fear and turn pale at the thought of what wrecks these carly students might have become had they been left to the tender mercies of our younger sister society, the ill- starred Washington. But this little squad of learning's devotees. resembling a corporal's squad, as to numbers, met regularly every week, and wagged their sage heads over all affairs worthy their con- sideration. We have somehow lost all trace of the decisions ren- dered, but we feel sure that they were far weightier and of more value than those of any peace commission or even of that most sagacious of bodies, the United States senate.
The year following the organization of the society brought the dawn of prosperity with it. By this time ye sportive senior preplet of the year before had emerged from the prep. cocoon, and now flashed his showy wings in all the grandeur, conceit and "swell- headedness" of an actual freshman. So ye exquisitely combed freshy was duly added to the Columbian. He, too, thought he wanted some of the benefits of public speaking, so once in a while the charter members sat back as an audience and indulged him in his playful fancy.
But now another bomb was exploded in the midst of the gentle and unsuspecting Columbians. The preps. had increased in num- bers so fast that the sturdy little Chewawa was swelled almost to bursting, and now actually parted in twain, the senior preps. being allowed to join the Columbian, while the less violent junior preps. settled down to the routine of work in the Chewawa by themselves.
This increase in the society product (judging the matter from an economic standpoint). was ahead of the demand for consump- tion. So, as is always the case when there is a vast product on the market which cannot be used, something had to happen. Forthwith ye grave and reverend Columbians conferred among themselves as to what should be done. They decided to apply the law of the sur- vival of the fittest. Accordingly the weeding out process began. and the weakest, meanest, ugliest and most swell-headed were forcibly kicked out into the hard, frigid world, where they formed the nucleus of the aforementioned Washington society.
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From this time on the Columbian society grew stronger and better in every way. Its members waxed strong in debate. Shake- spearean readings were given from time to time by the most learned and sedate members. Ere long a piano was purchased and a society choir organized. Oh, ye gods and little fishes, how we sang !
Before closing this article we feel that we must notice one im- portant event which occurred last year, in which the Columbian society participated. There is situated about ten miles from Pull- man a town called Moscow. Now in this town is an institution called the University of Idaho. This institution has within its do- main a debating society, the Salmagundi, which had the supreme audacity to challenge the Columbian to a debate. The challenge was accepted forthwith and certain ones among us were armed and equipped for the fray. The great day of debate came round at last. The tender young Salmagundians looked hopeful and smiling. We really felt sorrowful to see them all in the innocence and purity of youth go forward to certain defeat at the hands of the ruthless Columbians, but what could be done? They had issued the chal- lenge, and Columbian honor had to be saved, even at the expense of youth and innocence. The Salmagundians were fairly wiped in the mud from start to finish and then retired from the scene of action for repairs.
Since that time the society has moved onward and upward. to- ward the supreme end of its existence, literary excellence. We have not yet produced a Longfellow, a Whittier or a Bryant, but we are doubtless building here the stepping stones upon which some future embodiment of greatness shall proudly rise to the realms of a higher. nobler, and more perfect manhood, and in his rising call us blessed
THE WASHINGTON.
Among the histories of all literary societies which have come into being since the birth of time, there is none that has enjoyed a
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career at once so full of promise and fraught with such brilliant per- formances as the Washington Literary Society. Ever since it arose above the horizon of time it has been the one bright guiding star in the literary firmament of the W. A. C.
With such a career, the casual observer would naturally be led to hazard the inference that it is as old, at least, as the institution which it graces by its presence. Such is, however, not the case. It did not always thus exist a brilliant assemblage of still more dazzling intellects.
In digging up and turning over the musty rolls of parchment on which are inscribed the ancient, sacred records of this organiza- tion, the following data have been obtained:
The Washington was organized about the 23rd of January, in the year of grace eighteen hundred and ninety-five, in something like this wise: The faculty sent an urgent request to the only liter- ary society (as some then thought and persist in thinking yet) on the face of creation, that about fifteen of the brightest literary genii within its fold withdraw from the common herd and form a new society, in order to fill a void which had ached for lo! these many days for an organization of real merit. Fifteen such worthy ones not being found, fourteen gladly responded to the call of their higher destiny. An organization was perfected without delay with the following staff officers in charge: President, Peter Brown; vice president, W. H. Philips; recording secretary. Ollie B. Downs; cor- responding secretary, Weltha Webster; treasurer, Florence Sny- der. The others included in the "four hundred" were Bay Wallis. Anna Ellis, Edward Kimel, Ada Philips, Francis Bragg, Harold J. Doolittle, Milton P. McCroskey and Virgil T. McCroskey.
