Burnet High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Burnet, TX)

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THE COMET 6 Dud gave a start. The song was one that Marthy had sung to Jake when he was a baby and Dad fancied that Ella in some way resembled Marthy. He shut the door. Sanity had returned. Softly he replaced the account». No! lie could not rob Jake s children of their birthright. After all, he was an old man with one foot in the grave. He stumbled and swayed Everything was going dark—-he took a totter- T. A. CHAMBERLAIN. By Jesse Pogue The subject of rbls sketch. T. A. Chamberlain, was born in the year eighteen hundred and forty nine. He is now 77 years of age. He has been a resident of Burnet for sixty years or more. At the nge of twenty-two or twenty-three, he started to teach school. The school which is now known as Bethel was opened at that time and he was chosen as the first teacher. It was also his iirst experience In teaching school. He had about twenty-live pupils, many of whom are still living in that same community. After teaching school for a few years, he entered politics ing step. Suddenly he extended bln iirins. “Marthy,” he called, I'm coinin'. You'll forgive won’t you Marthy! Wail Marthy— but he fell. The oeeulist was wrong. Blindness had occured and with it came death. But a metamorphoses had occurred. (rone was Dad s bitter sneering look and in Its stead was that old sweet, benevolent smile that was fam- iliar to all Lake Point! and was elected county surveyor of Ilurnet county. This office was of considerable importance in those days, as the coun- ty was young and was being settled up rapidly. With the exception of a few years during which be was living in South Texas, following his vocation, he has held this office contin- ually and still holds It. Uncle Tom, as be is known to everybody. Is one of the l»est men 1 have ever known. Although making no greAt display about It. he is a true, ('hristlan gent Ionian, willing to help anyone in any way that he can. When any one has surveying to la done, he is called No government or other surveyor has ever found a mistake in his da I a. for he is very careful with his work. He has surveyed a large portion of Burnet and Llano counties and is still at 1L“ JKe House of Horror %n£leren Some people say that 1 am Insane: others say that I am mad: others, that I am feigning madness like Hamlet, Per- haps I aiu mud. Who can tell? My jtast life has been ho hor- rible. so full of grief mid terrors rhat 1 feel as if I am grop- ing hi utter darkness and slowly, slowly losing all control of my superior lieing. Shall 1 tell yon of my lad life or keep it buried deep down in my heart forever? No! 1 shall tell It. It hangs over me like an Immovable cloud and is so terribly depressing that 1 feel as If 1 must lell someone or 1 shall die. Many years ago when 1 was still unite young, my family, consisting of my father and mother, Mr, and Mrs. Dupree, my sister, Henrietta, my brother, George, and I came to Amer- ica from France. We were accompanied by Lucien. an old French servant. He had been with our family for many years. Our first few years In America were spent happily on a small farm on the banks of the Hudson River. Ah! how 1 took back on those years as the only time life seemed worth living. How peaceful! How sublime! Into those few years 1 can place all my pleasures of this life. My father became inveigled In some land schemes. As 1 was too young and carefree to understand what realty was happening the first thing that I knew my father announced that we had lost all that we poeaeacted lu this world. We were outcasts in a foreign land, without home or money. We finally found a small hut overgrown with thick green vines. The people who lived near told us that It was haunt- ed and abandoned and if we cared to live there we were perfectly welcome. Alas! how little my dear family knew what was in store for us. If they could only have read their sad fates, how we would have fled from that place as from a deadly viper. Lucien who was very superstitious, was horrified at the Idea of living In such a house, but rather than leave the family, his only friends, he submitted. Of course the grue- some aspect of the house and his own Imagination bore heavily on his mind, I could see that as time wore on. his mind was weakening. One night 1 was awakened by peculiar nosies In the ad- joining room, 1 got up, lighted a eandle, and went in where 1 heard the noise. There stood Lucien with a terrible gleam In bis eyes. Indeed he was filled with the evil spirit. In his hand was a knife with a long thin blade that reflected the eandle light like a mirror. 1 stood motionless. 1 was struck perfectly dumb with terror. 1 was quaking with fear but 1 dare not move. Lucien ran his long, bony linger over the shimmering blade, Then he looked at me and grime Mich a horrible ghastly grin that I thought surely my time To die had come. But slowly he run his linger the full length of the blade n second time: looked at me: shook his head; turned and walked off. By this time I realized that Lucien was Insane. What could I do? About this rime, I beard my father cry out for help. Before 1 cniild reach him. Linden passed me waving the bloody knife hi the air. shriek!tig like one puaaea ed with a demon and swearing vengeance on the whole family. Where he went 1 do not know; 1 went to tny father. He was dead, Lucien had stahlied him. This was more than 1 could stand. 1 felt that T would go mad myself. During the next year the rest of our family lived in fear of Laden's return. Imagine, friends, living through a whole year with such a terrible remembrance of Lucien and knowing that any time he might return and murder the whole family. Every noise at night, every shadowy figure crouching in the darkness. 1 thought to ite Lucien. Henrietta, my beautiful sister, was terrified at the idea of his return and lived in sin- dread of It that she liecaiue a mere shadow. At night she would wander down to an old well and stand for bourn In the moonlight. One night we saw her walk to the accus- tomed spot and stand looking into the well fur a long rime. Imagine our unspeakable terror when, after a while, we heard n splush In the well, 1 rushed down there but 1 was too late. She had been grasped by the mossy entanglement of the treacherous green water of the old well. Horror-stricken I called for aid. We worked all night hut could not find the bottom of the well. We could drop anything in It and could hear the reeking of the moss through which it was (tfiKslttg for at least five minutes. It seemed to be a bot- tomless cavity, 1 was distracted with grief. Then, that very night when i returned to the house, Im- agine my horror when 1 found that my mother and George had fallen victims to the wanton hand of Lucien. Nearby was Lucien dying from a self-inflicted wound. 1 wan crazy with grief- Stay at that house from th:i night on? No! I left as quickly as 1 could. I was travelling to some unknown Mecca for my soul. I wandered from city to city. People did not understand the Invisible torture of my mind. How could 1 tell them? Would they believe me?

