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Extract from ‘Colleges I Have Met,’ De Lysle Ferree Cass, College Humor, January 1929. Cass, in his difficult and confounded manner, also penned this sketch portrait of Wesleyan University in 1909. Wesleyan University. Nineteen years ago. . . . Old College Row of brown Connecticut sandstone from the quarries across the river. The historic Baptism of Beer in a T. N. E. initiation down the river, with red lantern danger signals from along the railroad right of way roped bumping along the ties behind our revelrous trainload on the way back. The “Hen’s Roost,” whence the last co-ed class departed while yet I was thereabouts. An alarm clock, performing successfully, tied high up among the organ pipes in chapel, in the midst of Prexy Rice’s prayer for student repentance for having that very early morning time rolled two pyramids of Civil War cannon balls thunderously downhill into the heart of a sleeping town, in exuberant celebration of something or other. The fragrance of violets sprayed delightfully throughout the lush grass along the street sides. Dashing across campus to chapel, with no cuts left, just barely in, time and naked except for a jersey, trousers and sneakers. The time-honored Cannon Scrap between the sophs and freshies. The paramount necessity of white flannels in springtime. Songs in the odiferous, mellow twilight from the fraternity houses. Fellowship at the old Chaffee House bar. The big annual game with Trinity, and Lord! how we trounced ‘em that time! Faculty suppression of the sophomore class societies and its zestful lack of effect. The Victory Song and good reasons for it. “Mitch’s” eighty yard run, screaming with agony with his shoulder out of joint, and fainting with the ball still tight in his arms behind the Yale goal posts—our first score against Old Eli in heaven only knew when. Gosh, it was good just to be alive then!
The National Organization of the Alpha Chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon 1999 - 2009 © All rights reserved.
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