Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

Page 15 text:

THE SPECTATOR 9 A Triumphant Dafh QREAT EXCITENIENT was rife in the little town of Walden. The Independents, an athletic club of the place, had challenged the High School to a field meet to decide which was the champion of the city. The High School had accepted the challenge, and the business men of the city had put up prizes for every event, as well as a cup for the winner of the meet. Among the members of the High School was a ju- nior, Charles Larston by name, whose greatest ambition was to obtain a place on the basketball team, but, as his parents were poor and he was unable to train in a gymnasium, he was unable to obtain the desired place. One of the events of the meet was a mile race. Now, as Charles was long-winded, he resolved to enter the race in the hope of winning the prize of five dollars which would enable him to enter the gym for a year. He trained faithfully until the day of the meet, which found him in fine condition. When the afternoon of the race arrived Walden was a blaze of color, the purple and white of the Independents mingling with the gold and blue of the High School. Claresnote park, where the meet was to be held, was thronged with spectators. In the judge's stand were the mayor of the town and sev- eral prominent business men, while other patrons of the meet sat in the grand stand. As the meet was declared open, the air rang with the cheers of the opposing sides. The opening events were pulled off in rapid succession, the winner of each event earning three points for his side, the second man two, and the third, one. High School won the hammer- throw, the hundred-yard dash, and the pole-vault. The Independents won the high jump, the shot-put and the fence-vault, and when the time came for the two-mile bicycle race they were five points in the lead. In this race the High School men set such a terrific pace that the Independents were outclassed and High School won Hrst and second places, thus lowering the lead of the Independents to one point.

Page 14 text:

8 THE SPECTATOR this to go beyond. That is the plain and natural order. Most people try to think of and do too many things at one and the same time. The result of so strange a confusion of duties is that many people employ their time in all sorts of affairs except those in which they have a right to demand it. Each is occupied with some- thing else than what concerns him. That is what com- plicates life. Existing civilization with its feverish haste, the multitudes of sensations which it imparts to us, the emotions which it continually excites, and the rehne- ments of pleasure which it procures, has had a fatal influence on our nervous systems. Life, such as it has become, excites the sensibilities, strains the nerves to the utmost, and breaks down energy. Our food helps to produce this result. Rich food and strong drink are everywhere in demand. An artificial life has been devel- oped. The large cities have absorbed the most genuine intelligence and energy of all nations. Simplicity is a matter'of education. Where do we find the lack of simplicity more in evidence than among the uneducated? Wastefulness, extravagance, and vulgar show are usually marks ,of the uneducated person. This education for simplicity must begin in childhood. Let us strive to concentrate our time and energy to the matter which demands our attention for the moment, not worrying ourselves about the mistakes which we have already made or contemplating tooi seriously what difhculties we shall meet in the future. lf we would serve our generation well we must reserve our powers and not burn our candles at both ends. l would not advocate indolence, but there are times when the body requires rest and it should have it. You will work much better after it. There is a limit to all things and over- work finally ends in stupefaction. Professor - What three words seem easiest for this school to speak P Pupil- 1 don't know. Professor - You've hit it exactly. - Ex.

Page 16 text:

10 TIHE SPECTATOR The High School boys were in despair, for the last event was the mile race, in which Chevers and Cules were entered for the Independents and Brooks and Lars- ton for the High School. Chevers was expected to win, Brooks to take second place, and Cules third, while Larston was regarded as an outsider with no running qualities. Charles was not discouraged, for he knew Chevers' and Brooks' style of runningg if they followed it in this race, he was confident of winning. When the time came for the start and the men fell into position, their broad backs gleaming in the sun and every muscle quivering as if longing to burst from the skin, it was a sight to thrill the nerves and send the blood rushing through the veins of every lover of strength and sport. The start was magnificentg the men sprang forward as if shot from a gun. Chevers led, Brooks was second, Cules third, and Larston fourth. Round! round! they go, the race remaining the same until the quarter is reached, where Brooks takes the lead only to lose it again at the half. The long strain is beginning to tell on the leaders, and their breath comes in quick, short one-eighth pants. As the last quarter is reached Larston passes Cules and is rapidly gaining on the leaders. Now Brooks has dropped behind, and Larston soon overtakes and passes him. But Chevers is still running, going at the terrible pace that he has kept since the start. Only of a mile yet to go, and Larston gains steadily, inch by inch, so that Chevers soon hears his steady tramp, tramp, behind him. As he hears it he quickens his pace and shoots forward at a terrific pace, but in vain. He cannnot shake off Larston, and as the stretch is reached they are neck-and-neck. The strain is terrible, their heads seem burstingg their hearts beat- ing like trip-hammers. Now the line is only a few yards distant, a few more bounds, and all will be over. Lars- ton, with one supreme effort, shoots forward and wins the race in the phenomenal time of four minutes and thirty seconds. Brooks comes in third, and, as he falls across the line, he and Charles Larston are lifted to the shoulders of a crowd of cheering High School boys and borne to their dressing rooms, J. R. M., ex-'o5. i