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rHE COMET 5 Marble Fulls. Many other places along the Colardo Elver could lie clamed and be used for water power. The eastern part of Burnet County la in Ihe Mack land belt. In Burnet county cotton, wheat, oats, corn and other grain are raised. Pecans also bring a good deal of the money to Burnet county. Burnet county is gradually coming to the front as a poultry county. The huge incubator late- ly installed near Burnet will aid very greatly in this industry. Tattle, hogs, sheep and goats are raised in Burnet county. Burnet county’s wealth comes not only from fanning, poul- try and mines, but from live stock. When the sheep are Undeniably “Dad’1 Marten bad changed ! A metamorphoses had been wrought in his nature. Neighbors of Dad gossiped it over the back fences in hushed tones. It was rumored that Dad was loosing his mind. Truly, the little towu of i ake Point was “stirred up, Part of the gossip was exaggerated, especially that about his waning in sanity, but it was true that Dad was no long er the same. Dad had been a foster-father to the Inhabitants of Lake Point. When anyone was disturbed, whether it was over finances, or the death of h relative, he was wont to bring his woes to Dad, Dad’s good nature and philanthropy were a tradition of Lake Point—but now! Gone was Dad s anna blllty: vanished was his l»enevolence, and In its stead bitter- ness reigned. But the crowning jolt was this: Dad’s philan- thropy. his generosity to give his friends his last dollar was well known. But now, It wag said that Dad not only re- fused Tom Jolson a loan, but had said bitter things to him. The children of Lake Point, who had formerly idolized Ibid, now hooted at him. Even bis adopted son, Jake, was at a loss to explain Dad’s bitterness, as also was Jake's wife. Ella. If Dad Marten was aware of all these rumors, he did not show it. He was Indifferent to every one. At home be threw’ aside his mask of indifference and sank into an ajsithv ; he seemed to lose interest in even his most cherished ambi- tion ! Dad was. by trade, a horticulturist His life-long ambition was to produce a watermelon without seeds. To us, and even to Lake Point, this seems a futile ambition, but not so to Dad. He had instilled this ambition into .Take, his adopted son. Jake was a fine spectman of manhood and Dad adored him He sent him off to Pnllege and had high liojies of his success. Then suddenly Dad's wife, Marthy died. A few months later Jake marrfed Ella Wheeler, a girl that Dad disliked Intensely, because he regarded her as common. At first, Ella resented Dad s dis’ike of her, but the years softened her resentment, but not Dad’s. Dad did not confide the rea- son of his change In his son and so all I ake Point had to he content with its gossip. Then they received a shock. Dad made a trip of three days to Chicago. Now, Ijike Point was sure It bad the solution. Dad w’hs tired of being single—he had gone to Cbh-ago for his bride and she had lilted him ! To be sure they knew’ of Dad's devotion to “Marthy, but said ljake Point: “Men is all alike. Take Alma Arhuck's husband. She wasn’t in her grave three weeks until he begin steppin’ out Of course Dad was not fiORHessed Gf a flirtatious spirit as was the unfortunate Alma's husband, but that did not alter his decision. Only Dad Marten knew the real reason. There was his failure to produce the seedless melon when he was so sure of sucs-ess. Then there was the nightmare—he was going blind. So the occulist at Chicago had assured him. It was only a matter of six mouths till total blindness would occur. Then, besides these facts, he had heard rumors, vague to be sure, but supposedly based on Information from Ella, that sheared and the wool sold, a great deni of money Is brought into Burnet County. Burnet County has a very bright future. The factory at Marble Falls, the mines around Burnet, the Granite industry, the poultry business, the farms and the ranching all will aid In the building of Burnet county. At present two highways run through Burnet county and another la being proposed. The schools in Burnet county are growing very rapidly. Ber- tram and Briggs have new school buildings and Lake Victor has voted fifteen thousand dollars in bonds to use in build- ing a school house. Bg Lois Frg. Jake was likewise experimenting with an aim of producing a seedless melon! These were the reasons for I adfs mor- bidness. One morning about two months later. I ad chamed to stop in a store for a box of matches, and it was while be was waiting for his purchases that he heard the words which spelled ruin to him. Two men, oblivious of his presence were talking. Said one, neatly spitting on the other’s toef “Have you beard the news of Jake Marten’s luck? “No. resjionded the other. Wal, returned the first, “Ella told my ol woman as how Jake's fierdttced the melon without