Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

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24 THE SENIOR ANNUAL. lets flew. The British turned and ran down Monument street, leaving the victorious farmers in possession of the bridge. The rebels pursued them hotly in their retreat, until as some of them expressed it, it seemed to fairly rain rebels From behind every stone wall, fence, bush and tree came missiles, until the retreat became a run and the run a wildly disordered flight. They would whirl about to drive away one band of pursuers, only to be peppered on another side. At length they reached Boston, hot, dusty, wounded and wrathful, but thor- oughly whipped. Such were the battles of Lexington and Concord, the beginning of the American revolution, and the forerunners of American Although they but skirmishes, in comparison to other great bat- freedom. were small tles of the world’s history, the principle of the affair—the spirit of a brave people rising in defense of their rights and liberty, has sent its echoes ringing through the world. Ruth Ellis. Senior Class Committee looking for snow A ONE ACT COMEDY. Date of action: 2:30 p. m. Tuesday, February 27, 1906. Scene of action: Rome Free Academy. Principal actors: Florence Waldo and a fairly decent hard wood chair. Softly the mel- low sunlight followsO-rd wol dawod rawa It is a calm, serene day. low sunlight falls on every man within the circumference of its gentle rays. Those ra- diant solar beams penetrate even the thick darkness and gloom of the Rome Free Academy. How blessed, yea, celestial, is the beneficent smile that old ‘ upon the school. ‘Sol’ bestows But which hark! breaks What jarring noise is that the monotonous quietude? Ah! it is the bell announcing to the dear children that it is time for the next recita- tion. Again! Again! that jarring, grating noise. “It has no uncertain sound’ (bor- rowed from one of Mr. Harris’s eloquent appeals for order.) Slowly, and with somewhat of the ap- pearance of dignity, a group of girls (beg your pardon, they are young ladies) wend Just back of them, and in no wise abashed, are sev- their way to the science room. eral little fellows who leok peaceful enough, but within their frail, tender bodies is lodged

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THE SENIOR ANNUAL. 23 galloped in hot haste through Medford to Lexington, rousing every farmhouse and vil- lage as he passed. Arrived at Lexington, he awakened Hancock and Adams, and was soon joined by Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. The three started out together for Concord, but, encountering British officers, Revere and Dawes were captured, while Dr. Prescott succeeded in carrying the alarm to Concord. The Lexington Minute Men promptly as- sembled at the summons of the bell in the meeting house belfry, but seeing no signs of the British, soon dispersed. Later, hearing that the John Parker again assembled his Minute Men and drew them up in battle array on As they awaited, in enemy were advancing, Captain Lexington common. the dim light of the early morning, the at- tack of the Redcoats, Captain Parker gave his famous command: “Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” Major Pitcairn, the British leader, who had marched on with ever-increasing sur- prise and dismay, at the apparent wakeful- ness of the countryside, at length reached Lexington green, at about half-past four o’clock,and found sixty or seventy men as- sembled to greet him. He rode forward with a threatening air and shouted: “Dis- Ye rebels, disperse.” No response from the Americans. ‘Lay down your arms, I say. Why don’t you lay down your arms and disperse.” Still no reply from the “‘rebels.’’ At length an ex- cited Minute Man, disregarding Parker's or- der, raised his gun and discharged it. It was an old-fashioned flint-lock musket and did not go off, but the flint struck the steel, and the powder flashed in the pan. A Brit- ish soldier, seeing the flash, raised his gun also and fired. perse, ye villains. The British spirit was now aroused, and with a shout, they fired a general discharge. Several rebels fell. Another discharge, and Then more brave Americans dropped. sounded the tramp of more British soldiers, coming to the assistance of their comrades. The Americans fired a few scattering shots They had made their pro- The British, with a ringing cheer, sent a parting shot, and and dispersed. test, and could do no more. marched on to Concord. Concord had, as we have said, been warned by Dr. Prescott, and the Minute Men of Concord and Seton, a near action on the square. and deter- mined, until the gleam of red coats appeared on the Lexington road, and eight hundred British soldiers advanced at a double quick march. The American commander, Colonel Barrett, withdrew to the slope beyond the There they were joined by Minute men from several towns in the vicin- ity, making about four hundred in all, to face the whole of the British forces. A part of the British had formed in line of battle on the opposite side of the bridge, but those left in the village were doing their utmost to destroy all they could. The smoke from their little fire led the Americans to believe that they were burning the town. In dismay they asked each other: ‘Shall we remain idle and let them burn our homes be- fore our very eyes? Let us march to their defense.’ And so the order ‘““March’’ was shouted, and they rushed down the hill to the bridge. When the British saw them coming they began to rip up the bridge planking. The Americans broke into a run. For a mo- ment the opposing forces faced each other in silence, then ‘““Bang! Crack” and several Minute Men fell. Major Buttrick, the leader of the Minute Men, wild with ex- citement, shouted: “‘Fire, fellow soldiers ! For God's sake fire!’ and leading the dis- charge himself, the first guns were fired in defiance to the king. It was the “shot heard round the world.’ Again and again the bul- Samuel neighbor, had reported for They awaited, silent river bridge.

