Central High School - Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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There was a change in the marking system this year. Instead of numbers our standing was designated by the letters E, G, F, I, and D. Hirzel's explanation of the change is that the former method required the use of arithmetic too hard for the faculty to work out, and as they are acquaintedwith the A, B, Cis, the new system was adopted. All students who did good Work during the year or managed to pull the Prof's leg, were exempt from examination? Some of us were exempt by the former methodg most of us by the latter, and the few who had to take examinations passed, and we separated for the summer one grade higher in the rank of the school. We all turned up in the fall, and entered upon our third year of college life. We received a visitor in the shape of a gas-engine, which settled itself in a corner of the lunch-room, to the great annoyance of the puff doughnuts. It was under the special care and protection of Prof. Snyder 3 and a boy in the shape of Dr. Haney was purchased to run it. It made so much noise when in operation that it turned the milk sour, and was objected to on this account, but at our suggestion it was retained. We were all taught how to run it, some of us even how to stop it. It was also used to run a lantern, so that we would not be com- pelled to strain our imagination in endeavoring to make out the illus- trations the professors drew on the boards. It would save a great deal of trouble and prevent many ducks J' Q05 if the lantern were used in Profs. Hopper and Schock's rooms to illustrate geometric problems. A very disagreeable feature was removed from the school proper. There was not enough room in the building for the Freshmen and other quarters had to be provided. The carriage factory was thought to be next in rank to a stable, so into one they were stored. The factory was separated from the main building by two churches, so their innocent thoughts were prevented from contaminating the rest of us. They liked their quarters very much, and the only thing they missed was our valuable assistance when they encountered lessons too difficult for them to master and for their instructors to explain. Great pleasure was adorded on both sides by the meeting of our class with Bernard Maurice fBarneyj, formerly of the Naval Academe at Annapolis. His father received the cross of the Legion of Honor from Cmsar or Napoleon QI forget whichj. His watch-chain was also his father's. He smokes cigars. He didn't teach by the natural method, and he lectured on the Philosophy of Book-keeping at the summer school at Avalon. The above facts we were compelled to memorize before graduating. .He was a very agreeable man, with whom we 'F See Rules and Regulations. ' ' 2 6

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descent down to Adam from each one of his works. He also knows the tone of voice of every character in Shakespeare's plays, and reproduces them remarkably well, especially the fools. There is one thing We pride ourselves on. We broke Prof. Shock of a very bad habit. Whenever we made too much noise, he would yell in a volcanic voice, You boys hear, but you do not heed. N ow this was a beautiful thought, but when repeated 6255115 times it became a source of amusement. We decided that something would have to be done to stop it, so every time he uttered it we applauded. The reverend gentleman saw that at last we appreciated the remark, and as this was all he wanted, we have not heard it since. I must leave the old building for a moment, and turn to the new to describe the importantevent of the laying of the corner-stone. We were arranged in military order outside of the school, and with colors fiying marched across the street. There we stood around the stone, and passed the time before the ceremony by singing songs, fighting, and christening the stone with our wet ingers. A tinbox was first put into a receptacle cut in the stone. In this box was placed a Puck, Judge, I tem, Canadian ten-cent piece, and a Huttenlock mincepie. Another stone was then put on this one to prevent the pie from walking oi. Then Governor Pattison and Dr. Thompson delivered addresses, which were too low to be heard, and becoming tired of deaf and dumb movements, we left for our respective homes, that is the few who didnit go to Wanamaker's to- shop. The Mirror run by the Senior Class was raised from 5 cents to 10 cents a copy, which was quite beyond our means, so several of our en- terprising boys, among whom was Wetherill, of course-for what scheme could get along without 'his aid? it--started a rival paper with the patriotic title of the Crimson and Gold. It was a great success, and was considered the finest paper ever edited by the school. The Mirror staff were compelled to walk to school, and deprive themselves of the luxury of lunch through the lack of funds. But suddenly this '97 paper disappeared as mysteriously as it sprang up, and it has never been heard from since. The loss of these manuscripts is parallel with the loss of the Shakespearean ones, and I am sure will be felt equally as much by posterity. Military training was proposed for the school, and we had visions of blue suits and brass buttons. It even went so far that a company was formed. But the project fell through, and we had to give up the idea of escorting the girls to school in full-dress uniform. ' From My Diary. 25

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spent a very enjoyable hour. We practiced the art of rolling marbles to his great delight, and one day we performed the experiment of finding out whether a man becoming entangled in a string to which is attached a bell would ring the bell in endeavoring to extricate himself. The experiment was a success, proving conclusively that he would. In fact, the bell rang so loudly that the other Profs. thought that the hour was up. Instead of having declamations before the school every day Dr. Thompson started to give us short sermons twice a week, and has kept them up ever since. These discourses were models of oratoryg and we hope the coming race will have as much dificulty in translating them as we have had in translating Cicero. At times he was witty, and his were the only jokes we were allowed to laugh at. The monotony of these lectures was relieved by an occasional talk by Prof. Willis on his- torical anniversaries, and by Prof. Smyth on great literary ones. 'We Were also ushered into the mysteries of the chemical laboratory. We were first taught how to blow glass, and then how to make the diifer- ent extracts of Palmerts cologne, such as chlorine and hydrogen sulphide. Thomas stole a bottle of the latter, which he has never returned, to the regret of the other students. . We met -Dr. Thompson in a manner more social than formerly. He instructed us in rapid-tiring dictation and short-hand, and incidentally ethics. He endeavored to train us for the Senior year, so that we could hold that exalted position properly. We were told how to treat our wives and children, and what was the easiest way of cleaning house. Tappen is the only one who has had the opportunity of making use of this knowledge as yet. I forgot to mention that we were told that every boy should have a sister, and if he didn't he should borrow one from some fellow who had two. We have all followed this piece of advice. One fine afternoon we went to the Park with Prof. DuBois to lay out railroad curves, and ascertain the height of Lemon Hill. We ac- complished both deeds, and were tendered a vote of thanks by the Park Commission. One of the first clubs to be organized in the Class of '97 was the Curtain Club, which was, as its name designated, a dramatic organiza- tion. It was composed of fifteen select members. Its great and only pro- duction was entitled Cool Collegiansf' and was given for the benefit of the High School Orchestra, so that we could get the music free. lt was against Bert Lewis's principles to deceive the audience, so he took off his hair to show that it was not natural. Lallou made love in a manner that showed that he was an old hand at it, and Bremmerman 2 7 V O