Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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TIIE TATTLER A PLEASANT SURPRISE. Yes, it was really true. Peace had been declared! And now came the joyful news that the boys were being mustered out. “Of course James will be home for Christmas,” exclaimed the happy mother as she read the letter aloud to the anxious father. Such a busy time followed. Christmas was so near at hand! Then came the dreadful message signed by the official war department. James R. Harris had been fatally wounded on the battlefield November 9, 1918. Oh! what a cruel world! It seemed that the sunshine had all been blotted out. The wreathes of holly, the evergreen, and the Christmas bells which pealed out “peace on earth, good-will to men,” seemed to mock the mother and father. Christmas found them sitting all alone overwhelmed by their sorrow. It seemed almost more than they could bear. The loved stalwart son in whom their every hope had been centered, lying in the cold grave in far off France. When he left them one short year ago he was in the best of health and spirits, and his letters had been so full of good cheer. As this dear old couple sat by the fireside and gave themselves up to sorrowful meditation, they were aroused by the sound of the front door opening, and hurried footsteps in the hall. They jumped to their feet just as a broad-shouldered, khaki-clad figure filled the doorway. “James! Thank God!” exclaimed the father. “My son! Alive and well!” breathed the mother, as they were embraced by the strong arms of the young soldier. It was indeed their son. After the first shock of joy and surprise had passed, lengthy explanations followed, and they sat until the wee sma’ hours of morning, listening to the wonderful tales of adventure and the harrowing experiences which the young man had been through. They finally concluded that the official notice which they had received, and which had turned their sunshine into darkest night, had been intended for the parents of another James Harris who lived in an adjoining county, and whom James had met first in the cantonment and later on the battlefield. With a sigh and a tear of sympathy for those other grief-stricken parents who had yet to receive such sad news, these devout people with one accord knelt in a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to One who had safely guided their boy through the maelstrom of war and brought him again to “home, sweet home.” H. S. H. ’20. THE VALUE OF LATIN. This is a big subject to be treated briefly, so that only the most conspicuous benefits will be mentioned in this article. Latin is not a dead language any more than the English in Page Six

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THE TATTLER RESOLVED: TO MIND MY OWN BUSINESS. Donald Lewis. All the world seemed bright to Donald Lewis one gloomy February morning. He had invited Marjorie Clayton to go to the “All Sophomore Dance,’’ and he had just received a letter of her acceptance. It was Saturday morning and Donald was going to the skating pond. He was skating along gayly whistling a tune, when he came upon his chum, Ted Pennington, sitting upon a stone, before the fire, at the edge of the pond, in a dejected attitude. Donald skated up to him and asked, “What’s the matter Ted, old boy?” “Nothin’ ”, growled Ted. Donald perceived that something had gone wrong in Ted’s world, for good-natured Ted was very seldom seen in such a state as this. “What right have I to be so happy,” thought Donald, “when Ted is apparently so sad. Why, I’ve known Ted for fourteen years—no fifteen. Why I’ve known him all my life and he always helps me out of my difficulties. So I guess it’s up to me to do the same.” Then a brilliant idea struck Donald. “Say Ted, is it about the dance?” he inquired. Ted nodded. “Did she refuse?” he queried. Ted didn’t answer. Donald repeated his question and Ted merely replied, “Didn’t ask her yet.” Not daunted, Donald inquired. “Got stage fright, old boy?” Ted remained silent. There Donald took courage and began: “Ted Pennington, the idea that a boy on the football and basketball teams, and in everything going on at the high school should balk at the idea of asking a girl to a dance. She can’t do any more than refuse. Now come on, let me be the girl and you propose—propose asking me to the dance, I mean. All you have to say is, ‘May I have the honor of—’ ” This is all the further Donald got for Ted jumped to his feet, his eyes blazing and exclaimed, “Don Lewis, so it’s stage fright I’ve got, eh? What on earth do you think I am?” Then all of a sudden his tone changed so as to become more persuasive. “Say, Don,” he pleaded, “I’m in no end of a fix. I want to ask Betty Thurston and Allison Rodgers to the dance. Say, can a fellah take two girls ? ” Donald gasped. So it was two girls that was bothering him. “I give up, Ted,” he sadly replied. “Suit yourself,” and so saying he walked away, chuckling to himself, resolving to attend strictly to his own affairs after this. S. P. Page Five

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THE TATTLER Chaucer and Shakespeare’s time. It only lives in another form. In its modern form (now called Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Roumanian) it is 90 per-cent Latin. Moreover, a very large proportion of the words of the English language is derived from tne Latin. As an illustration of this, nearly three-fourths of the words in the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States (with the exception of prepositions and articles) are of Latin origin. As a result of actual experiment, it has been found that Latin students are superior in their work in English to those who have no knowledge of Latin. Many pupils know practically no technical English grammar until they have studied Latin. Lyman Abbott, Editor of ‘The Outlook’ says, “My first remembrance of grammar is my study of the Latin grammar which gave me, so far as I now can see, whatever knowledge I possess of the structure of language. Through Latin, the pupil gets a mastery of grammar, sentence structure, and analysis, and a feeling for shades of word meaning impossible to acquire merely through the vernacular. Latin develops the memory, the reason, the judgment, the imagination, observation, accuracy and concentration of mind. It familiarizes one with the history and thought of the greatest nation of antiquity, the nation that furnished us with the basis of our laws and government, language and literature. The greatest works of English literature have been written by men who knew Latin and they contain innumerable passages which cannot be understood without a knowledge of Latin. Mythological stories become more vivid and real as they are read in the language in which they were originally written. Latin is the foundation of the Romance language and is a good basis for the study of language in general. Latin furnishes the key to the terminology of science and philosophy, Latin Maxims, to the meaning of familiar quotations, proverbs and formulae. Latin contributes more or less directly to success in the professions. Lawyers, clergymen, journalists, statesmen, scientists and business men testify heartily in favor of Latin. In these ways and in others, the study of Latin is closely con nected with the life of the modern world, and it cannot well be disregarded by any one who wishes to become in the best sense efficient and intelligent. M. A. S. COUGH-FEE. Customer: “Waiter, a little bird told me this coffee was not strained.” Waiter: “A little bird, sir?” Customer: “Yes, a swallow.” Page Seven