Washington Literary Society Records, 1859-1895

THE PHOTOSPHERE, 1874. Bellfonte Press Company Print.

THE PHOTOSPHERE, 1874. Bellefonte Press Co., Bellefonte, Pa. PENN STATE COLLECTION

THE PHOTOSPHERE EDITED BY A. Edgar Osborne, AND J. Alder Ellis, Jr

THE PHOTOSPHERE.

Vita, sine literata, mors est."

Washington Literary Society, Organized March 4, 1859.

We herewith submit the first issue of the "PHOTOSPHERE."-- Of its kind it is the first ever issued at the Institution, and since experience comes only with time, we feel assured our friends will accept this, the result of our inexperienced efforts, with all due consideration.

THE PHOTOSPHERE ANNUAL ENTERTAINMENT OF THE Washington Literary Society, PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE, Friday Evening, May 22, 1874.

ORDER OF EXERCISES. Music. "Charity,"...Miss Mary Burns, Bellefonte, Pa. INVOCATION. Music. Quartette-"Softly Dream Sweet Love,"...J.E. Glenn, C.G. Campbell, J.K. Calder, S.A. Earley. SALUTORY ORATION. "Transcient Thoughts,"...Orrien P. Downing, Brooklyn, N.Y. ESSAY. "Life a Pilgrimage,"...Jas. K. Calder, State College, Pa. Music. Solo-"My heart is with thee,"...J.E. Glenn, Mansfield Valley, Pa. ORATION. "Victorious,"...A. Edgar Osborne, Media, Pa. HUMOROUS DECLAMATION. "Hiram Greene's Inflation Speech,"...W.W. Rupert, Zion, Pa. Music. "Convent Bell March,"...Miss Mary Burns, Bellefonte, Pa. STATUARY REPRESENTATION. "The Sculpture's Studio,"...

THE PHOTOSPHERE 5 Music. Song, in character—"The Golden Wedding,"..................C. G. Campbell. ORATION. "The Power of Public Opinion,"...J. Edwin Glenn, Mansfield Valley, Pa. DECLAMATION. "Unjust National Acquisition,".................Ellis L. Orvis, Bellefonte, Pa. ORATION. "Exertion,".................................Jas. French Sloan, Lock Haven, Pa. Music. "L'Amitie Opera,".............................Miss Mary Burns, Bellfonte, Pa. ORATION. "System,"....................................J. Alder Ellis, Jr., Hughesville, Pa. Music. Duet—Flute and Piano—"Schonbrunn Waltz,"........{Miss Mary Burns, Mr. W.P. Read. VALEDICTORY ORATION. "The Steady Stroke,"......................Curt G. Campbell, Johnstown, Pa. Music. "La Reine des Tess,"..........................Miss Mary Burns, Bellefonte, Pa. Committee of Arrangements. J. Alder Ellis, Jr., Chairman. A. Edgar Osborne, J. F. Sloan, J. K. Calder, C. B. Kaufman. Executive Committee. J. E. Glenn, Chairman. R. W. Barrows, W. W. Rupert, W. H. Kehl, S. D. Ray. President of the Evening. Ross W. Barrows, Lock Haven, Pa.

8 THE PHOTOSPHERE. saw, too, with others, the same frightful visage. It is not to be wondered at then that she lay, as it were, dormant for this season of political discord. Through the years 1862-'63 and '64, in which time, too, the institution and all connected with it were overwhelmed with the loss of the college President, though the society continued as such, she did not venture to come before the public; and it was only after the smoke of battle and the din of war had cleared from off our land, now in very truth the land of freedom, that she appeared with pristine vigor, on the 8th of December, 1865, to aquit herself more favorably than ever. As the sky appears the more beautiful by reason of recent clouds, so it was with the W. A. L. S. For two years there seemed nothing to impede her progress. In 1867 there was a reunion of the two societies; but this tranquil season was only the calm that preceds the storm. The second term of 1868 found the number of students so reduced, by reason of the many changed in the course of instruction and in the faculty, that but two members of the W. A. L. S remained, and consequently a suspension of her workings was absolutely necessary. With the change of college Presidents, and the beginning of the year 1869, there was a complete reorganization of the society, and here it was that the name was changed from the W. A. L. S. to the W. L. S. Since that time, though again grief-stricken by the loss of the college President, her motion has been a progressive one; with each succeeding year she has appeared satisfactory, in her anniversary befor the public. On the 28th of April, 1873, she petitioned the court of the county of Centre for an act of incorporation, and on the 25th of August, 1873, it was decreed by said court that the Washington Literary Society possessed all the powers and innumities of a corporation or body politic in law. Progressive her motion has been, and under the present administration of the institution it is likely to continue so. For what is to the interest of the college is to the interest of the societies in the college. Then let us hope that this is the light of the first phase and that they may mutually continue to wax brighter and brighter and that the point of cumination is in the far distant future.

