Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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The next sport was basket ball. Tom was not so good a basket ball player as Bill Sly, who was about eighteen years old, very fast on his feet, and very powerful for a young fellow of his age. Bill disliked Tom greatly, because the latter was liked so well by the other boys. As Bill was the best basket ball player in the school, naturally the boys chose him as their captain. He picked his team, and strange to say left Tom out. Tom felt put out over this, but when he told his parents of the disappointment, they said, “Well, Tom, just take a little rest and make the work of your teachers easier by doing your school work better, and in the end you will be just as well off.” Still this was a hard blow for Tom, not merely because he would miss so many of the dollars his father had promised him, but he would also miss the sport. However, Tom did as his mother and father suggested, and when the term was over his school record was excellent throughout. When he showed his father his report a surprise met him. “Here, Tom, take these ten dollars, and I’ll give you two dollars for every ‘Excellent’ you get next term,” said his father, glad of Tom’s high scholarship. Now Tom realized, that athletics was not the only thing that his father was interested in, but that he wanted him to know about books also. As Tom was walking home from school not long after, he heard someone behind him say, “Say, Tom, I heard the boys were going to elect you captain of the baseball team this year, because you did so well last season. Don’t forget your ‘Dutch Uncle.’” “All right Jim, I’ll see that you get on the team, but you will certainly have to hustle, for the boys are anxious to show their skill this year.”. Thus ended a short chat between Tow White and Jim Brown. Tom had a job on hand now to pick players for his baseball team, but he finally picked all but a right fielder. “Bill Sly is a fine right fielder,” said Frank Smith. Willie Winsome said, “Bill’s a good player, but he did a mean trick to Tom by leaving him out of the basket ball five, and Tom ought to forget about him.” Then George Smith said, John Lowell is a pretty good player Tom, why not pick him for right field, and let Bill Sly out? Bill is no friend of yours anyway.” So Tom gave way to his feeling of revenge, and took Lowell instead of Sly for right field, although he seemed to feel he was doing the school and Bill Sly a wrong. The season was passing pretty luckily for Tom’s team, and they managed to win three games and tie one. A few days later one of the boys came up to Tom after practice and said, “What is the matter with you Tom, every fellow in the school is talking about the way the team has been playing, every game so far has been won by luck, and the boys say the fielders are punk. The boys say that you have a grudge against Bill Sly, and that is why he is not playing on the baseball team. They also said that the season would soon be over, and if the team did not play better ball, that the school would lose the Championship.” 112

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Jfor tlje $onor of tfje jfecfjool TOM WHITE was just fourteen years old when he entered High School. He was naturally a bright young fellow, and the boys took very kindly to him. He was so friendly and so helpful. Whenever any of the boys wanted assistance in their work at home, such as cleaning up the yard, raking the leaves, or cutting the grass, they knew they could always depend upon Tom to help them. Thus in turn the boys were only too glad to return the favor when he had any extras to do and needed assistance. In this way he made many friends in his first year at High School. Tom’s mother and father, as you may know, were very proud of him, and as he was their only son they intended to send him through High School. Tom’s father was Secretary of a small Iron Manufacturing Company, and when Tom finished school he intended to secure a position in his father’s employment. Tom went in for athletics in his second year at school and although young, as he was very strong and rugged and of a determined nature, he landed a position as end on the second team in football. He played so splendidly in this capacity, that the boys elected him captain of the first team for the coming season. The football season being now over, Tom went in for basketball and played center, holding this position throughout the season. Next when the baseball season was on hand, Tom also played that game holding a position as pitcher. Thus he made a fine reputation in athletics throughout his second year. His father was so well pleased that he promised him a dollar for every winning game in which he played, during the coming season. The school vacation was new here, and Tom and a few of his boy friends went camping. These fellows were the very best type of Young America, for they knew when to work and they knew when to play, and that is why they succeeded so well. After camping for about two months, all wished that school would commence again, so that they could look upon the faces of their friends once more. Tom was now sixteen years old, and just full of fun. He was glad to go back to school for his third year and chuckled to himself when he thought of all the dollars his father would have to give him, for he intended to win every game in which he played. Because he had been elected captain of the football team he had about thirty young fellows to try out for the first team. After fully two weeks of rough “workouts,” he picked out the fellows he thought showed up well in practice, and later on as you may see, it was shown that he certainly had used good judgment. This football team went through the season, winning every game that they played and without being scored upon. After having beaten every High School in their own town, they defeated several out of town High School teams, and won the Senate Championship. Many of the boys were chosen on the All-Star-Scholastic Eleven, among them Tom White. ill

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Tom realized now that he should have chosen Bill Sly, even though Bill had not chosen him for basket ball, and after thinking the matter over, his conscience bothered him mere, so he went to Bill Sly the next morning and said, “Bill, I didn’t like you, because you did not put me on the basket ball team, and that is why I did not put you on the baseball team, but I realize now that ycu are a valuable player, and by leaving you out, I have done you a wrong, and have wronged the school also. But at the present time, Bill, the school is in need of a player of your caliber, and for the sake of the school, not for my sake, I want you on my team.” Well, Tom, I always felt sore about this affair, and firmly believed that I deserved a place on the team, but if I can help the school by playing with the team, I will endeavor to do my best.” “Thanks Bill, seeing its that way we’ll call it square. Shake hands. So long Bill ” “So long. Bill felt dissatisfied yet, but he was out for practice every night, and played in two games which the team easily won. The boys were getting prepared for the final game for the Championship and as the two teams were tied for first place, everybody expected to witness some exciting plays. “There is going to be things doing Saturday,” said Jimmy Smith to John Brown. “Yes, indeed, I hope we win,” replied John. Well, may be we won’t,” said Jimmy. “You never can tell, said John, “for the two teams are pretty evenly matched.” “Yes, but we have more experienced fellows. And did you hear that Tom White put Bill Sly on the team?” “No, I didn’t.” “Yes, he put Bill on the team last week.” Bill is a good player, I hear, said John, But I never saw him play. “Well you come to the game Satuday, and you will see him play, along with the rest of the boys,” said Jimmy. “Oh! I’ll be there with bells on,” said John. The day for the game was now at hand. It was Saturday; the grounds were fine, and the weather splendid, and the two teams were there, each confident of winning the game. Remarks from the side lines were rapidly coming forth, just to show the spectators that the School Spirit was there. “Watch us eat ’em up,” said Smith. We’ll make ’em look like a Chinese two cent piece, with a hole punched in it,” said Greene. “Play Ball.” shouted the Umpire. 113