Butler High School - Tropaeum Yearbook (Butler, IN)

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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-

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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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ing and commenced to tell me her life’s history. After leaving high school she had engaged in commercial work, but she soon became dissatisfied as she long- ed to be of some benefit to the sick and afflicted, so she had launched upon a nurse’s career. She seemed especially fitted for her work and under her ex- perienced care, I was soon able to leave the hospital. After leaving the hospital, I immediately started to Butler and as I came home through Ft. Wayne 1 decided to stop in that city for a short time. As I came from the train, the first person who attracted my attention was a girl whom 1 remembered as Lelah Alwood, and by her side was a man whom 1 rec- ognized as no other than that “freshie” who had always been at her side dur- ing the last year of her career in B. II. S. 1 introduced myself to them. During a recital of my experiences since leaving high school, I soon realized that their thoughts were far from my conversation and upon asking them the cause they could no longer conceal the great secret. They told me that this was their wedding day and that as Homer had forgotten the ring, they were hurrying to make that purchase. At this disclosure I immediately decided to help cele- brate the event and at their invitation accompanied them to a large jewelry store. After the selection of the ring had been made and Lelah and Homer had left the store, I introduced myself to the proprietor whom I recignized as Hubert Doud. Hubert and I had a pleasant time talking of what had trans- pired since our departure from high school and he told me of his successful venture in the jewelers trade. I asked Hubert concerning Homer and Lelah’s delayed marriage and lie told me that Homer had been compelled to wait until he graduated from high school, and then the decision that he would first make a successful start in some business had postponed their marriage until rather late in life. As I had only intended to make a short stay in Ft. Wayne I immediately started to Butler and after a ride of about one hour, arrived in that city. I no- ticed with great satisfaction that Butler had greatly increased in size and when I inquired about the high school I learned that it had correspondingly grown since a fine new building had been erected an a large choice of courses was offered. Hearing so much concerning the school, I decided to visit my alma mater first of all. 1 found Lmma Brown as teacher of sermonizing and of its advantages, a position which 1 decided was very fitting and proper, as in high school, we, her poor fellow classmates, had more than once been swamped by her discourses and incomprehensible vocabulary. Helen Smurr was also teaching in the high school with the subjects of advanced commercial arithmetic, Latin and Greek as her work. Upon interviewing the superin- tendent of the school, I found that both Emma and Helen had given excellent satisfaction. I next visited the down town districts where a man in a lumber wagon