"Tis the Merrie Month of May" at the Normal School

Much has changed in a 120 years, but, after a cold dreary winter with its long nights, spring has always brought young people into the countryside.

On the first Saturday in May, 1883, about 30 KSN students, along with chaperones Professor Lillian Hoxie, known as Mother Hoxie, and "Mrs. President Taylor," traveled eight miles north of Emporia to Ruggles Grove at the invitation of "Mrs. Judge Ruggles."

According to a local newspaper, the Emporia Democrat, they "left the Normal at nine o‚clock in the morning, filled with high anticipation of the pleasure which the cheerfulness of the company and the brightness of the morning seemed to so fully promise."

Their idyllic view of nature comes forth in their account, and even the perils of travel could not shatter their memory of the day -- "the broad rolling prairie, bordered on the right with the green foliage of the Neosho and on the distant left with that of the dimly outlined Cottonwood, and interspersed with farms of lovely visage -- neat cottages, growing wheat, luxuriant clover and blue grass and orchards fragrant with fresh blossoms, furnished a scene of highest loveliness and, to those viewing it for the first time, the effect was to transform the entire journey into an enchanted hour in one of nature‚s most magnificent art galleries."

Following a friendly welcome by Mrs. Ruggles, musical entertainment, and a view from "the veranda and house top," they went to the river where they "crossed the stream triumphantly on a bridge six inches wide over which the sparkling riplets gently kissed the feet of the happy excursionists." Upstream a short walk was a wagon bridge where they rested.

"As a boat rowed beneath the bridge, "Gently Down the Stream of Time," was sung by those above and many green leaves and bright flowers were thrown to the happy ones beneath."

Later in the day, they returned to the house for a short rest where music was provided and there was "lightly tripping of the fantastic toe," followed by an elaborate picnic dinner at the grove.

"The time then went merrily on with croquet, swinging, boating, gathering flowers -- in short the wood was filled with revelry and much joy prevailed."

"At about five o'clock a small party took a flying trip to quiet little Americus where both our advent and departure were seemingly hailed with equal delight. Then we returned to our companions."

"But alas! The kind guardian of our pleasure had departed. One of the brightest days of our school life seemed to darken at its greatest splendor. One of the hacks containing six or eight persons was overturned and all its occupants were more or less injured. Mr. Marks had his wrist disjointed, Mr. Rhodes had his arm broken and Miss Julia Spenser was seriously injured.

Medical aid was at once summoned for the suffering and such of us as were not needed to care for them returned home, full of mingled joy and sadness, not soon to escape our memory."

Last Updated July 2, 2007>