Prairie Du Chien High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Prairie Du Chien, WI)

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The Class of 1912 iQ 1927 One evening I sat before the tire, wondering what was to become of my class-mates after our graduation from the High School. Naturally my thoughts turned to the members of the Junior class, those worthy personages who were soon to occupy our places as seniors in the High School. 1 wished that 1 might break through the barriers of time and see what each of these students would be doing tifteen years later. This thought had hardly passed through my mind when a little elf-like man appeared before me, who said he had come that he might grant the wish which I had just made. I was very much startled at his strange appearance and his strange remarks, but still very glad to have my desire complied with. I nestled back in my chair and listened attentively to what he said. “The first person of whom I am going to tell you, he began “was a very active student in the High School. She was a member of both the Glee Club and High School Oi-chestra, played basket ball and took part in the oratorical contests. She was a very slender, delicate maiden, no doubt because she never ate candy ; she often said she couldn't see what good others found in it. When a junior in the High School, she put forth her best elTorts toward making the Annual of 1911 a success. At the present time she is giving instruction cv in‘How to Keep Thin.’” He con-eluded by saying, “I suppose you recognized her as Mamie Cecka, right away. ” Then he continued and said, ' The next one I am going to talk about did not live directly in the city of Prairie du Chien, but in one of its sparsely settled suburbs. When a sopohmore, she often came to school late, but the following year she surprised her in-strucors and schoolmates by always being on time. She was a very brilliant geometry student and often astonished Mr. Gunderson by her marvelous recitations. At present she is a renowned teacher of geometry. 1 knew before he told me that this could be no other than Mary O’Neil. “The third membor of the class of well liked student. She too was a member of the Glee Club and took part in the oratorical contests. I think she must have studied very hard, because she began wearing glasses when a junior, no doubt she strained her eyes by remaining up late nights, in order to get her lessons well. She also resided in one of the suburbs of the city, but this one was more thickly settled than the one in which Mary O’Neil lived. At present she is a prominent public speaker.” This was Florence Ziel of course. The little man then said,“ The next student did not live in Prairie du Chien, but hailed from Ferryville, a much larger and more thriving city. She was a very loud and boisterous student and thus she greatly disturbed those pupils who sat near her. When any matters of dispute were brought up. she always managed to make herself heard. Although she was so noisy, she was popular with pupils and teachers. At present she is teaching in the vicinity of Ferryville.” Again I guessed right, for this was Hazel Copsey. which ! have come to tell you was a “The next maiden of whom I am

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JUNIOR POEM (Continued) Soon there followed a daughter of Erin Carrying with her hook and line Fishing gaily from morn till even Saying “Come on! Fishing’s fine!” She had a quiet, gentle humor Which saw the funny side of things And the little fish beneath the water Thought “How merrily her laughter rings!” Then, with his boat and trolling line Stalked a lad of aspect grim. When he smiled it worked a marvel. It made a different lad of him. He was good, not alone at fishing For a cheer leader great was he swishing Though lemons through the air were Still he‘d yell to victory. Softly now another damsel Meandered slowly with the rest She cared not for fish or fishing Though she studied with great zest. Her eyes, too, were deep and dark brown And her quietness caused remark But in Latin class most always She was a fish they called a “shark.” Three lassies now came close together The first was tall and light and fair Pink were cheeks, her eyes of a blueness That seemed the heavens own hue to share. Her tackle was a pad and pencil To scribble notes, just now and then, When the fish were biting slowly Until they chose to come again Now, 0 Juniors, the tale is ended Each one is ready to haul in his line May each one of you think your catch is the grandest And every fish a specimen fine. With her, busily a-chattering, Of the happenings of the day Came a daintily clad lassie With merry laugh and pleasant way She, too, had a sense of humor Quick was she to see a joke And from the foibles of her companions Mirth in plenty could she invoke. Fuzzy-haired, blond and petite With the rest came the third fair lass They seemed to talk of many people But especially those of the Junior class. She, however, was intent on her fishing Clam fishing she preferred, you see, Not that clams are so very valuable But within their shells, pearls are said to be!

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(Continued) The Class of 1912 iQ 1927 going to tell you,” said the little man, “had very dark sparkling eyes. She belonged to the High School glee club and played basket ball. She never whispered and was very good in school, I suppose that is why she always sat in the back part of the school room. She generally had good lessons, but this was no great wonder because she always took an armful of books home each evening. At times, I was afraid she would harm herself by studying so hard. At present she is teaching German in a college.” This was none other than Mertie Griesbach. Then my strange guest began his narative again by saying: “The next person, of whom I am going to tell you, was a dark eyed maiden who also lived in one of the suburbs of the city. She was very kind and good natured and all who knew her liked her very much. She enjoyed her school work immensely, that is, all excepting German, this being the one study which she would and could not master. At present this worthy personage is teaching school in that suburb of Prairie du Chien, from whence she hailed, when she entered the High School.” Now 1 know you will conclude as readily as I did that Marie Walters and this school ma’am are one and the same person. I nestled back in the cushions of my chair and again gave my entire attention to the followng informaton which the little-elf like man kindly presented to me. “The person that I am now going to tell you about was a very enthusiast athlete. Although he was quite tall , he was very slender and frail. But the fact that he appeared-to be so delicate, did not hinder him from being a splendid guard in the H. School basket ball team. He was also a tine foot ball and basket ball player. All his friends wondered why it was that this wondrous athlete was so thin, because he lived upon a farm and thus had every opportunity for becoming large and strong. At present he is an athletic coach in one of our western colleges, and must not forget to add that he is still as thin as ever.” Of course this was none other than Elmer Waehter. “The person I am now going to inform you of,” continued my strange visitor, “was quite short and rather stout. She seldom studied, either at home or in school. When a sophomore she also came to school late, for she always went to meet her friend, Mary O’Neil in the morning, and in consequence both of them came tardy. She was and is still a very good natured person. ‘You would know her by her smile’. Even though she was such a poor student, she liked to go to school very much, and often said she could go to school all her life. At present she and Mamie Cecka are working together, only her hobby is, ‘How to keep short.' This lady of smiles was Stella Caya. After moving his chair nearer the stove, the little man continued his story, saying: “The following person was rather short and stout. She always had her lessons, but how she got them was a marvel to everyone for she never took a book home. She was punctual and prompt in everything she did, and never came to school late. I think she ought to have followed Mamie Cecka’s resolution— that of not eating candy—-for if she had. she undoubtedly would have