How the "Gray Jacket" Went to the Fair
Dublin Core
Title
How the "Gray Jacket" Went to the Fair
Creator
[Unknown]
Source
http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1
Publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Date
April 1877
Contributor
Jenna Zan, Josh Dobbs
Rights
Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Format
Text
Language
English
Type
Poem
Identifier
LD5655.V8 L4, ser.1, v.2, no.6 (April 1877), p.1
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
In a dimple of the mountains, there nestling, lies a town,
A little, quiet place it is, of no great renown;
But it has one attraction, there is a College there,—
I'll tell you how the boys in gray went marching to the Fair.
in the good old town of Richmond, they have a Fair each year,
To which the people, young and old, do flock from far and near;
And, thinking they would honor them, and make them feel quite proud,
The Fair Commission asked the boys to come and swell the crowd.
The Profs. they pulled long faces, said, "with study 'twould interfere,
They would get out of training, and Christmas time was near,"
Of telegrams there was no end, and letters, to and fro,
But at last it was decided, that the boys were all to go.
At eight, A. M. and four, P. M. they daily met for drill,
Their evolutions practised well upon the College hill;
The new made officers, meanwhile, their tactics studied o'er,
And strove their honors to deserve, and even gather more.
As students' pockets rarely are with loose change too well lined,
O'er the wires now there flashed hints of another kind,
Implying that the useful cash should quickly be supplied,
Before their ebbing patience had been two severely tried.
The time draws near,—the tardy mails the welcome checks have brought,
And to the task of packing up, each student now gives thought;
Belts, collars, gloves, and such like wear, needed for daily use
Are hunted up. Laundresses now get some deserved abuse.
At last 'tis done ; the last trunk packed, and added to the pile,
(The boys intend, I have no doubt, to dike in heavy style).
Had Caesar such a pile surveyed, as he stood on the shore
Of Rubicon, 'twould not have crossed, but all been burnt before.
Now, from the college hill there comes a loud and hearty cheer,
And all rush out, for well we know that marching time is near;
A van comes first, with students, filled as thick as fallen leaves,
These are the Carpet Knights, who love to travel at their ease.
And now is heard a distant tramp and sound of merry drum,
With Captains marching at their head, adown the street they come,
In column close, 'till at the brook that doth the town divide
They form in twos, then join again upon the other side.
And now, as they come marching on, in firm and close array
What happy hearts are throbbing 'neath those simple jackets gray,
What thoughts of fun and frolic now are darting thro' each head
As the boys go tramping onward, with a firm and even tread.
We watched them 'till they've passed us, and have climbed the nearest hill,
And, as they disappeared from sight our hearts responsive thrill;
We hope that they may have their wish, which no one e're denies,
To drill the best of any there, and beat the V. M. I's.
And thus they march until they reach the gate of "Mountain View,"
But there they pause, with one accord, to make a last adieu,
Upon the mansion's portals wide, a group they now decry,
The inmates, old and young, are there, to wave a last good-bye.
Foremost among the group there stand two maidens, fair and true,
Who forth unto the breezes fling a banner of blood-red hue;
A Giant bears the college flag, wrapped tightly round its pole,
This he now waves with all the force of his most mighty soul.
And from the ranks, both front and rear, goes up a merry shout,
And hats and caps are tossed in air, and wildly waved about;
They stop to rest—'tis not enough—the shouts break forth anew,
Good-bye, good-bye to Blacksburg, and to all at "Mountain View."
A little, quiet place it is, of no great renown;
But it has one attraction, there is a College there,—
I'll tell you how the boys in gray went marching to the Fair.
in the good old town of Richmond, they have a Fair each year,
To which the people, young and old, do flock from far and near;
And, thinking they would honor them, and make them feel quite proud,
The Fair Commission asked the boys to come and swell the crowd.
The Profs. they pulled long faces, said, "with study 'twould interfere,
They would get out of training, and Christmas time was near,"
Of telegrams there was no end, and letters, to and fro,
But at last it was decided, that the boys were all to go.
At eight, A. M. and four, P. M. they daily met for drill,
Their evolutions practised well upon the College hill;
The new made officers, meanwhile, their tactics studied o'er,
And strove their honors to deserve, and even gather more.
As students' pockets rarely are with loose change too well lined,
O'er the wires now there flashed hints of another kind,
Implying that the useful cash should quickly be supplied,
Before their ebbing patience had been two severely tried.
The time draws near,—the tardy mails the welcome checks have brought,
And to the task of packing up, each student now gives thought;
Belts, collars, gloves, and such like wear, needed for daily use
Are hunted up. Laundresses now get some deserved abuse.
At last 'tis done ; the last trunk packed, and added to the pile,
(The boys intend, I have no doubt, to dike in heavy style).
Had Caesar such a pile surveyed, as he stood on the shore
Of Rubicon, 'twould not have crossed, but all been burnt before.
Now, from the college hill there comes a loud and hearty cheer,
And all rush out, for well we know that marching time is near;
A van comes first, with students, filled as thick as fallen leaves,
These are the Carpet Knights, who love to travel at their ease.
And now is heard a distant tramp and sound of merry drum,
With Captains marching at their head, adown the street they come,
In column close, 'till at the brook that doth the town divide
They form in twos, then join again upon the other side.
And now, as they come marching on, in firm and close array
What happy hearts are throbbing 'neath those simple jackets gray,
What thoughts of fun and frolic now are darting thro' each head
As the boys go tramping onward, with a firm and even tread.
We watched them 'till they've passed us, and have climbed the nearest hill,
And, as they disappeared from sight our hearts responsive thrill;
We hope that they may have their wish, which no one e're denies,
To drill the best of any there, and beat the V. M. I's.
And thus they march until they reach the gate of "Mountain View,"
But there they pause, with one accord, to make a last adieu,
Upon the mansion's portals wide, a group they now decry,
The inmates, old and young, are there, to wave a last good-bye.
Foremost among the group there stand two maidens, fair and true,
Who forth unto the breezes fling a banner of blood-red hue;
A Giant bears the college flag, wrapped tightly round its pole,
This he now waves with all the force of his most mighty soul.
And from the ranks, both front and rear, goes up a merry shout,
And hats and caps are tossed in air, and wildly waved about;
They stop to rest—'tis not enough—the shouts break forth anew,
Good-bye, good-bye to Blacksburg, and to all at "Mountain View."