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

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History of J5he Cla.ss of 1901. According to custom and precedent, this history ought to begin with the fact that we were Suns while other classes were Moons, and other things equally foolish. • Now, while we are not denying the fact that no class ever created a more favorable opinion on the faculty, nevertheless, we are willing to acknowledge our faults, (which are few), and say we have profited by the experience that we have undergone as pupils of the High School. We entered High School as Freshmen, September 6th 1897, a day which is marked in the logbook of our “alma mater” as one of the most momentous events that have occurred since the time that Will Shakespeare first published “The Mystery of the Boarding House,” or “What was in the Hash.” As Freshmen are always credited with being green, we want to cite a few instances that will go to show that we were not. First, it was not a month before the grass around the school lost its emerald hue, and became bleached and whitened—a very suggestive omen. Second, the green “black”-boards changed color, and had to be recoated during the Xmas vacation. Third, one of the teachers who started out by calling us by our “front” names, began inside of a month to call us “Mr.s” and “Misses.” We could show hundreds of instances equally suggestive, did space permit. However, these three are enough to prove that, (in the words of the encyclopedia), we were not the same, chromatically, as our predecessors. One reason why we were so well liked by the teachers, was that we didn’t pretend to know it all—only a little bit—and the worst thing any of us ever did was to write notes. It used to be, that Freshmen were always hazed; now we were singularly exempt from that trying process, almost to a “man.” There were, it is true, a few of those who started that year, who were played with a little; one put in the lake; another obliged to take his shoes and stockings off and climb a tree and another had to warble a little solo on the east steps 23

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Dear girl, all classes bow to you. Soph. Junior, Freshman, Senior too, In sooth we all feel pretty blue To think we soon must lose you. So here’s to you, oh maid sedate, Go forth, mankind upon you wait, Ask what you will of kindly Fate, There’s naught she can refuse you. 22

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of the school building, but that was all. The class above us had insight enough to see that we needed little, if any, disciplining. The second year of our career was uneventful. We kept the even tenure of our way, and walked in the straight and narrow path of good behavior—a path we have followed to this day. Visitors always remarked that we were more attentive to our studies than any other class in the room. The “Guile” we had in our first year stood us in good stead. In 1899 we became Juniors. We organized the class, and elected ’Gene Fuller President. We chose Purple and Gold as our colors, and selected a class pin. Then came our class party—a party of parties—a model by which succeeding Juniors will do well to copy. Now we are come to the last year (for most of us) of our sti.y here. A short time and our feet will tread the floors of the Madison High School no more. Underclassmen! do you know what you are going to lose? The elevating and uplifting influence and care of the greatest class that has ever left High School. It makes our very hearts bleed to think that there will be but a few of us who will consent to stay and comfort you in your bereavement. Juniors, we leave the guidance of the rest of the school to you, teachers included. Be kind and gentle, but also firm, that the underclassmen step not out of the path of righteousness or fall by the way-side. Remember your dignity, and keep it,—and may Prof, have mercy oil you. Our little hour of high school life is fleeting, Our short allotted time is almost past: It seems as if old Time was surely cheating, He’s taken these four years of ours so fasl, We’ve stabbed and bucked and made the indentation On the High School’s lasting tablets, of our fame, And remember, when you see our graduation, That despite our toils, we got there just the same. Just a word before we close our exhortation, Of advice ’twill pay you always to heed well, Whatever is your class or situation, Don’t you e’er forget the grand old High School yell. 24