Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

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THE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR doctor then descended on the boys like a miniature whirlwind with his whiskers, coat tails and wig floating behind him in the air, these proclaiming to the passerby that the Doctor had lost control of his temper and was going on an errand to wreak vengeance on the unlucky culprit. Immediately a small procession was formed, growing every minute, with everybody intent on finding out where the Doctor was going and what he would do when he got there. Howevei, on arriving at the back of the circus ground, to everyone’s surprise he found it empty Just then a farmer, seeming to enjoy himself immensely, came along and stopped his team to watch the people. After he had watched them for a while he called out. “Hey Doc, what are you looking for? Your hoss? If you are, I believe I met it about a quarter of a mile out of town going towards Sanford.’’And then he began to laugh uproariously, refusing to give any further details, only adding that a few kids had it. Everyone was for starting righ't out after them, but the farmer, who had been listening to the talk said. “Wal, I’ll tell you folks what I'd do. I’d go out on 'the river road that runs along side the road to Sanford and cross over at Hill’s corner to wrait there till they come along.” And then with another hearty laugh he went on his way. The people acted on his suggestion and after a few minutes' delay, a number of vehicles might be seen hurrying along the river road. When they got to the corner the occupants all got out and hid in a wood lot nearby. Soon the queerest procession could be seen on the road. Coming along at a jog trot with head down and tongue lolling out of its mouth was the Doctor’s horse guided by John Jacob, the proud possessor of an old. silk stove-pipe hat. The doctor gave a groan as he saw our hero kicking the poor creature viciously in the ribs as he turned about, and with the air of a general, gave command and encouragement to his less fortunate play- A .MON DOV By Wanda In the northern part of Wisconsin is a small city called Mondovi. It is nestled among the bluffs and situated on Beef river. A winter in this vicinity is much more severe than in places only a few miles south. mates, who were toiling wearily along pushing wheelbarrows and dump-carts. The next and most mysterious vehicle of all was an express wagon covered with a grimy sheet. “My laws! those pesky boys, if that hain’t the sheet I hemstitched for Mary Jane, I’ll eat my shoe strings!” gasped Nancy Hawkins. She would have said more, but some one hushed her quickly. Tied to the back of the wagon wras Tom Wilkin’s dog, clipped and painted an incon-grous mix'iure of colors, the boys evidently having robbed every paint can in the vicinity. A banner around its neck proclaimed to the world that this was the strangest creature on earth. A lank scrawny mule, ‘that the boys had borrowed temporarily from the city pound, brought up the rear. A small unkept pica-niny whose face shone like a newly polished stove clung tightly to the halter rope about the animal’s neck. The boys, hearing a loud guffaw and a series of stifled snickers, looked around to discover whence the sound came, which when finally located, caused them to abandon their vehicles in great haste, and scamper wildly in the opposite direction from their parents. When the boys gained sufficient courage to dare to return to their homes they found only stern and determined fathers and mothers awaiting them, who it was said afterward. believed in the old maxim, “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” It was later claimed that a town ordinance was passed, 'to the effect that every boy connected with the show should receive a good sound thrashing; but whether this is true or not, the boys will testify. For a short time John Jacob, as he was head man, the chief actor and acrobat of the circus, was made the laughing-stock of his brothers and other members of the family. I WINTER Fuller T9 As this is the center of the storm region, a great deal of preparation is necessary to endure the long, cold, stormy winter months. We see people making their dwelling more comfortable, by putting on storm

