Alton High School - Tatler Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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ah? JJottjjffl ffat? Scene I. (Girls’ Cloakroom). (Fourteen girls in room. Enter H. B.). H. B.: “Oh, girls, have you heard the dreadful news about some one of our boys?’’ R. R.: “Mercy, no! What news?” H. B.: “Why, someone has been accused of stealing a horse. All girls: “How perfectly dreadful!” A. P.: “Was it a black horse? H. B.: “Yes, a black horse.” A. P.: “Then it was G. S. I saw him riding one past our house last night. F. H.: “Well, whoever it was, will be found out, as B. C. is going to hold court, with twelve Seniors, six boys and six girls, to act as jury.” L. B.: “Then will the police get whoever they find guilty?” C. R.: “Of course they will, and send him to the penitentiary.” G. L.: “Why, sometimes they hang them for horse-stealing.” R. R.: “Poor G.; he was such a nice boy!” F. H.: “You girls are just as mean as you can be. You know G. didn’t do it.” E. D.: “Oh, girls! What if it should be J. S. He was absent from school yesterday.” B. M.: “Oh! I never saw such a hateful, spiteful girl as you are, E. J. S. stayed home yesterday just because I did. He said it would be so lonesome here without me.” (Signal rings, and girls pass to Assembly Room.) Scene II. Jury in box. B. C. acts as judge. B. C.: “It is my painful duty to inform you that a theft has been committed, and the evidence that we obtain to-day will be carefully weighed by the jury and the penalty fixed by them. I have tried to make clear to the students that honesty should be the greatest aim of our lives. Without it, we can expect nothing but failure and humiliation—while with it, we may look forward to happiness and success. T. McK., will you please state to the jury what you know about this theft?” T. McK.: “Truly, sir, I have been so busy in broad daylight, also in lamplight, upon my Latin (and writing to H. D.) I would 21

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§ rluml Saits Oh, that day in warm September, When we entered Alton High! Did we think the years would come And go so quickly by? Xo! we thought the years of toil, Would be so hard and long, That many came with heartaches, And not a thought of song. But now the year is closing, That means we ll soon be Seniors. With many a song and never a tear. We will drop the name of Juniors. And then when in the years to come, We think of days gone by, Just for a while we'll close our eyes, And dream of Alton High. C. W. D„ ’12. Miss W.: “Slower, Torrey, slower. Three times slower.” Torrey: “Does the sound get three times faster when it reaches the audience?” 20

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not have known it had they stolen myself. I am dreadfully sorry that I am unable to give any information.” B. C.: “Witness excused. K. B., what do you know concerning this affair?” K. B.: “The affairs of the present have very little interest for me. In fact, sir, History interests me more. Now if you wish to know of some event of the past, I will be happy to state it to the jury. I think History will back me when I say that whenever a theft has been committed, there has been a motive for it. Now, as I know of no motive, I am afraid I can throw but little light upon the present state of affairs.” B. C.: “A. P., what do you know about this?” A. P.: “All I know is that I saw G. S. riding a black horse yesterday, but I do not know whether he stole it or not.” B. C.: “What has that to do with the case? ’Twas a pony that was stolen, not a horse.” A. P.: “Yes, sir; I think it was a pony, a black one.” W. B.: “Mr. R., may I ask what was stolen?” B. C.: “A pony; a black pony. A. P., will you please describe the pony that you saw in G. S.’s possession yesterday?” A. P.: Oh! sir; all I know is that it was black.” B. C. (holding up a book): “Did it look like this?” A. P.: “Oh, mercy, no! It had four legs.” W. B.: “I wish I knew what was stolen.” B. C.: “A pony; a black pony (holding up a book) about this size. E. G., state what you know concerning this affair.” E. G.: Oh! sir; I saw the pony inside one of the boy’s hats as I passed their cloak-room. I also saw the name, H. S., on the fly leaf.” B. C.: “In whose hat was it?” E. G.: “I think it was in one of the boy’s hats, but I'm not certain. I will show the jury the hat.” (E. G. and jury leave the room.) Jury returns after one minute’s deliberation with the following Verdict; We, the jury, after careful weighing of the evidence submitted, find that it is no crime to steal a pony from H. S. 22