Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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18 SPECTATOR unfortunate piano, she fled into her room, bolting the door after her. She had no sooner accomplished this than Betty and her roommate rushed into the hall crying: There are ghosts in this house. This evidently was a signal for, in a second, the corridor was filled with would- be-frightened girls. l What is the matter, oh, what and where are the ghosts? they cried. Miss Stubbs appeared white and trembling, Sh-h! Oh, girls, do get back to bed before the whole school is awak- ened. ' But Miss Stubbs, several girls cried hysterically, Betty heard the ghost in Peggy's parlor playing the piano, didn't you, Betty? A group of girls verified the statement by shouting, I did too. While the wily Betty tookiona new fit of hysterics to hold the hall teacher's attention, her roommate slipped into the parlor and removed the telltale strings. Finally, Miss Stubbs succeeded in getting the girls back to their rooms. She retired after securely bolting her door. The ruse was a success. Miss Stubbs' troublesome door remained locked every evening following that event- ful one. Peace and contentment reigned on floor No. 2. The girls henceforth spoke very reverently ofiPeggy's parlor for it was through the unfortunate Peggy that midnight visits and midnight feasts were again possible. Q W .iq 'O ' 1 ,jf ,HKD Y. ' -l 2 in Q . , . JA, X ' 'Y , n '-,X Q5

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SPECTATOR 17 er in all the pranks played by the girls of her floor, solved the problem. Girls, she cried, going through a Gypsy dance as she talked excitedly, I've got it. Just the thing. Oh! it's great. Betty Mason, said her roommate scornfully, If you would stop your prancing long enough to tell us what you are talking about, a few of us girls would be exceedingly grateful. It's just this, said betty airily, not in the least offend- ed by her friend's words, You know how superstitious Pat is. We'll give her a little ghost scare, then all will go well. All we need to stage the scene is some bits of string and Peggy's piano. 41 III il if ar Just at dusk, before Miss Stubbs had retired to her room, two girls stole softly into Peggy's parlor. They took four pieces of cord and tied them to the hammers of four notes in the piano, two base and two treble. They opened the window, which was immediately behind the piano. By the aid of pieces of chalk tied to the ends of these strings, the girls succeeded in flinging them into the window of their own room which was just next to the parlor and on the same side of the hall. Pk if ill ik :F The clock struck twelve. Two sleepy girls scrambled up. They were ready for action. A feeling of intense ex- citement possessed them! Hark! A low, ghostly sound issued from Peggy's par- lor-it produced no effect. It sounded again-louder, more ghostlike and mournful. The watchers from across the hall saw the startled figure of Miss Stubbs rise to an up- right position upon her bed to listen. The terrible notes is- sued forth again! Miss Stubbs slipped from her bed, crept stealthily across the hall and stood in the door of the parlor. The slanting rays of a full moon streaming through the window made her doubly sure of the presence of no visible figure at the piano. The keys moved and two notes sounded in rapid succession. The hall teacher waited to hear no more. With a little scream and terrified, backward glance at Peggy's

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SPECTATOR 19 ZA an 4 I ' ' 7 2 6 Principal s Page THE AMERICAN'S CREED I believe in the United States of America as a gov- ernment of the people, by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Na- tion of many sovereign States, a perfect Union, one and inseparable, established upon those principles of free- dom, equality, justice, and humanity for which Afmer- ican patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies. , Every boy and girl in America should learn by heart the American's Creed. Every teacher in America should see to it that every pupil in his class either recites the Creed or Writes it from memory as part of the required work in English, History, or Civics. That the rising generation both native-born and for- eign may get the full meaning of this Creed in its far reach- ing significance, it should not only be committed but time should be taken for study and reflection along patriotic lines. Better still, since we learn by doing, schools and classes might organize democracies and live them in their class rooms and by learning to be school citizens in a school democracy be better citizens, morally, socially, and in- tellectually in our city, state, and nation. Our schools should teach democracy by precept and example if our country is to have a new birth of freedom and