Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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10 THE TATTLER Ireland. He has a beautiful home, hilt that does not concern us, as it is the barn that is to be the scene of action. His black horse Jasper is the real object of attack. We will apply this pail of paint in such a manner that Jasper will appear like a genuine Zebra imported from Africa. Now if you guys don’t get chicken hearted and flunk out we will use these brushes in a most artistic manner inside of a half hour.” With these words they started down the shore. As they walked along Clifford whispered to Abe in a trembling voice: ‘‘Do you see those bushes moving? I guess I’ll go back.” Abe laughed a suppressed, Ha! Ha! “You are a peach, can’t tell when the wind sways the bushes. Come along and don’t get scared at such little things.” 'They came to the place where the canoes were hidden in the bushes, carried them to the river, got in and paddled out into the middle of the stream. The current took them gently down for quite a distance. There the stream narrowed and flowed with swift current. When they were in the middle of the rapids the front end of the canoe, which was carrying Hughie and Jite struck a rock. The current began to turn the canoe around. When crosswise of the stream, it tipped its occupants out. The water was quite chilly, but they were mighty stars of the gridiron and by making use of all their strength they swam toward shore and landed about two hundred feet further down. The other canoe landed safely and all began action even though Hughie and Jite were rather moist. There was a steep cliff of shale about fifteen feet high where they landed. They threw a stone, to which a rope was fastened, into a tree which stood at the top of the cliff and ascended by means o' the rope. From here they proceeded to the barn, whicih stood a little ways off. Here they found that an entrance could be gained only by a side window. The window was quite loose but held shut at the side by a nail. Hugh was always bragging about his strength and especially his health (and well he might brag about the latter, for he called frequently at the home of the health officer to visit his daughter Jeanl, so he was given the job of opening the window. He gave a tremendous boost, there was a loud squeak, and the window was open. The act was just completed when the Prof, stepped out on the porch. The Hallowe’eners made a dash for the back of the barn, but returned again when the Prof, had closed the door behind him. They all entered through the window except Clifford, who remained outside to guard. The blanket was taken from Jasper, the paint bucket was onened and in ten minutes he was striped until he actually looked like one of t v e genuine zoological specimens. The blanket was put on the horse again, the paint and brushes handed out the window, to Clifford. All jumped out of the window, leaving the barn as quiet and peaceful as it was a half hour before. They returned to the canoe, threw paint bucket and brushes into the river and all except Abe, who took tike canoe down stream, walked along the stream until they came to a pile ot brush where they had hid the canoe. They were feeling pretty smart over their prank as they separated to go home but their spirits fell before twelve hours elansed. They were told next morning by the principal that they were no longer members of C. H. S. and they would have to make things right before any consideration whatever would be given to their re-entrance to school. It was a bitter

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THE TATTLER 9 A HALLOWE’EN STUNT. J. K. About one hundred years ago on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie there was situated a quaint and industrious old burgh called Conneaut. The prominence of this old city in the (histories of today lies in the fact that it was the home of the famous and now world renowned institution of learning known as C. H. S. There were some very notable as well as re markable characters associated with the institution at that time. The most prominent instructor, perhaps, was Mr. J. E. Helman, whose famous “Study Hall System” ihas been handed down to modern times. Mr. V. R. Henry was another of its famous teachers who was a scientist of no mean ability and his wonderful discoveries in chemistry and physics as well as “bugology,” burden the pages of modern text books. There were also some very prominent students who attended school not only for the education they might acquire but to have a part in some deviltry as well. School had been in session about seven weeks. The October frosts had painted the thills and valleys with gold and crimson, the bluish clouds of autumn haze hovered on the distant horizon. Hallowe’en was near at hand. The Hallowe’ens of previous years had been filled with depredations which had caused the hair of some of the participants to stand straight up. it was the plan of a so-called bunch of “Ruf Necks” to break all records by one of their “stunts.” Albert Hall, usually called “Abe,” was recognized by the