Pottsville High School - Hi S Potts Yearbook (Pottsville, PA)

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came so acclimated that theiriconduct could not be distin- guished from a High School hoodlum. This beautiful and im- pressive cognomen was bestowed upon us by one of our even- ing contemporaries. Peace be to their ashes! judge nottoo harshly, general public. You were young once, and felt the blood throbbing through your veins and that some- thing called 'tspiritl' that would out. Now, we are fairly started, and have somewhat gotten over the embarrassment which nec- essarily accompanies the portrayal of the deeds of those sc closely allied to us during the past three years. That crowding of pedestrians off the sidewalk at the noon and evening hour. 'We did not wish to claim the whole pave- ment, but as the citizens generally took to the road when we hove in sight, and did not give us a chance to show our man- ners, we wereicompelled to act in a manner entirely foreign to our careful bringing up. Verily! 'We who were at peace with ourselves, would have been at peace with the whole world, if it would only have left us. Believe me, we had not the instincts and passions of the hyena, but were dove-like by nature and training, as the following innocent episodes will prove. Who rang an inofrensive citizenls door-bell on their Way home from school one day? Surely not a P. H. S. pupil. But then some members of 797 were strolling by that way, laughing merrily and enjoying the sunshine which flooded that whole avenue, never dreaming of harming a living creature, let alone planning mischief. ' Why should young women and men indulge in the juvenile pastime of ringing door bells! The reason thereof was explained to the faculty in private. The remembrance of the prize fight which took place in the basement, during our middle year, is painful to some of us. Long and hard the contestants fought, urged on by the smoth- ered shouts and muffled claps of the spectators. The rest of the occupants of the building little dreamed what was transpir- ing in the cemented regions beneath them. No sawdust arena was prepared for the contestants, no seats arranged tier upon tier for the spectators. By some one's careless- ness the event was not announced, and only a favored few had the pleasure of viewing the exhibition. After several rounds, fear- ing the fight might end disastrously, those without the ring rushed in and separated combatants closely locked within each otherls embrace. For now, regardless of Queensbury rules - nd all other rules by which those engaging in the 'manly art' are governed, finger nails began to play an important part in the fray. The next day the participants appeared in their usual places, and wereiregarded the 'lions' of the -day. All honor and deference was paid them. Long they bore the marks of Wounds received on that memorable day. ln the future they can proudly point out these scars to their sons and grandsons as proof of an ' affair of honor.' We had a foot-ball team, anoble band, but harmless. They had their fun. Some of it at Tamaqua. The usual foot-ball capers were indulged in but they were-expected, the unexpected also occurred. Therels a restaurant in Tamaqua and when our lads rushed in, wearied, breathless, halfvlifeless and gasping, could only stand and wait for the w.aiter to anlicipate .their wants

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Stmors' History, ll ISTORY is record of past eventsf' This old, familiar, oft quoted saying is destined to introd.uce the reader io those experiences, pleasant or otherwise, with which the Class of '97 met in their High School career. And now those same events recorded on my brain. crowd one upon the other so thick and fast that the pen seems not to reveal them quick' enough. Truly those stragglers coming clown from our hills, assem- bling at the main entrance of tne P. H. S., their promised land, joined a goodly band of pilgrims. about to enter into a foreign country, inhabited by they knew not what. Report was that the ruler of that domain and his coun- sellors were a gentle crowd 5 but there were giants, intellectual ones, too, to overcome. Sixty-three brave and stalwart youth and gentle maidens composed that band, and, while some were timid and feared to enter the great house of learning and encounter the giants there, the majority were eager for the fray, Now at the end of the three years sojournin that charming court of the P. H. S., and after those same Giants have been overcome and some not down on the curriculum, we sigh to think they are no more, those not down on the curriculum. No more as of yore. we tread those halls with the heavy and creaky step of a new pair of shoes. We know not whether our whole band got new shoes-for luck-with which to tread the llowery realms to which we had been admitted, or whether, the old ones groaning under the additional weight of much philoso- phy compiled in many books, not heads, which those same books were compelled to bear, gave vent to -their unwillingness in heart-rending creaks. Certain it is, those same boots were to blame for much for which we, the poor mortals who wore them had to suffer. Up and down those long iiights of steps, to the tune of f' Tramp, 'L Tramp, 'f Tramp, were we driven until we should learn, if perchance we ever should, to walk lightly and with a cat-like tread. ' Still they squeaked, those shoes, until we became Mid-A dlers, then the juniors shoes squeaked and we were con- sidered trained in the art of getting up and clown- the stairs in a manner becoming High School young ladies and gentle- men. Now if a report has spread about this town as to the con- duct of this Class of 397, we ' beg you clear public, to consider the make up of this company, and when you are informed that our tribe counts among its number those within whose veins Hows Pennsylvania Dutch, German, English. Irish, Scotch and French blood, you will readily see the necessity of making allowances for our conduct, especially when you re- member that the anzestry of the nationalities spoken of above, were ages ago all heathen. In addition to the above, we have a Minersvilleite, a New Bostonian, a Port Carbonite, and Landsfordite, all of which be-

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and, when he anticipating, shouted 'thot or cold drinks 7' the unexpected happened, and then those same foot-ball 'hoodlumsi showed themselves worthy of the name of 'man.' In unison they called out for fpief Pie was just 'out,' the train due in a few moments. So on the impulse ofthe moment, 'twas that same old impulse which always plunged the class of ,97 into trouble, they purchased some oranges and bananas without the courtesy of asking the price, walked rapidly to the depot, boarded the train, which just pulled out in time to allow them to see a gentleman, encased in a great blue coat trimmed with a double-row of brass buttons, make a frantic dash at the steps of the car aud failing, shake his billy at the receding train, while 'Young America' waved their pennant in the breeze and thanked the fates for aiding them in their extremity. Then, too, there were some mishaps occasioned by open spigots and gas jets. 'Mirabile dictu.' No person left them open. When we entered the first Hoor of the building, the morn- ing after the accidental opening of the spigot and beheld the havoc, wrought by the water, in the lower rooms, our hearts misgave us. Why should they? The innocent heart has naught to fear. We were Middlers at this time and there is an old saying that the faculty do not care to be too hard on the youthful juniors and on the Seniors, as the former are but come and the latter must soon sever their connections with the school forever, so against whom but the Middlers could the accusation be brought. So, brought against us, it was. But to make a charge and prove the same. 'Ayef 'There's the rub.' 'Mirabile dictu.' No person did it. Then the gas jet episode. We shudder yet to think of what 'might have beenf We see the inhabitants in that quiet neighborhood in the midst of which stands that noble pile of brick called the Garfield High School, suddenly aroused from their peaceful slumber by ashock such as our ancient hills never felt before, and, attempting to rush from their homes, over- whelmed and crushed by the Hying stones and bricks from the ruined house of learning. Suliice it so say, the janitor coming to school earlier than his want one morning was nearly pros- trated by escaping gas which greeted him as he opened the door. Divining the cause of this unusual occurrence, he im- mediately, at the risk of his life, groped his way to the Labo- ratory, grasped six burning Bunson burners and thereby saved' a citadel from destruction. Those in authority were so thankful that no harm was done and the town left standing that investi- gations were not pushed. HISTORIAN.