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THE HIGH SCHOOL M I R R 0 P noise just the same. Then came a deliberate bombardment, the big guns booming regularly for several minutes. Suddenly out jumped the Allies and began cutting the wire entanglements. They worked fast, for the guns from the other side rained fire upon them. They finished their work and scurried back leaving several dead and dying. Then came an extensive bombardment and you could hardly hear yourself shout for five minutes. The building shook and rattled ominously. The second part began with the taking of the German trenches. Then came the infantry attack, wave after wave going over, until the front line trench was captured and the Germans fled. The third part was merely a repetition of the first, taking the second trench. The final object accomplished, the fourth part included the collecting of prisoners and sending them back, while the stretcher-bearers collected the wounded. Of course, no one was hurt, but they made a mighty good bluff. The walking wounded came out of the trenches and the serious cases were attended to on the field In part five, the consolidating parties constructed communication trenches across the old no-man's land, and the infantry in possession of the newly won position prepared to resist the coming attack. The day was ours, and the program closed with the Star Spangled Banner. Now don’t you think it paid us to go? When I come home, I can tell your family pages more about it. I have no idea what awaits tomorrow but if anything happens I will write you about it. The only thing I am disappointed about is that you are not here to enjoy it with me. Lovingly yours, Adella. JOHN JACOB. ClIUTS PERFORMER. By Electa John Jacob was just a boy, he didn't lay claim to being anything else, but often he was made the goat for things his elder brothers had done. There was no great difference between him and the neighbor boys except that he had a very stubby, freckled no.3e, that was continually stuck into somebody’s affairs. The fact chat w'as hardest for him to bear wras that of being the baby of the family. The older brothers ridiculed his ideas, as they heard them, without mercy, especially the one of his being a show’ owner. In this enterprise. John Jacob was the chief figure acting as ticket seller, chief clown, greatest acrobat, and the w’orld’s most renowmed bareback rider, and in feet he wished to be the whole show'. His show was to be the most renowned in the country and he was to be asked to play before the crowned heads of Europe. The chief reason for this ambition w'as a scheme for getting rich, w'hieh originated in his father’s back lot where he at one time held an amateur circus which came to a woeful end. This scheme, though short lived. wfas full of many thrills and adventures. To tell the truth the circus got along most promisingly when it first originated. Nelson ’19. but later it fell into disrepute for no reason at all that John Jacob could see. If he only had consulted the various fathers and moth-e:s of the city they could and would have willingly informed him of the dangers of the enterpr se. Woodboxes fell into the habit of always being empty and mothers made spasmodic efforts to get a response from their offspring. Fathers sometimes cursed softly under their breath when they discovered the calf that had taken prizes at the county fair was gone and then they had to walk down to the humming circus lot to find it. This often resulted in sundry punishments. but none seemed to have a very lasting effect. The people passed this by as the natural waywardness of boys and so put up w’ith their lack of interest. The climax was reached one day, however, when Dr. Brown received a call and almost had nervous prostration w hen he found (hat his old and faithful horse was not to be found in his pasture. A C2sual passerby told the good Doctor that the boys had the old horse at the circus t.rounds. where the said horse received training from the world’s most famous bare oack rider, entirely without cost. The irate

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THE HIGH SCHOOL MIRROR windows, doors and building paper. Very warm clothing is also necessary during this cold period. Any one from the south suddenly realizes this fact, and is generally found standing near the register most of the time, wondering when there will be a change in the weather. The ground is usually covered with snow by the twenty-fifth of November. It is very deep and is often piled in huge drifts which block the thoroughfare After a heavy snow-fall, the streets become alive with people, who are busily clearing the snow from the walks; assisted by rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed youngsters, eager to see who can bury himself deepest in the drifts. This winter was unusually warm, as we bad no cold weather until after Christmas when there was a sudden change. During the night an east wind sprang up, bringing with it rain, which immediately froze everything with which it came in contact, leaving it coated with ice to nearly the depth of half an inch. At school time the walks were crowded with boys and girls, actually siting to school. Those who found no enjoyment in this or w'ere not skilled in the art were compelled to try the road, where pro- gress was somewhat easier. This condition of affairs lasted about a week and one morning the little city awoke to find everything mantled in white. Then the spirit.! of the young people were greatly enlivened and the fun began immediately. A group of boys and girls were chattering noisily; everyone talking at once, no one being able to make himself heard. Suddenly one of them assumed the commandership. He cried out, “Now, see here, I will be captain. You boys get to work and build two forts and we will let the girls try and hold one against us. Then he turned to the girls, “You make as many snowballs as you can for ammunition. When everything was completed, the battle commenced. The girls made a great deal of noise and were so excited that they could make no use oi tbeir ammunition. The battle ended by their taking flight up the nearest alley. There were many sleigh rides and skating parties. The lake in the northern part of the city had be n cleared of snow and the gay crowds laughing and talking above the jingle of the skates were seen going in that direction. Everyone was bent on having a good time while the cold weather lasted. THE At'KOKA BOREALIS. By Raymond Evans. On the night of March 7. this year. I was privileged to see a wonderful display of the Aurora Borealis or “Northern Lights” as it is commonly called. Not long after nightfall on that particular evening, the entire northern sky was illuminated by a shimmering expanse of pale-whfte radiance. Almost simultaneously, a broad red streamer of light made its ap-pcarane above the tree-tops in the West like the last, gigantic ray of the setting sun shooting ever upward until it reached the Zenith. For a moment it hung thus, a great red bar of light, deep and unchanging; then slowly, its center faded into a strip of lavender, tipped with purest white. Then occurred one of the wonders of the evening Far off on the eastern horizon, orange lights had rippled and played, until, joining in one single streamer they stretch'd high up into the heaven, and. there meeting with the rose color, helped to form a bow of celestial ribbon. In the meantime, the glow deepened in the North and spread Eastward, until high up in the Northeastern sky. there gleamed a crimson fire, interspersed with shadows. The aspret of the heavens immediately above the horizon was in sharp contrast to that below. It was colored en Intense violet. mixed with black, through which the stars shone like beautiful, far-away lamp?. As the light gradually spread Southward, it was always preceded by a thick grey cloud that steadily rolled back like an army in retreat. At this time, too, the whole Southern sky, beyond the light, was covered with an impenetrable mist, closly resembling fog. By eleven or twelve o'clock, the Lights seemed to have worn themselves out. for although they shone fitfully all night, they were devoid of much of their former brilliancy.