Lack of space, as well as motives of modesty, forbid our giving these worthy members their due share of praise, but for further in- formation as to their greatness the reader is referred to the Scroll of Fame, where a detailed report is given.
Once fairly launched, with a full spread of canvas and a fair sea. a prosperous voyage was of course insured the new society. While yet on her trial trip, it occurred to some of the members that this
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literary ship of state was without a name. Accordingly a committee was appointed, which submitted the following designations whereby it might be identified if found alone on the campus after "lights out:" Washingtonian, Snyderonian, Athenian, Philomathian and Ciceron- ian. As no successful combination of these names could be agreed upon, it was decided to drop all except the first, and to discard the last syllable of it, to the great discomfiture, we opine, of the well meaning suggestors.
One of the first serious questions which came up for its de- cision was whether it should receive within its fold any of that ubiquitous and motley aggregation known in college parlance as "Preps." After many heated discussions and divers and sundry conferences with the faculty, it was decided to admit such of the senior prep. class as gave satisfactory outward evidence of reform- ability.
The question, also, of receiving Missourians and other foreign- ers as members arose about this time. It was amicably settled, as we find that a special meeting was held a few weeks after organiza- tion for the purpose of receiving as a member our present worthy bookkeeper.
During commencement week, 1895, the first joint meeting of the literary societies was held, and as has been its honored custom ever since the Washington came in for the lion's share of the glory of the evening.
During the years of its infancy the Washington was lulled into quietness by the gentle swaying motion of the "crib." As time went on, however, and the child grew apace in size and importance, it was found necessary to "creep" nearer the confines of civilization. so one of the classrooms in the ad. building was secured as its regu- lar rendezvous.
About this time, in addition to a local habitation and a name, it was decided that the society should have some instrument for ac- companying its Pattis and Bernhardts on their short swallow flights of song, and whercon its Paderewskis and Rubensteins might de- velop their gift divine for their own relief and the amusement of the
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public in general. Accordingly, by giving an open program and charging admittance, doubling the semester's dues, rustling around among the ever benevolent professors, doing chores for neighbors. eating less of the succulent fine cut so prominent among the pleas- ing memories of Ferry Hall, going to fewer shows, getting special terms from the agent, etc., etc., a splendid new piano became the heritage of the Washington. This imposing instrument, except on society evenings, now holds a prominent position in the chapel, and melodiously witching strains may be heard issuing from its tuneful depths at almost any hour of the day or night.
During the past year the Washington has been maintaining its accustomed prominence among the college literary associations. About December 9th it occurred to a number of the most promin- ent members that the old constitution, which had been doing active duty during the society's entire career, was worn so thin in several spots that it presented quite a ragged appearance. Accordingly a committee was appointed which immediately drew up an entirely new constitution ironclad in its provisions, and immutable in its rul- ings. Since then, quite frequently when members are delinquent at regular meetings, this modern Diogenes may be met on dark streets down town, searching out the truants and bringing them sum- marily to justice.
Taken all in all, the entire career of the Washington has been a most worthy and happy one and bids fair to grow accordingly through all coming generations.
THE WEBSTERIAN.
During the fall and early winter of eighteen hundred ninety- eight it became apparent that the formation of a new society was necessary. The other literary societies of the W. A. C. were inade- quate; and, although great and excellent organizations, did not meet the requirements for a thorough literary training. The ener-
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getic young men of the brilliant class of 1902 were the first to realize the full significance of affairs and to appreciate the opportunity of being the founders of a new society. Without the slightest attempt at exaltation it must be said that they felt an innate sense of unde- veloped genius which, if properly brought out, would exert an ines- timable influence in the formation of the world's future history. Ac- cordingly, on the evening of February 11, 1898, a meeting was called, and a new society was formed with twenty senior preparatory students as charter members. Ernest Wagner was chosen for presi- dent and Laud Rutherford for vice president. With characteristic en- ergy the members set to work, drew up a constitution, and ap- pointed various committees. In view of the fact that, as a rule, the great statesmen of our nation have owed their supremacy to their powers of oratory, the programs were composed largely of debates: and in honor of our greatest debater and orator the young en- thusiasts called the society the Websterian. A closed door policy was at first established and the amateur orators were screened from public gaze just as the proboscis of a baseball catcher is protected from fouls. Under the wise and able administration of President Wagner and the protective system thus established, the Webster- ian entered upon an era of prosperity and advancement that was destined in its onward march to assume proportions of which even the leaders, in their widest range of imagination, had scarcely con- ceived.
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