How Classmen Were Treed

HOW CLASSMEN WERE TREED

The Antics at the Fresh-Soph Rush

A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION

Of the Fun Making on the Campus When the Two Under Classes Met in the Annual Rush

Enthusiasm ran high on the campus Friday night and the rush was one of the most exciting in years. The sophomores won out, but the freshmen stood game and staunch friendships were made that will outlive college years. At 7:30 the freshmen gathered around the flag pole, formed in a square around the cannon and locking arms stood like a phalanx awaiting the onslaught of the enemy. The sophs, between the library and the main hall, surged down upon them with the rush of battle, hit in the front and swerved to the sides, surrounding the cannon and fighting hard for the pole. After a mighty cheer for '06 the sophs separated in bunches and began to put the freshmen up the trees. There was such a rapid scaling as was never seen before, a paddling of them up into high places, where, Zacceus-like, they looked down upon the multitude below. small trees bent with their weight, evergreens were padded with them, and the electric light pole had its explorers where the zone was warm as the noonday sun.

Small and great companies moved to and fro upon the earth seeking whom they might devour, shouting the number of their gang, "coring" up their ringleaders, separating quietly, swooping down in a body upon the enemy and treeing him in a wink.

" 07 always on top," said one brave fellow, as he was lifted skyward; "go break the news to mother," sang another. "Three in the shade," called down the last addition to the evergreen tree, and so the sentiment varied through "the good old summer time," "Mary had a little lamb," and "Go away and let me sleep."

One poor fellow was goaded a little higher than the others and forced to sing "Nearer My God to Thee." He took his revenge out in the key.

One who played truant and accompanied his lady rather than his class, was snatched away by the mob and after a speech on the campus, was brought back to the spot he was snatched from and was delivered only in answer to the cry, "Who wants Watkins?" It took a game girl to say who.

Tree scaling was not the only amusement. One little fellow was dragged before a bunch of girls and obliged to get upon his knees and repeal to the dictation of the '05:

"I love thee."

"I love thee."

"I am not worthy of thee,"

"I am not worthy of thee,"

"Oh, just this once."

"Oh, just this once,"

"I'll sue thee for a breach of promise,"

"I'll sue thee for a breach of promise."

Another was obliged to chew up his tag, or calling card, and "bay the moon," or in the classic language of the Soph-Lit, "bark at the light." The "Ypsi" squad, 3-4-8, excelled in the tree lifting but the laws did their share. Lyons, las year a fresh law, this year a fresh medic, was taken up and handled all ways but right side up with care, and treated to all kinds of the severe fantastic. But Lyons was the nerviest man on the campus last night, and laws admire grit, so his tree ascension ended in a triumphal march upon the shoulders of the enemy, nine rahs for the ex-law, and souvenir tatters from a four dollar shirt.

Not to the strong always is the battle, for Kellogg, '04 lit, was boosted up a little tree, that was no where near as big as Kellogg, and many a stalwart sophomore met his Waterloo Friday night.

The botanical gardens with their water tanks was the scene of much plunging. The handle had been removed from the campus pump, so a long procession was led to the reservoirs and unceremoniously dropped in.

But exciting as the whole evening was, there was no mob-like rush on the campus and tearing asunder of soul and spirit as in years passed. There was the snatching of hats, the hot trail after the enemy, the swaying surging mass, but the great spirit was friendly until a great part of the crowd had gone home and the hot heads attempted to celebrate by burning up the State street pavement. If the matter had stopped on the campus with the rush proper no harm would have been done and all passed as an innocent bit of fun.