Philadelphia Manual Training School - US Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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I was next ushered into the Argus Denf' In this sanctum were found the Editorial Staff all busily engaged in writing per- sonals and sweet, touching answers to the Normal School Corre- spondents. The editor who, succeeded best, who composed the most ridiculous personals and effective epistles to the Normal School, received, as a reward, next month's Aqgzrs free. In the light of the fire I now saw a busy western town. It reminded me of what I used to hear of the rapidity with which Oklahoma grew-everything and everybody was bustling about. I seemed at once to be ushered into the ofhce of what appeared to be a busy physician. For it was necessary to wait in a line in orcler to gain admittance. Ilearned, hom the plate on the door, that within I would find Wesley Bartine. So, when I at last got inside, I saw seated behind a desk, which was piled high with books, a sober-looking fellow. I-Ie didn't look much like the fellow we remember, for the twenty years of separation had increased his august looks. But there was one feature' about him that I 'recognized-his corpulency. Why, to tell the truth, Wesley had actually grown stouter, if such a thing were possible. I-Ie had a bell-boy standing beside him, and all manner of con- trivances were about the room designed to facilitate his work. I readily discovered that this was all sham, that all this 'ner- vous huriy was unnecessary. I-Ie had hired several men to drive all around' the neighborhood in buggies, at break-neck pace, and thus deceive the populace, and make them fancy that his business was immense. One of the men whom he employed to drive around in this manner was Mandel. Davy had always manifested a particular interest in horses, and we all re- member his position as an unquestionable authority on the turf I-le was familiar with the characteristics of all the famous horses. The first criticism we remember him to have made was that day when he said Maud S. was bowl legged. Bartine also employed a number of men to keep pouring into his office at all hours, and to appear perfectly restored to health after visiting him. The reason lfVesley had moved out to this place from Philadelphia was because he was compelled to. VVhy his practice, as a physician, had been so detrimental to the U3

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Board of Education had at last found out what We were made of They disbanded Our Sister Institution, and spent some of their efforts in the right direction. Ifound a few of the old professors about, notably among whom were Thomas, The Character, and Doc. Doctor seemed, with his age, to have gained more wind than ever, and I noticed a drowsy, tired look on the faces of the fellows as they came from recitations with him. As I wandered about I found that the Board Qbless their venerable fossilsj had fitted up a new laboratory for I-Iering, and in it the boys underwent the usual experiments of trying to find the resistance of plum-pudding tothe induction of currants. And then, too, the Board had found means to supply Aldrich with a more respectable stand than that old music-rack, upon which to demonstrate the principles in Perspective illustrated by the Screen. In the auditorium I found a meeting of the Natural History Society. The members had deposited themselves on the backs, arms, and even inverted chairs, 'rather than the proper place, and were in the heat of a discussion: I-Iow shall We raise ten dollars to pay off the debt still remaining due to the caterer for the feed at the book reception held in 1888? The Treasurer reported live cents in the treasury, from the collection of fines, and advised that Mr. -1 be expelled if he did not pay up arrears within two weeks. I therefore decided that the Society was as bad ofi financially, as it ever was. I noticed in the President a likeness to one of my old classmates, and found out that he was, as I expected, a descendant of Curtis. This fact accounts, somewhat, for the condition of the Society. I noticed a small room onfone of the upper floors, and, upon inquiring, found it to be' the ofhce of the P. D. Club. Here Anderson and Ayres gave lessons in Poker, Napoleon and Matching Pennies at the earnest request of the Faculty Qpar- ticularly Whitalqer and Rondy, who wished to learn from a scientific pointj. Andy lectured on the dihferent games, while Ayres was denionstrator, so I found out from inquiry, for I would not have entered the place for fear of corrupting my morals.

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growth of population that people couldn't stand it, so they expressed him to the far West. Again the flame began to sink, but it was revived by the figure. I-Ie pointed to it, and I found that I was entering again the City of Brotherly Loveft I was away down town among the large bwayned people that are found among our law offices. Yes, it was down there in 'K Poverty Row I saw a modest- looking shingle, bearing the name William S. Outerbridge. Sammy is the name by which we remember him. Sammy is the fellow we used to envy for his position as Vice-President of the Argus Stock Company. fFor fear some one may be again deceived by our somewhat ambiguous language, I will state that the reason we admired this position was because Sammy by it had the control of those people who held all the Argus wealth. And our admiration, when sifted through, is found to be one of admiration for lucre, or love of that root. j To re- turn to that shingle. Under the name was the information, also very modest, Attorney-at-Law. But this wasn't all, for on entering the office I saw, seated behind a plain desk, but one which was stuffed full of important documents, a man whose face was careworn, a face which expressed to me that he had been engaged in great problems of the day, that he had decided great questions. I did not disturb him, but ascertained upon in- quiry that he had decided many great disputes, such as those arising between tug-ofwar teams, and also some of greater im- portance: for instance, one was Should 'Pop' be allowed to sell buns on the school pavement? There was a great cracking in the fireplace, and in the flame I saw a large building. The sign-board of this massive struct- ture had painted on it in large letters, '89's Electric Company. On entering the building I found myself in an ohtice in which were, seated a number of fellows whose faces I recognized, although they were somewhat disguised by flowing beards and wrinkled brows. Among them were McClellan, Rumpp, Hays There are exceptions to all rules. Let the reader not for one instant suppose that all in this town is brotherly love, or that the relations existing between the High School four dear sister Institutej and Us are examples of this loving senti- ment. V 114