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

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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

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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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The Class of 1912 ir 1927 (Continued) reaped the same benefits from doing as Mamie did—that she would have been thin instead of fat. At present she is bravely doing her duty as a foreign missionary. Yes, you have guessed aright, for this was Mae Stehr.” “The next member of this worthy class of 1912 of whom I have come to tell you, said the little man, was very tall, in fact she was the tallest person in the junior class. She bad light, wavy hair which seemed to enjoy tormenting her by hanging in her eyes. She was very good natured and was well liked by everyone who knew her. She didn’t always have her lessons, although I really think she. tried to get them. She liked pearls very much and always boasted to the other girls, saying, ’I know that I have found the biggest Pearl that ever was. None of you can tind one half so nice as mine' and no doubt she was right. This person’s last name does not harmonize with her height, it implies small while she is very tall. At present she has charge of the music department of a large store in the city.’’ 1 knew at once that this was Kdith Speck. Then my entertaining visitor began this history again, saying: “The following person entered the High School with the class of 1911, but graduated with the clnss of 1912. This was not because he was stupid, for when he entered the High School he worked very hard, in fact he over worked, and so he was forced to leave school for a time. After remaiing away for a year or so, he was able to come back again; of course his former classmates had progressed during the time, and he was obliged to join the class of 1912. He enjoyed athletics immensely, but he, himself, indulged only in the milder forms, tennis being his hobby. After his second return to High School he was careful not to study too much, so as not to overwork himself again. At present he is enjoying himself immensely living on a ranch in Montana. Of course I readily recognized my one time schhoolmate, Paul Walker. After the little man had arrangd the cushions of his chair he began again, saying: “The next person was very jolly and full of fun. She tried to get her lessnsbut if she failed in so doing, she would smile and toss her head rather saucily, as much as to say, ‘I did the best I could so I don’t care.' She wouldn't let anyone near her remain lonesome for want of something to laugh at or someone to talk with. Above all she admired culture, refinement and art. I often heard her say to her friend. I just love Art.’ and I know she told the truth. At present this person has charge of the humorous edition of a New York paper and she is connected with the Art Museum of that city. This was Florence Thomas. Now, began the little man, “I shall tell you about the shortest person in the junior class. Although he was small he was Cheer leader of the juniors and freshman classes in the local contest, and he also led the cheeri ng on other occasions. I suppose his strong voice made up for his small body. As he was very obliging he was well liked by all his fellow students. At present he is a brakeman on a passenger train, and I know the passengers always hear the names of the stations pronounced loudly and