DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Adelia M. Hoyt memoir and photographs

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Page 35

UNFOLDING YEARS 35
from supper, gone out the back door and wandered down to the back gate. Then a spirit of adventure seized us. I was always able to orient myself pretty well and I knew that if we followed the fence along the north side of the grounds, we would come in due time to the north-east corner. What lay between was the lure which beckoned us on. 
We found no high adventure, just a tangle of low branches and thorny shrubs through which we fought our way, finally reaching the stone wall which bordered the front of the grounds. A short distance brought us to the driveway which ran in a semicircle up to the veranda, fronting the north wing. I was now on familiar ground as this was the way I took to go home week-ends. We sat down at the end of the stone wall and reveled in the peace of the lovely spring evening. We listened to the soft twilight music of the birds and felt the sweet spring air all about us. Is it any wonder that when the bell rang for our evening class we did not heed it? Just then nothing seemed important but to get away from all restraint. 
Professor McCune had devised a system of bell calls for each student and employee. As we sat there with guilty consciences by happy, our two calls rang out on the evening air. We clasped hands but sat silent. When we thought it was about time for chapel, we meandered up the driveway and slipped demurely into our seats. As we came out an irate teacher pounced upon us and demanded an explanation. "We were so sorry! We had gone out for a little walk and must have been too far away to hear the bell." I think she knew we were lying but thought best to drop the matter. We had our little escapade and felt the better for it. How the writing of these episodes brings back a flood of pleasant memories! I can still hear that old bell to which on most occasions I responded with alacrity. 
We lacked the equipment of modern days. There was no electricity. Kerosene lamps lighted the halls and teachers' rooms, and hand lamps were carried about as needed. There were no telephones, although in my last year one was installed in the office. Yet I believe that our school laid the foundation

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UNFOLDING YEARS 35 from supper, gone out the back door and wandered down to the back gate. Then a spirit of adventure seized us. I was always able to orient myself pretty well and I knew that if we followed the fence along the north side of the grounds, we would come in due time to the north-east corner. What lay between was the lure which beckoned us on. We found no high adventure, just a tangle of low branches and thorny shrubs through which we fought our way, finally reaching the stone wall which bordered the front of the grounds. A short distance brought us to the driveway which ran in a semicircle up to the veranda, fronting the north wing. I was now on familiar ground as this was the way I took to go home week-ends. We sat down at the end of the stone wall and reveled in the peace of the lovely spring evening. We listened to the soft twilight music of the birds and felt the sweet spring air all about us. Is it any wonder that when the bell rang for our evening class we did not heed it? Just then nothing seemed important but to get away from all restraint. Professor McCune had devised a system of bell calls for each student and employee. As we sat there with guilty consciences by happy, our two calls rang out on the evening air. We clasped hands but sat silent. When we thought it was about time for chapel, we meandered up the driveway and slipped demurely into our seats. As we came out an irate teacher pounced upon us and demanded an explanation. "We were so sorry! We had gone out for a little walk and must have been too far away to hear the bell." I think she knew we were lying but thought best to drop the matter. We had our little escapade and felt the better for it. How the writing of these episodes brings back a flood of pleasant memories! I can still hear that old bell to which on most occasions I responded with alacrity. We lacked the equipment of modern days. There was no electricity. Kerosene lamps lighted the halls and teachers' rooms, and hand lamps were carried about as needed. There were no telephones, although in my last year one was installed in the office. Yet I believe that our school laid the foundation