Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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20 THE SPECTATOR Bruce Harding, the second boy, was one of the leaders of the Freshmen, both in the classroom and in any mischief that was afoot. His face showed high intelligence, a love of fun and a certain obstinacy of purpose. Altho larger, he was younger than Wilson. When all .arrangements for the attempt had been made seven boys, beside Wilson and Harding, were in the plot. Accordingly, one night in March, about seven o’clock they stole from their dormitories and made their way to the old chapel. This had at one time been a village church but was now used as an auditorium. The old spire had been torn down and in its place a three-story square tower erected. The first and second floors of the tower had but one window each, facing the front; while the third floor had four, one facing each direction. The floors were connected by stairways, each stairway having a door at both ends. The door that opened into the stairway leading to the third floor was firmly secured against such an attack as this. Two iron bars, hinged at one side, passed across the door and were secured by two brass padlocks at the other side. Above the third floor the roof formed a blunt pyramid topped by a short flagpole. The halyard ropes were brought down and tied to the front third floor window. By forcing a window in the basement the boys made their way thru the chapel to the second floor. Here they could easily have cut the iron bars that crossed the door ; but in that case they could not lock the door again. By filing the padlocks they could put on new ones when they had hoisted the flag. In this way they could prevent the Sophomores from tearing the flag down in the morning. After an hour’s hard work they succeeded in forcing the door open and mounting to the third floor. Raising the window, they fastened their flag, a huge blue and gold pen- nant, to the halyard and began to raise it. When the flag was almost up the pulley at the top of the pole screeched , loudly. Horrified, the boys looked around to see if anyone was within hearing distance. Fate, or whatever spirit rules over schoolboys, willed that just then two Sophs should be crossing the campus. They were probably returning from some midnight prowl and were just about to steal into their dormitory when the

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THE SPECTA TOR 19 Last and least important of the three groups above named are the precussion instruments. The most import- ant of these are the timpani, two kettle-drums, tuned in fifths, and played by felt-covered hammers. The snare- drums come under this head, but are not used much in sym- phony orchestras. These instruments are too well known to need an explanation. In the best regulated orchestras the players of string instruments are always seated together, as are also the wood-wind, brass, and tympani players. Thus they can bring out their respective parts better than if each played individually. A symphony orchestra consists of about six- ty-five players, and we may expect to find at least a full half of these playing string instruments; one-third of the remain- der playing brass and percussion instruments, and the other two-thirds playing wood-wind instruments. In concluding, let me advise you when at a concert to study those three groups and see in what passages they are employed, artd also the different qualities of tone they bring out. BERNARD WOLFHOPE ’o8. A Midnight Escapade 7TWO boys sat in a room in the smaller of the two dor- mitories belonging to the Fulton Academy. They were engaged in conversation; one trying to persuade the other of some doubtful point. “You know I’m always in for any reasonable fun, but this means expulsion if we are caught,’’ said one. “Yes, but just think of it! We’ll be the first Freshman class in the history of the school to get a flag up,’’ replied the other. “Well, all right, I’ll go in with you; but we’ll have to be careful,’’ was the reply. Frank Wilson, the first speaker, was, in most respects an ordinary boy of fifteen; but a pleasant face, a peculiar but altogether pleasing charm of manner and a disposition to match, made him one of the most popular boys in the school.

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THE SPECTATOR 21 squeaking pulley attracted their attention. At a glance they took in the situation and a moment later they were running at full speed toward their dormitory. “There ’ll be a heck of a row around here in about two minutes,” remarked a Freshman. “We had better get out of here as soon as possible,” replied another. “If we get this lower door locked the flag is safe.” They quickly ran up the flag, closed the window and, rushing down to the second floor, locked the stairway door. As they ran down past the first floor, Wilson, glancing out at the window, saw about two dozen Sophs coming on a dead run across the campus. All the Freshmen except Wilson and Harding had reached the chapel floor when the Sophs broke into the game. Part of them started in to clean up the bunch in the chapel; the rest, eight in number, running up to tear down the flag, encountered Bruce and Frank, who ran back to the first floor and slammed the door. A moment later the combined weight of the Sophs crashed against the door, which fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for the Freshmen, resisted all attacks. Then one of the Sophs discovered the key sticking in the lock. “Let’s lock them in,” he suggested; “they’ll be found in the morning when the faculty begins to investigate.” This plan they carried out and went away. “I guess we stay here all night,” said Frank. “Yes, and the janitor will find us here in the morning. We’re just about as good as expelled,” replied Bruce. “If we only had the keys to those padlocks we would go up and get that pinchbar that we left up on the third floor. Then we would make short work of this door,” said Frank. “Well, I suppose we might as well go to sleep,” re- marked Bruce, after they had discussed—and cussed—the situation in full. They both stretched themselves out on the floor, and, worn out by excitement and lack of sleep, weresoon asleep. Bruce awoke several hours later with a sharp pain in his eyes and throat. He sat up, wondering what was the matter with himself. Noticing a peculiar smell, he,took one sniff. It was smoke! The chapel was on fire! He rushed