From The Springfield Weekly Republic, Thursday, November 27, 1890:
The Class of ’93, at Wittenberg, Having Finished the Old Greek.
Consigned Him with Appropriate Ceremonies, to the Cruel Flames.
The Class of ’93 at Wittenberg, recently finished their study of Plato, which is considered the most difficult in the curriculum. And last night proceeded to celebrate the event in an appropriate manner.
About midnight twenty-five Sophs., clad in sheets and other ghostly habillments, assembled in the rear of the old college building [ed.: Myers Hall], where they formed in line, with the cadet band at their head, and marched, bearing their victim, to a funeral pyre which had previously been erected near Ferncliff Hall.
First, incense was burned, then followed a touching invocation by High Priest E. S. Todd, after which Lord High Executioner W. T. Schell, in an eloquent address, pronounced sentence upon the doomed Plato. W. C. Wren applied the torch, and while the band played tuneful dirges the ghostly band marched ‘round and ‘round the blazing pile, committing page after page of the books to the flames, while the ladies of Ferncliff Hall looked out from their windows upon the orgies and were filled with terror at the evidence that the much talked of Indian outbreak had actually occurred. They were reassured, however, by hearing the dulcet voices of C. S. Simon and Prof. Prince delivering eulogies upon the remains, and were shortly afterward treated to a delightful serenade which totally eliminated the possibility of unpleasant dreams when they again retired."
About The Project
With Wittenberg now celebrating its 175th year, and the University unable to hold regular in-person classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor of History Thomas T. Taylor has started circulating several pieces on Wittenberg's history. Some originated in earlier series, either This Month in Wittenberg History or Happy Birthday Wittenberg. Others have their origin in the Wittenberg History Project or in some other, miscellaneous project. Sincerest thanks to Professor Taylor for connecting alumni, faculty, staff, and students through a historic lens.