THE PHOTOSPHERE. 9 SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS. W. L. S. founded 1859. Number of members when first organized, 46. Number of members now in Society, 27. Number of honorary members, 7,542. Age of members—oldest 25; youngest 12. Tallest man, 6 feet 3 inches. Shortest man, 3 feet 6 inches. Heaviest, 199.5 lbs. Lightest, 99 lbs. Bow-legged, 0. Number married, 0. " who want to be, 12. " doubtful, 5. " who don't want to get married, 1. His name—FATMAN. Number in love with the cooks, 40. " engaged in "real earnest," 2. NICK NAMES.—High, Josh, Skinney, Pluto, Parson, Tall-boy, Pretzels, Miss McGinnis, Tex, Bricktop, Fatman, Ginpe, Tarantula, ChingChang, Reddy, Julia, Johnnie, Bull, Jay-bird, Gibbs, Greaser, Friday, Squire, Chub, Swan, Nig. Epigram on a Famous Water-Suit. "My wonder is really boundless That among the green cases we try, A land case should often be groundless, And a water-case always bedry!"—{Saxe.

10 THE PHOTOSPHERE. HE SNORES. My chum snores. Oh! ye gods, how he snores! The seven sleepers could not have done it worse. I lie awake and hear him. Not because my ear is ravished with that kind of music, but because I cannot help it. Rip Van Winkle could not have slept five minutes by the side of such snoring. It grows worse as the hours steal on. I become nervous. All efforts to sleep are vain. The occupant of the next rooom is a medical student. I hear him turn restlessly in his bed and know that he cannot sleep. I call to him, "Doc., bring your dissecting instruments." He says, "Choke him! smother him with a pillow!" Chum snores on unconsciously, and gurgles frightfully. Sometimes I think he is dying—something I hope he is. I shout in his ear, "Chum!" No effect. Then I poke him in the ribs vigorously for a minute and a half with my elbow, and say "Chum! Chum! turn over on your side!" Without waking, he finally obeys. A solemn stillness reigns. Worn and weary, I drop to sleep. Suddenly I awake, all in a tremble. Cold perspiration starts. Chum is surely dying. I think he is breathing the sheet in, and feel about his face for a corner to pull it out by. That is not what ails him. Then I think that he snorted his pillow up his nose. But I find his pillow under his head. I poke him in the ribs again. I always poke him in the same locality; for it is easier to rouse him by poking a sore place. He jerks convulsively, grunts, and becomes quiet. But soon he begins again worse than ever. It is frightful. I think of horrible murders. I see ghastly victims with throats cut, struggling for breath. Suddenly Chum gives one unearthly snort, and stops short. All is as still as a grave. I rise on my elbow and listen. No sound. Then I say aloud, "He's dead! thank Providence he's dead!" Vain hope. Gradually he begins again, but with a different combination of stops. This time he sucks the air in through his nose and blows it out through his mouth, making a sound like the escaping gas from a mud volcano. I estimate how long it will take him to run through all the air in the room. Then I get up and open the window and give him "all out doors" to breath. I sit n the side of the bed and saythings that would not look nice in print. They

THE PHOTOSPHERE. 11 have no effect. He continues to snore, snort, heave and talk in a manner that is appalling. Then I say with Juliet: "Chain me with roaring bears, Or shut me nightly in a charnel house, O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones, With reeky shanks, and yellow, chapless skulls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave, And hide me with a dead man in his shroud; Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble; And I will do it without fear or doubt," Rather than endure this another night. In the morning Chum wonders what ails his ribs, and what makes me look so sleepy and worn. A court that would not grant a divorce to a wife who claims it on the plea that her husband snoes, ought to be banished from the land. Chum and I have settled accounts. I like him awake; but I would rather sleep, four in a bed, with the Three Furies than with him. MORROW is a town of some importance, a few miles out of Cincinati. A new brakeman on the road who didn't know the names of the stations, was approached by a stranger the other day while standing by his tran at the dept, who inquired: "Does this train go to morrow to-day?" "No," said the brakeman, who thought the stranger was making game f him, "it goes to-day yesterday week after next." "You don't understand me," persisted the stranger. "I want to go to morrow." "Well, why don't you wait until to-morrow, then, and not come bothering round her to-day? You can go to morrow or any other day you please." "Won't you answer a civil question civilly? Will this train go today to morrow?" "Not exactly. It will go to-day and come back to-morrow. As the gentleman who wanted to go to morrow was about leaving in disgust, another employee, who know the station alluded to, come along and gave him the required information.