members of this gang to be leader. Abe’s mind was full of dreams and plans as he made his way to the school on a bright morning about a week before that eventful night (Hallowe’en). He met Jite and Hughie on the way and the three talked very confidentially until they arrived at school. Lessons were not at all interesting, the sections dragged slowly, the day was indeed a dreary one for these three. After school they met and arranged tiheir plans. The coming Thursday eve would be Hallowe’en. On that night Jite and Hughie were to have two canoes hidden in the bushes about one hundred yards from an old stone bridge that crossed the river near a place called Rocky Point. There were two other members of the bunch, “Micky” Green and Clifford Childs. All were to meet at the bridge at ten o’clock. Micky” was to bring a bucket of white paint and Clifford two brushes. Tt was no wonder that Abe did not have his lessons when Thursday came, his head was all a whirl and he was sentenced to that awful forty minutes in the Study Hall after school. Clifford went home from school, sat down and attempted to study, (a thing quite uncommon for him), but he could not apply himself. It did seem to him as though the sun would never sink below the distant woods. Five o’clock—six o’clock—oh, how long the hours seemed! At last at nine-thirty he stepped from the porch and walked quickly in the direction of the bridge. When he arrived all were there. They stood about in a semi-circle while Abe told them the place they were to attack. “Now, fellows,” he began, you all know the way we have been treated, many times we have taken the blame for various pranks that have been committed, when we should have done otherwise. Prof. Smith we think is at the bottom of it, and we will show him ‘some stunt’ tonight. He has been very aristocratic since he received his dowry from

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THE TATTLER 11 pill for the boys to swallow, for one week later they mounted the platform in chapel and made their humble apology. They had missed one whole week of school and were thus ineligible for athletics. They spent but few nights at the “Red Star’’ for the next two weeks, for if they wished to play in the championship game on Thanksgiving they had to be up in their studies. Tuesday their lessons were all in, Thursday was to be the big day. A terrible suspense reigned in the minds of the boys all day Wednesday but that night after receiving a severe lecture in the office they were given permission to play. The next day as the team was journeying to the “Shipyard City,’’ “Micky” turned to Jite, who sat beside him, and said, “Well, kid, I guess we got out of that pretty slick.” They entered the game that day with all the vim they had and in the last game of the season “Micky” carried the pigskin over the goal for C. H. S. NED AUSTIN’S MISTAKE. A. W. Spring had come and with it that irresistible longing to be out of doors, linked with that peculiar dreaminess, which every one has felt. So it happened that the attention of many of the solid geometry class at Morton High wandered from the face of Professor Welsch to the beauties without. But suddenly all were brought back to life by his words: “As you all know,” he was saying, “it is a rule that no one shall take part in our annual track meet who oes not have a passing mark in all his studies. In order to ascertain who will be allowed to take part in our coming meet there will be a geometry exam tomorrow.” Astonishment could be seen in every face for this, an old rule, had never been enforced and there wrere many doubts as to the rating of some of the best men. Morton Hi and Heyward Hi had been the most bitter rivals since the time when the old confederate soldier, Major Heyward, had founded a school, and Colonel Morton, a Union man, had founded another near by Founded by enemies, it was not strange that they were rivals, and it han pened that the annual track meet was the scene of many a hotly contested struggle. This year Morton, anxious to wipe out a defeat of the year before, was making every effort to win. The announcement of the geometry exam was especially unpleasant to Ned Austin and Harold Wilson. These young men, while not brilliant in their studies, were the main strength of the track team. As they left the room together they were met by the Morton coach. Calling them to one side tibe coach addressed them, “You fellows must see to it that yon pass that geometry exam tomorrow. You know that I depend on you and Halton to win that coming meet. Professor Welsch tells me that there is no danger that Halton will fail, but he is not so sure about you.” The coach noticed the scowl that passed over Austin’s face as Halton’s name was mentioned, and sighed as he turned away. He knew that the hardest task a coach has is to making a winning team out of men who do not trust each other. That night Ned and Harold were in Ned’s room when some one knocked. “Come in,” Ned called out, and Halton stepped into the room. “I thought perhaps you fellows would like a little help on your Geom. You must not fail, you know.”