seeds. Put one over I ad. eh? Something snnppod in Dad's brain, For a moment he was numb, then came blinding fury such as he had never previously experienced. He felt a desire to kill! Jake had stolen his discovery! Really Jake had only smteeded where Da-1 failed, but Dad refused to see this. The old I ad would have been proud and congratulated Jake, but the new Dad’s heart was too warped by hatred. He left the store without wait- ing for his purchases. As he stumbled along, be met Jake—a new Jake, The old Jake had become prematurely aged by family cares, but this .lake seemed rejuvenated, Seeing Dad, he stopped and shout- ed, “Dad! I've really produced a seedless watermelon! We’ll both be famous together. Dad! It was your idea-- he got no further for Dad ignored the proffered hand and sft d« oru All evening, and late into the night he brooded. With the coming of dawn. Dad made a resolution to steal Jake’s ae- njunta.pf how he produced the melon, for every horticulturist keeps an account of his experiments. Dad chuckled glee- fully and ruhlied his hands. Yes sir! That’s what PH do. He laughed fiendishly. The laugh was maniacal and seemed to echo and re-echo. For a moment Dad had misgivings. Had not Jake offered to share the money and fame with him? But he Ignored his conscience and made his plans, n ■ would enter Jake's house after dark. About eight. Dad arrayed himself in his black alpaca suit, his socks, the last ones Marthy had nieuded, which he had reserved to l»e “laid out in, and sallied forth. Stealthily he pntered Jakes room, and there on the desk he tiebeld the accounts. Beside them was « melon—the melon without seed ! A perfect specimen It was. For a moment fury convulsed him at sight of it. His efforts for twenty- five pars were fruitless! Jake was to blame and he should suffer. Then he remembered that Jake went to lodge on th’s night. Then, he decided. Ella should pay 1 He started toward Flla's mom with some insane idea of killing Ella, and opened the door cautiously, he peered In. A low. sweet melody fell on bis ears. He halted. The melody was a srrange, haunting one. yet it seemed vaguely familiar. Seated In a chair was Ella, holding the baby, while around her were the children. The baby, he suddenly remembered, was bti name-sake. As Ella snug, a look, most holy settled on her face, and a radiance crept into her eyes. JKe Reformation.

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rHE COMET 7 In that mood I have drifted from place to place. Of course I act queerly. Who would not? This is the first time I lm e imparted my history to any living soul. Now yon understand that with these memories constantly before me life holds tin fascination for the. Now much lunger will I be compelled to live In lids world and endure the © terrible reminiscence»? Oh, that IvUelen had kllU i me on ihst fatal night ! Now much better It wntild have b» «-n ! The Child Labor Amendment By Leslie McDaniel 1 have learned that our states have not made and enforced laws u» prohibit children from working in nnhealthful an dangerous plates. Some states alb w the children to work 14 hours a day while some states have eleven hours as a limit for child labor. And these children are from twelve to four- teen years of ge. What are we going to do with such a condition? This is the future citizen of the United States, our beloved country, that other nations are looking to for a pattern. It is a Union of freedom and prosperity. But on the other hand ns soon as other jieople («me from other countries, their children begin to work in the factories and mires fur they mu find little else to do. And if they can accumulate enough money to return home on they do so for they d« not w ant tlieir children to work under such conditions. When people are in need of money the whole family usually work» In order to make a living and the children usually do anything that they can find to do. Some of the children work with In a y machinery in the greasiest places for they are so stun IT that they can do little else n limit machinery exf'ept to clean and oil it and this is very dangerous work. To have a child working among heavy machinery Is like hav- ing them to lie keepers of lions for it is impossible to tell when i he i are going to get their fatai blow. There are state laws but they are not being enforced and some of the factories are like an old sheep-killing dog. It will sneak around and get children in another state to do home work and dodge the state law . Therefore the states cannot control chihi labor The children and their mother together make 26 cent per hour at home work, while a woman who has no children makes 27 tents tier hour, and In some of the homes rhe children are sh k in i ed, s«,me of them with contagions diseases, doing hard work such as making powder puffs, etc. These articles carry the proud lat»el made in Ameren ' nod ‘’sanitary