Adel High School - Scarlet and Black Yearbook (Adel, IA)

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discourse on The Modern Daily Newspaper. I am free to confess that they were told more about a newspaper that night than I have learned after working around one for twenty years. It was a grind to get the oration ready and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson both put in some strenuous hours, but the Other Member finally squeezed through and accepted his diploma from President J. B. White as if everything had been carried out in the usual manner. I know this to be a fact, for I was The Other Member. Scorr SNYDER. Perry, Iowa, February I5.

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Qv- ' -- ' -- ' -- '- 'Y -- ' -- ---- ' -:L L::t. v.:1 Letter from Scott Snyder -af.. ..Av.-f.. ,fa Jn. gf C. J. -. -. v. W. ,. -.. ,. v. c. -. -. -.g. Editor Scarlet and Black: Your request for a story for the l9l 5 issue of the high school annual is an appreciated one, but I fear that anything in the nature of a reminiscence from a member of the class of IB93 will be ancient history to your present-day readers. The band of hopefuls released from the Adel High School in that year have not, so far as I have learned, set the world afire in the way their parents hoped, but they had their share of enjoyment while in school and accumulated the usual amotmt of knowledge from the text books and a corps of competent instructors. They were no better and possibly no worse than the average class. They gave Prof. Wilson and his estimable wife as much trouble and as much joy as any other crowd. In spite of the fact that we all thought our graduation was the main event in history that year, we did not command nearly so much attention as the world's fair in Chicago or as the birth of a number of Adel babies, some of whom are doubtless members of the class of l9l 5. I might tell you of the love affairs of Bert Byers and Kate Russell, of the achievements of Victor fCaesarJ Johnson in the Latin class, of the painstaking efforts of Millie Campbell and Viola Morey to fit themselves for teaching, of the sisterly efforts of Cora Marsh to help the rest of the class in their studies, of the many dates asked of Mame Crawford by the young men of her acquaintance or of the popularity of Grace Nye and the awe in which we all held her father, Rev. C. L. Nye, but that would be telling tales out of school. The only thing I have to offer is about the other member of the class of '93--how he came near shattering the hopes of his parents by failing to receive leis sheepskin. The Other Member was inclined to put in his time playing football and baseball, letting someone else figure out his prob- lems in geometry, or learning to play a horn in Verne Russell's band, rather than to become a shining light in the educational world. Things broke well for him as a rule and tomorrow was a day little thought of. All he seemed lo care for was three invitations to the dining room daily and a batting average of 300. When it came time for selection of final oration subjects and the attendant rehearsals. Prof. Wilson assigned the Other Member to his wife, who was the principal. Mrs. Wilson assigned him to her husband, and neither knew that he was not working hard to close his high school career in a blaze of glory and nine pages of Henry Clay oratory. The commencement exerrises were held on Thursdav and things went on smootl-ly until Monday of that week, when Prof. Wilson broke up a contemplated fishing party by casually announcing that he would like to hear the Other Fellow rehearse his oration. Because there was nothing else to do, a confession was in order. There was something doing in Mr. Wilson's private office right away. A subject was chosen, assistance given and on Thursday night the people of Adel were treated to a highly-elevating

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+A - . - .- M- .- .......,. -- H- .f .A -- --A -Psa., .21-,, ifn -vsxf-.ss Letter from Hazel Ferguson ref.,-1.-Gfgaefv, 2,521 -are'-6.5. Miss Elizabeth Storm, Editor l9l6 Scarlet and Black, Adel, Iowa. Dear Miss Storm: The one event which stands out above all others in the history of the class of '07 is the famous class scrap of l906, the year we were Juniors. Contrary to the usual custom, our class and the Senior class were the best of friends, likewise sworn enemies to the two lower classes. On account of this feeling of good fellowship for our Senior brothers and sisters, we decided that the Senior-Junior banquet should be an affair far superior to the banquets our predecessors had offered. We hired the Woodman I-lall, furnished it with all the rugs and rock- ing chairs that our long-suffering mothers would furnish, decorated with plants and pennants, secured the services of the Industrial Society to furnish the eats and sat up nights making hand-painted placecards fto the neglect of lessonsj. Meanwhile the Sophs and Freshies were just as busy making plans of an entirely different nature. The son of the county sheriff was inveigled into furnishing handcuffs and shackles, and a supply of white paint was secured. The evening of the banquet the girls arrived at the hall early. They waited and waited, but no boys. At last sounds of warfare arose from the streets below, and the boys dashed up the stairs, minus coats, hats and collars. bruised and muddy and one dangling a pair of shackles. The Sophs and Freshies had made their plans work. On calling the roll two were found missing and the boys went forth to their rescue, finding one hidden in a coal bin, the other still a captive. By this time the town marshal had been called to quell the riot and peace was once more restored. After thread and needle had mended rent garments, bruises dressed and fresh collars found for the crowd, the banquet proceeded, just an hour behind time. Next morning everything from the standpipe to the big rock at the corner of the schoolhouse yard boasted the '08 and '09 numerals, but what did we care. for in our possession was one pair of shackles, worth some five dollars. for which, in due time, the '08 and '09 classes had to pay. This explains why there was no banquet for the '07's. Of course this was a long time ago and such an affair in this present day and age would be entirely out of place, but-well, the members of the class of '07 still know where those shackles are. HAZEL T. FERGUSON, '07