Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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“Hi, Hi, shack a da ru, Shack, Shack, Shack, Shack, Shack a da ru, She bi, She by, She by Gal Bu, High School of Commerce, Rah, Rah, Ru” JOHN McTIGUE, 1911. 3n 3nk Bottle’s j oliloqup U H how glad I am that it’s Saturday. Maybe I can rest a while today and I think if anything on earth needs it, I certainly do. I wonder how I happened to be put in this big study room, anyway- It is always so quiet in here, and yet even when I yell as loud as I can no one seems to hear me, but maybe they are studying so hard that they can’t. Sometimes I see some of them looking up at a queer looking object upon the wall which makes a little noise every second. Something in it moves back and forth and so many of the children look at it, and so often, that I think it must be some fine decoration or basket-ball trophy. Every little while I hear a big noise that sounds like an ambulance or fire-engine gong, and a few minutes later I hear three or four of these noises and all the children in here jump up and hurry away, and others come in. They all look to be nice and pleasant but most of them that I have had anything to do with, are very rude and unkind to me, for they jab their sharp daggers, or whatever they call them, right into my sides. They hurt me so that I yell as hard and as loud as I can, but they go on jabbing me just the same and I feel awful. I wish I could jab them once and show them how nice it is, but I guess they don’t know any better, poor children. I pity them so because they have to carry so many books, and seem to study so hard; but I would rather be one of them any day than what I am,— a tired, old, black ink bottle. Sometimes the children take my nice cream colored hat and play with it. They always get it dirty, and sometimes they forget to put it on me again and then I catch a cold in my head. Sometimes they get our hats mixed and yesterday some one gave me a hat that belonged to a red ink bottle. Sometimes they tear up some of the white stuff that they write on, and shove it down my neck. It makes me feel awful choky and hoarse. Oh! I’m so tired and hungry that I can’t rest at all. I’m always so busy during the day and at night my sides ache so that I can’t sleep. I’m sure I’ll get appendicitis if vacation doesn’t come soon. Oh I wish that man would come and give me something to eat. I’ve been hungry ever since Wednesday and I only get one meal a week, but I get so much then that I am full up to my neck. If I could only yell louder I’d tell them when I’m hungry, but I can’t. Oh, here he comes with my dinner, so I guess I’ll quit talking and get busy the way the kids do in the study room ” emma APPLEBY 1912 115

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“All right Shorty, show him up,” shouted one of the boys, for Shorty was the first man up. The game went very fast, and was interesting, until in the eighth inning the score was one to one “Eat ’em up now, fellers, said one of the boys from the opposing team. While remarks such as, “Hit him in the head Tom.” “Put one around his neck.” “Give him a drop, etc., came from our line. The last inning was opened by Tom’s striking out the first man up. The second fellow popped a fly to Bill Sly. The third man hit the ball for a double, which gave his team confidence. The next man hit for a double, and the next fellow got a single. Tom was fatigued now, and his arm gave out from too much pitching, and the opposing team seemed to be able to hit the ball all over the field. The captain of the opposing team was now up, and as he was known to be a heavy hitter, the fielders moved out. Tom realized the Captain’s strong point, and therefore he determined to pitch the ball with all the strength he still possessed, as the game depended upon whether the Captain could get a hit or would fail to make good. Tom pitched the ball over twice, one immediately after the other, while the Captain was posing. “Two Strikes,” shouted the Umpire. The Captain was surprised, and watched carefully for a good one. Then Tom sent the ball in with terrific speed, the Captain hit it squarely, and it went through the air like a shot. Look at Bill Sly, he’s too far out for that ball,” said Brown, quite excited. “Hope he gets it.” “Watch him muff it, said another. “Look out ” The sun is in your eyes,” shouted a couple of the opposing team. Bill ran away up for the ball, stuck out his glove, and the ball fell safely into it. “Robber, Robber!” shouted the Captain together with a couple of his tollowers, who were feeling very much put out over the defeat. Scrambling and running about followed. Cheering words were passed to Tom, but something seemed to be troubling him. The first thing he did, was to go over to Bill Sly, and thank him for the fine playing he performed, and asked Bill to forget the past. “From now on we are friends,” said Tom, and to prove the sincerity of his statement he led the fellows in three cheers for Bill Sly the “Hero of the Day.” The boys then wound up the cheering in their favorite fashion: “Three Cheers for Bill Sly.” “Three Cheers for Tom White.” “Three Cheers for the Team.” Let us all give the School Yell. 114

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JJrotfjerfjooti of tfje €mptp UuU I SAT in my old time playroom dreaming of bygone days. Among my playthings I found a dear old tattered tin soldier. One arm was out of the sleeve, but he still carried his gun. His nose was battered and his eyes had a look as dull as lead. He looked as if he would collapse. I took him in my hands, straightened cut the dents the best I could, repainted his face and eyes, and brushed his dusty coat. Then I looked admiringly at him “My dear playfellow, you look too good to stand here useless. Go out into the world and fight in its battle for fame. Just then a brightly lit coal fell out of the fireplace, and immediately things took on a brighter aspect. I seized the light and placed it in his gun which he held. Immediately a bright look came into his eyes and his lips curved into a smile. Bestir yourself now, my comrade, and put on a bold front.” “Shoulder your gun and go forth fearlessly.” The soldier stirred not from his place. “What, get you gone, you coward, you numskull! Think you I took such pains to renew you only to have my work in vain. Go forth and dare not return until you have performed some deed that will repay me and show your gratitude.” This so frightened the soldier that he tottered toward me a few steps. “Good,” I cried, “Try again, you will do better each time. Thus encouraged the poor fellow took a few steps more, each time more certain, until you could hardly tell him from a real live soldier. “A soldier need not talk much, only a few commands in a voice that is clear and to the point. Therefore I bid you speak! Speak! Left face! Shoulder arms! “That was splendid, you are learning rapidly,” I cried with joy. “Any time you are surrounded by difficulties, just use your voice of command and you will gain your end.” Now go, dear comrade and bring me good news of your success. But be careful not to let your light go cut. If it grows dim, cry, ‘Replenish, O Light,’ and the light will replenish, but if you let it go out you will again become nothing but a Tin Soldier.” Then I let Comrade out the front door into the street. He walked with a left, right, that made one feel preud of him. Along the street he strode looking straight ahead. “My, he looks like a General1 at least,” said some passerby. “Look how he holds up his head! He will surely make his way through the world.” Comrade, as he walked down the street, passed a blustering fellow who was abusing his little dog. “Halt! Right about face!” said Comrade’s commanding voice. The blustering fellow was so frightened he took to his heels as fast as he could run Next, Comrade met a man beating his horse. “Halt! Right about face! Shoulder arms!” cried he with such a commanding voice that the man stopped at once. But alas, poor Comrade was so heart and soul in his work, he forgot to watch his light. It had gone out. It was too late now to replenish it, for 116