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THE SENIOR’ ANNUAL. 25 That first, innocent looking little one is a Noble fellow. the very incarnation of mischief. That which walks by his side is a curiosity, for it has been reclaimed from wildness and has become transformed into a practically tame Moose. stea Ithy Just back of him, and with step, crouches a ferocious, wild- eyed Savage “Tommy.” But enough of this. Let us pass on into the Laboratory. . That tall, slender, wiry gen- tleman, standing in front of the table, is Professor’ Campbell. “Anon he takes from bottles covered That first one, which is almost prophetic in its sage ap- filled spiring yellow substance, known to chemists as (S.) ened by meaning symbols, contains a white, his myst erious cases two with quaint and occult signs. with a awe-in- pearance, is strange, That second bottle, which is dark- almost death-colored compound, known chemically as (KNO 3.) And Professor opens a new case. What is that in that shadowy, aye, that midnight-like box Black night is the substance. now the which he draws forth from the case? as an Egyptian Shrouded in pall is the mystery of its mean- ing. for its symbol is simply (C.) Care- fully, very carefully, he weighs out to exact- ness, 37.4 grams of (KNO.3), 5.9 grams of (S), 6.6 (C). Calmly he mixes the substances; not a visibly grams of nerve quivering, not a muscle twitching. The haze disappears from our clouded senses and Horrors! the mixture is gunpowder! What meaneth the man? Is he cruel enough to destroy the frail, feminine creatures under his tutorship ? Can he so far forget his hu- manity as to extinguish in one moment the bright, happy lives of those entrusted to his care? Look! the rash deed Look! Oh! See! The match is lighted, he ignites the gas, and, horrors! he deliber- Will no one stay ately and determinedly approaches the pow- One more moment and the deed will be done. Oh! is there no help? Alas! too late! He lights the there blinding, lurid flash, a heartrending whisper from the girls, a der, holding the burner in his hand. powder. Instantly is a mad, frantic rush—and Florence Waldo falls over the hard wood es cnalr. G stands for Grace Whose last name is Felton, She is mighty “‘stuck up” with Seldon. Since she’s been “running” THE STUDENTS’ TALE. Cram Exam. Flunk Trunk Sweet angelic beings Wondrous trim and fair, Eva Bowman and Miss Ely. Studious beyond all discription. Not at all attached to boys. Vina Scripture and Maud Seldon. Ab. Orton the far-famed orator, From Rome’s great science room, May some day make a monitor, With cap, and gown, and broom. Wonder who Backus will take to the Class day reception ? Will it be Circe ? Epigram on Lake’s tombstone: Here lies a man of worth untold, Untold because unknown, His soul to nothing has he sold, For nothing did he own. Let me not burst in ignorance.—Win- - - ed W-ld-n. Struck on himself and has no rival. “Davy.”