Butler High School - Tropaeum Yearbook (Butler, IN)

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class. But this class possessed the saving sense of humor and so escaped the bad (and good) effects of the aforesaid rules. This band of twenty-five faithful followers of good, chose Helen Smurr to guide them to the end of the’r high school career. And it came to pass that the class of ’20 went out into the world amid great rejoicing (and thankfulness on the part of the faculty) that their career in Butler High School was ended. —A. B. ’20 SENIOR CLASS PHOFHECY In the famous Newville Daily News in the month of May of the year 1930 there m’ght have been seen the following flaming headlines and the details of a terrible crime. “Lost Strayed or Stolen—A monkey owned by Mrs. Ralph Mutzfeld, last seen near his home on West Craton Avenue. Investigation having been made with no trace of the unfortunate found, all evidence points toward an ab- duction. “Mr. Mutzfeld is a well known citizen of Butler. Indiana, having engaged in the harness and farming machinery business for several years. Mr. Mutzfeld was a member of the class of ’20 of B. II. S. and the year after leaving high school, married Miss Marjorie Waterman, also a '20 graduate of B. If. S. It has now been twenty years since that terrible crime was committed, and perhaps all but the immediate family of the departed have ceased to wonder concerning the mystery. I, myself, had almost entirely forgotten the incident, when one morning an old man appeared at my office door, requesting that he be allowed to tell me a story which he assured me would be of great interest to me. Naturally I could not refuse so urgent a request and here is the result of the interview. “Although you perhaps do not remember me yet I was once one of your own kind, prosperous energetic and useful citizens. Abut twenty years ago a dreadful misfortune befell me and until now I have been kept in seclusion with no other entertainments than Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Modern Civics, and Caesar’s Gallic War. Upon my release I appeared in this city, learning that you were in the city 1 decided to come and ask your advice concerning whether I should go home and enjoy my former life or continue traveling about until my days should be ended. I had been watching the speaker during this recital until by his gestures, and by his mumbling yet spirited talk I recognized him to be no other than my class mate Ralph Mutzfeld—or the stolen Monkey. I decided that I would not let him know that I had discovered his identity so that he could continue his narrative without interruption.

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“READ AND YE SHALL HEAR OF THE CLASS OF ’20“ CHAPTER I. On the eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, it came to pass that forty-two innocent, wide-eyed Freshies passed from the tribulations and trials of the common schools into the joys and sorrows of the Butler High School. And it so happened that these Freshies chose for their leader one Ralph Mutzfeld, who, lamenting, led them through the first year of their trials. And it also came to pass that these Freshies selected for their class flower, the black-eyed Susan, and for their colors, black and old gold. And these Freshies went unto many parties, at which they partook of weinies, toasted marsh-mallows, pickles, and like delicacies. CHAPTER II. And it also can.e to pass that at the beginning of the next term, with the loss of a few members along the wayside, these same Freshies passed into B. H. S. as Sophomores. The nation also claimed two members, Carrol Hollinger and Floyd Handy, in that most unholy pursuit, war. It so happened that one Madge McClellan was chosen as class leader, and her disciples willingly (?) followed her through the rough sea of English, His- tory. Caesar and Algebra II. And it came to pass that, one night, these disciples followed their leader into the wilderness of Wartenbee's Grove, beside the still waters of the River St. Joe. where after a fast of six long hours, they feasted upon numerous watermelons, which seemed to have dropped from the skies, so miraculously did they appear. CHAPTER HI. And it came to pass that these Sophomores went yet a step higher and be- came Juniors of exceptional ability. Ann it so happened that after their first class meeting, a certain Ora Blaker came to be known as their class president. And as the Juniors came unto the rough sea of English, History Book- keeping. and Geometry, their leader smote upon the rock of know-it-all the sea divided, and the Juniors passed through unscathed. And it came to pass that these Juniors were known in all the athletic and social affairs of the school. It so happened that when a Junior appeared on thejiasket ball floor, the opposing team said all in one breath. “We are beat- en,” and immediately sank into oblivion. CHAPTER IV. And when the Juniors became Seniors, it came to pass that, by their strict rules, the faculty took upon themselves to take all the joy out of the Senior

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“You will probably understand my hopeless outlook on life,” he continu- ed, “when T relate to you the changes which have been wrought in the lives and appearances of my associates since my departure from civilization. T do not know how I was conveyed back to the civilized world but suddenly I found myself in New York City. Being anxious to see some of the wonders of the city, I decided to go on a tour. Upon going thru one of the leading theatre districts, I was attracted by the following announcement on the advertising boards of one of the most popular theatres in the city. “The Voice Invisible!!! Carrie Vondizzimi!!!! “A lady who once having a singing voice of wonderful possibility is now without the use of this voice and also of her power of speech, due to her mod- est and silent behavior during her childhood and high school life. Mrs Vondizzimi always very proficient in pantomine will exhibit her arts along that line. Mr. Vondizzimi, her husband, considered the leanest man in the world is also a sight worth seeing.” “In some compelling way I was attracted by this advertisement and decid- ed that I would go in and see this queer performance. The performers had already commenced to demonstrate their arts when I arrived, and I soon rec- ognized them as being no other than my two old classmates Louise Willock and Ralph Campbell. Due to her enormous size. Louise was scarcely recog- nizable but due to her old time perseverance she had evidently determined to continue her pantomine entertainments even though her fabulous proportions prohibited graceful movements. But what came next was the saddest sight of all. The tears streamed from my eyes as 1 gazed upon this apparition who had once been the most robust fellow of my class in B. II. S. He had diminished in size until he was but a shadow of his former self. After the play, I had a little talk with Ralph and he told me that in the evenings he helped Louise with her work and during the day time he worked on his Fativious Fliver which he expected to demonstrate in the year of 1953. He could not tell why he had become such a dwarfish creature but he attributed it to the unkindness of nature. After this disappointing revelation I decided that I had seen enough of New York life and thought I would go back to my own home town and see what changes had been brought about there. Upon hurrying into the street and on my way to the depot I was suddenly struck by some vehicle and knew nothing more until I opened my eyes and found a lady in a nurses uniform standing over me. I recognized this lady at once as Clara Panhuysen and as soon as I gained sufficient strength I told her my name. She was very much surprised at seeing me after all the years that had elapsed since our last meet-