What do you think of ,■( nation letting sm-b a thing «» that exist? Of course children that are working under such conditions are not gainfully employed and there are many homes that take home work and do the work in the liack of the house, so if an Inspector were to come he would not find them at work. Now what are we going to do with that? 1 say give the Federal Government a trial for the States have had their trial and have not mceeded. of all the children of the United States, there are only 1.06P.H5K that are gainfully eue ployed between the age of ten and fifteen years, while three hundred seventy-eight thousand and sixty-three of them an Iteiween the age of ten and thirteen years, according to the nineteen hundred and twenty census. In New York City, five hundred and ninety four of the families were visited and one fourth of these had children between the ages of five and fifteen engaged hi home work. Mr. Hall said. “More than seventy nine [«er cent of the five hundred and thirty-five children reported working by the Investigators were under fourteen year» of «go, while thirty live per «•ent were under the age of ten and |«irt of the parents were foreign born, If this is not remedied and the rhll dren educated, we will become like Mexico, Those children are citizens of the United SfateH and will soon lie taking i»irf in the government. In ('«lifornia. land sella for three thoiiNnnd dollar» |ici acre and capital fs twelve jjer f ent. After the grapes and other fruits are gathered and the Intereat on (lie capital 1» paid there la very little left to pity the children and women so they have to suffer. Hiifij » - an angel or «« monurron dragon would come to the earth and piare pa hand on on- of our leading men each flay for one year and every man that it touched would no longer tie Me to fake a jeadcr’t part for his mind would is like s child mind K , ryUodv would lie in nn uproar trying to destroy the peat for they would realize it was u menace to our country Bor have something of the name kind happening today exoppr i children do riot have the chance To pirn enr the awful con- ditions, i say when a thing affects a nation as a wbofe a rhe dUW labor does, then It Is time for the Federal governmenr take charge. A republic government mng dnumrv rne mh dren so they can solve the pr idem that I f fore rh nL If one state has a high standard. The man lfa-mr r will vend their goods to another state That lias a iiow trandard. Haiti state ought to have to make report of the home work- ers that they have employed. Then the marcetor ' -nid ligate the home workers and see if they were worgimg ae cording to the standard Bat if it were a F iermi .aw it would lie the -ume offense in one state as tit n«Tiier. The first ten amendments w re made jnm diarejr after he constitution whs signed and were a--c r r i almost i a nar ’ of the original conati t or Ion ard ah ,Berber desirable and smut afterwards two more were Accepted by afL For the Jiat one hundred and twenty years oaty en imemtmenr.s made during all of the grt-ar progre- -. An»i it ta avfni for another amendment to tie made. Som - p-’Jtie say if dia amendment is passed that the children an lev ehshreen wan of ago will not have to work and th»?tr parent:? will nor da w any rower over them. But that Is all a misraice. Fbr odl one will have something to do. If mi • a : Tie i v i w.itild continue to milch the and Miry to »a u ne dishes. But the children who «re etirr h rml rill lint go on with their business as ’ef '■v The r Federal government will not pass an Ameodm-nr chu vouiil disable nny one After a MM s pot tvfbr either rf 'he houses it is referrem! to a vwiun» r tt e for puhtic tjtmrmg aail : file (‘oQmdtter anictinces it eve the Mil t» lend lint if i is pm it is placed on the calendar for a vra:n lay wi each metal er can express his v »v iro subject vmi t pn seti the President bas a veto power $t t hill goes through both bouse . 1 tkJmA :: a’ : Iu «ttfbcwe that bill especially If that hill U to poAiMt Tie wor ing of children In factories and ru • sow r tna !r r another a mend men t to t e added to the Here are some facts that you sh i i know anvm ni(j ntHir by Senator Med III Mci’ortnick IN you Sjiow 'll! since rfj - Snpmne wnrt in nltwttrtt hundred T»J w?uty- wo iev+tcod the child labor law uncottscltuthmaL .hitd inhw n he fifcc lories, fields and canneries has tW‘hfus iJ a i i i u niing n.e Do you know that tu WaterNir that nc-ir y eight times as inauy children twvl ei work wrutUh n ’UAe t hninirist twenty three as tu ulneteea TmumJ cstiio ' ’TN» you know that the tuvrva- tu onw k Itty per iviit in fourteen cities twvat.v fvui [er vo . ii i a 'kifn one hundred per ivnt. w hile m ulh «r(» i. -aa • hundred per nt? ’lk« ■(« know that tu V iiLU|0 ur«, wei fhau the limes as many chUdivi vrv tt w JWfc na a year ago' Ik you know that work vug j t he Ks (W4ds uiia.»a m