Lane Technical High School - Lane Tech Prep Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 Page 27 numerable controversies which might have arisen U Stopi l've had enough. Did you learn all that in the Forum? What language are you speaking? Holy smokes. Now I'm sure l don't want to join. lf l talked like that to anyone they might think l'm calling them names or something. The only big word l know how to spell might be dictionary and then that's going some. Now if you want a chance to recuperate l'll take you to the Lane concert to- morrow night. My parents were supposed to go but they can't tind the time. Do you think you can make it?l' UI might consider it if carfare is included in the deal. ln my quest for additional articulate sounds expressing ideas l might be able to gather some at the concert. 1 give up. Iiric. If you promise not to use those words which are all Greek to me, l'll pay your car- faref' The promise was made and kept, at least for that one night. The chums were among the tirst in line for the concert. ln another half hour it began. t'Say . . . this isn't bad at all. They're playing some mighty sweet music. You know, l've been watching a certain violin player on the stage. He looks just like one of the fellows in our room. See that small lad in thc third seat on the left? Yep, l see him. Sure, it's the same fellow that sits in the second seat in division. His name is Beraui or something like that. Now l'm positive. It is Anthony Bertini. We'll have to look him up tomorrow. Like l've always said. Our division room is well represented in everything. We have a speaker deluxe and a . . . You sure hate yourself, don't you, Eric? My eye. I don't wish you any bad luck but if you do develop laryngitis it will make me happy. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So it developed that Bertini was congratulated the next day. Somewhat perplexed himself, he was soon put at ease by Billy. It sure was a swell concert last night, Tony. How come you never told us you played the violin? Oh, I don't see that it makes any difference. Thanks anyway for taking an interest in the music departmentf' Star Gazing? K ln this way Bertini joined Billy's gang of schoolmates. He was immensely interested in music. Whenever he had the chance he would try to get someone to discuss music. lncidentally Kurt Otto began to give the boys trouble again. It might be well to relate an inci- dent which occurred in the foundry one morning. johnson was pouring molten metal into one of the molds. As he was passing Otto with a ladle full of the molten iron, he tripped on a misplaced cope and fell. The hot liquid new straight at Otto's back. Billy had been watching Eric and the in- stant he saw the danger he sprang into action. He gave Kurt a push that sent him sprawling while the hot iron splashed harmlessly on the tloor. Mis- understanding the motive for Harris's action, Otto arose glaring at the boy who had saved him from serious burns.

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Page 26 The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 Noisier than a Freshmank study We had general science instead, ignorant one. We're sort of graduating into this. That teacher is a swell fellow, eh what? t'Yes, he's all right I guess. But I don't see so much in the subject. You fellows are getting all worked up over the prospect of a little laboratory work, commented Billy. The next class was foundry. Now we're getting into some real shop work. Most of the work will be with metalf' Billy said smil- ingly. The rest of the tgang' shared his enthusiasm and listened with interest while the instructor explained the few elementary facts pertaining to foundry. After signing their program cards, the teacher left the shop and the class spent over half an hour in ex- amining the various tools. Eric Johnson was the shop genius of the quartet so they asked his opinion in regard to the use of tools and shop terms. 'W hat would you say this is, johnsonf' Ander- son asked, picking up a tapered wooden stick. ttWhy, that must be the sprue pin. We heard about it in pattern shop, Eric replied. 'tThat queer shaped block is most likely the ram rodf' just look at that cupola, Billy said as he pointed toward the melting furnace. 'tThat's what you call it, isn't it Eric? Yes, I think so. Say, these flasks are quite heavy? Then Johnson lifted a complete mold that was standing on a bench. 'fThey ought to be, con- sidering all the sand that has been packed into it. Thus the fellows went from bench to bench, exam- ining each article with a deep interest. When the instructor returned, he finished his lecture on the im- portance of the foundry in industry and dismissed the class. After a period in the study hall the boys went to lunch. At Billy's request they went to one of the candy stores which were so numerous around the school. Here they found Sidney Epstein. Sid called them over and invited them to be seated. They accepted though they didn't like the stuffy atmos- phere which the store presented. Well, what sort of luck did you have with your programs? Oh, fair enough, Eric replied, opening up his lunch. 'tHow about you, Cook? t'Same here. Then Billy spoke, 'tSid, you remember Miss W, donit you? I have her for math again? 'Til say I do. She is the one who ilunked me and kept me from going to a 2B division. I won't ever forget her. I know one thing. I'll never get her for math again. The boys continued eating their lunches in silence except for a few occassional remarks. When they were through they went on to their next class. Weeks passed. Harris was really making an at- tempt to raise his grades. In math he was spurred on by the shining presence of Anderson. He and Billy had joined the track team at the beginning of the semester while Cook was making an ever earnest effort to improve his music. johnson had joined the Forum and was promising his friends that he would become a second Daniel Webster. He tried to per- suade Billy to join but Harris dismissed the thought by saying, Plain, ordinary, everyday English is good Now to get it together again enough for me without all the fancy stuff that goes with public speaking. Besides, what reasons are there for me wanting to join the club? I'll tell you, Billy. A definite gain in attend- ance plus a favorable student reaction, based on popularity, are ascribed as a few reasons for you joining the Forum. The swelling ranks and the en- thusiastic support of the students has made my par- ticipation in the deliberation and discussion of in-

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Page 28 The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 lYhat do you think you're doing? he growled menacingly, l'll show you that you can't push me around and get away with itfl Listen here, Ottofi Bertini cut in, t'Harris, here, saved your skin. ls that the way to show your gratitude?'7 Saved me from what? Bertini pointed to the hot metal on the floor and explained Bill's action. Harris merely replied that he was sorry that Otto had taken the affair so badly. At last Billy was getting tired of his rivalry with Otto. He wish- ed that it would end. With the semester coming to a close, every day saw the boys advancing in their respective school activities. Billy managed to get a place on the Tech Prep staff. johnson learned much of public speak- ing in his short stay in the Forum. Cook was com- Hams, but 7105 ilze kind they parked across the sm'c1f. Otto looked around suspiciously, not knowing whether to believe Tony or not. He was still glar- ing at Billy when the instructor, attracted by the group of boys, came up. Here, here, what is the matter? What is all the fuss about? Nothing, sir, Otto replied, just a slight acci- dent. Nobody hurt. The students went back to their work, and the incident was apparently forgotten, but Otto began to imagine that the whole thing was a frame-up. He was quite wrong there, however, for johnson and Bertini were profuse in their praise of Billy's quick thinking. I certainly owe you a lot of thanks, Bill. You can imagine how l would have felt if that molten iron had injured anybody, even Ottofi Yes, sir, Bertini added, Uyour quick work saved the day for Eric. ing through in military. Bertini kept his place in the band. Anderson, the scholar, was coasting through the semester in great style. The regular school curriculum was also coming along in great shape. Billy was making good his boast of winning a scholarship pin. So far he had the required aver- age. He only had to maintain the same average dur- ing his ZA semester in order to earn the coveted pin. The earnestness with which Harris went about doing his lessons seemed to indicate that he had at last taken a liking to high school. His participa- tion in work outside of his regular classes also was progressing. In track, for instance, he was making good. His literary career was getting to a point when he considered joining the Daily staff. The passing of the semester saw the passing of all the boys in Harris's 'circle' to ZA. Nobody Hunk- ed. 'l'o Billy it was a banner year. He had never