Madison Central High School - Tychoberahn Yearbook (Madison, WI)

Page 18 text:

Sophomore Girl. Here we have a “Maid of Note” Well skilled in that occupation And we, in our admiration, On her missives “simply dote.” Beauty, wit, and fascination Prom her lovely presence float. Object of our adoration Hail to you, fair “Maid of Note!” 16

Page 17 text:

Our Class History and Merits. Delivered by the Freshmen to the Sophs., Juniors, Seniors, Teachers. Profs.etc. at M. H. S Ye call us Best, and ye do well to call them Best, who, for one long year have met, in this old High School, every shape of noun or verb the broad pages of our Latins could furnish and never yet have lowered our marks. If there be one among you who can say that ever, in our translations or recitations, our “stabbing”did make us “flunk,” let him stand forth and say it. If fifty in all yonr company dare to against us stand, let them come on. And yet we were not always thus, cruel butchers, savage killers of those old Latin verbs. Our fathers came from New England and settled among the laid out blocks and grass clad yards of this city. Our ward school life ran noisily as the battles of which we studied and, when, one morn, we gathered beneath the shade of this old building, there was a Prof, the head of the high school, to keep us in good order. We led our steps through the same doorway and enjoyed together our rustic rooms. One evening after school was over and wre were all seated beneath the ceiling which shaded the main room, the professor was telling us of Regan and Sanders and how, in ancient times, a dozen men on the gridiron had been backed up by a whole army. We did not then know what defeat was but our cheeks burned, we knew not why, and we clasped the sides of those old desks and hollered and cheered until the Prof, cooling our enthusiasm, bade us go home and wait one day for a grand game and glorious fight. That very next day the South Side High School landed on the field and at Camp Randall we saw the men we depended upon trampled by the hoofs of South Side and the bleeding body of Sanders flung amidst the yellow rafters of the grand stand. This year we killed some Sophs, at the time of hazing, and, when we brake their skulls, behold! they were all hollow. We told “John” that their heads were full of vacuum and we begged that we might bear away the rest and burn them on a funeral pile amidst the waves of Lake Mendota: Ay! Upon our knees,down in the dusty cellar we begged that poor boon while all the assembled teachers backed us up and promised high marks if we would get rid of the Sophs; but “John” drew back when we spoke of their pollution and sternly said, “Let the old things rot, there are no noble men but Freshmen,” and so, first graders, you and so must I bear their foolishness. O, comrades, teachers, school books,if we must buck, let us buck for ourselves, if we must learn,let us learn our own lessons, if we must flunk, let it be with a straight face in-1 this building from noble, honorable stabbing' 15

Page 19 text:

History of 75he Cla.ss of 03 On a sunny morning, that, of the eleventh of September, 1899, there issued from the wildernesses that terminate at the four sides of the eapitol park, a band of savages. All were bound for one destination, that which is sought by all ambitious souls,—The Madison High School. With open mouths came they and with stumbling steps, drinking in the novelty of their surroundings and trying vainly not to appear green. Some long of limb, others short of trousers, they made a motley gathering, grouped on the steps before the great front door that was about to admit them to four long years of tests, flunks and interviews in the office. The bell rang, the door opened and they entered into the Halls of Knowledge and hatpegs. After wandering helplessly about for a time, they were gathered and tucked into the old main room where, when instructions and much good advice had been received, they were told to comeagain, and dismissed. The way in which they were treated at the beginning was slightly disturbing to the Freshman peace of mind, for a Freshman, (however differently he may suppose), is gifted with but a piece of mind, which developes as he grows older. If they had congratulated themselves upon knowing anything when they had entered High School, they were speedily undeceived. Convinced that only Sophs, are vile, they determined to redeem themselves if possible from their degraded position, by a persistent effort. Playing tag with the class rooms at first, and chagrined to find it was generally they who were IT, they settled down to hard work, growing daily more sedate and wondering vaguely how a dog, wandering anywhere in the vicinity of the High School, could still retain enough levity of spirit to wag his tail. At last there came a day in June; and what is so rare as that particular day in .June, wnich comes but four times in the whole High School course! Then, if they had been diligent, they might hold up their heads and, for the first time in a year, look the whole world in the face and cry with a voice of gladness born of a joyful heart, “We are Sophomores!” Yes we are Sophomores, We are aware of the fact and so are the Freshmen. Diligent, non rough-housing, of the brilliant class of 1903—we are Sophomores. And next year, by the grace of our teachers, we shall be Juniors. 17