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

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THE 1915 SENIOR ANNUAL Travels of Oscar and Percy TOLD BY OSCAR It was about three o'clock on one hot afternoon in August that Percy and I plodded wearily up the main street of the peaceful village of Bingville. We were tired and foot- sore and asked for the finest hotel so that we might be afforded the luxury of a cooling bath and a juicy beefsteak. A young fellow who looked for all the world like Percy’s brother, Reginald, but for the crazy quilt in the seat of his trousers, directed us to the Bingville Tavern. He told us to take the first turn to the left after we passed the town pump and we would come to it. The Bingville Tavern is a quaint little hotel situated on the side of a hill, but alas, it possesses no bath tubs. As we entered we were met by a short, fat, sleek looking landlord with a dark compiexion. Percy decided that he was a Frenchman but I objected as he looked too “COONEY.” He assured us of a good bed so we signed the ship papers and were shown a room. The room was light and airy and overlooked a deep,fierce looking ““GULLEY.” The beds were said to be as soft as down but we found out about that later. After we had removed several cubic feet of real estate in a small two by four basin we felt quite spry and Percy having powdered his nose to his taste, we decided to view the town. We had no sooner turned the first corner when we bumped right into an evil looking, greasy Italian carrying a huge “HARP” on his shoulders. We tossed him a few “NICHOLS” and asked him to render us an Italian hoe-down with variations. He said his name was “KIRCHER” and that he could not do it because he was “ALLE(i) N.” He seemed quite elated though and said he had met a “MASON” on the road who had given him five dollars. Leaving him we passed across a creek and through a meadow. We had gone about a hundred yards when we came upon a small boy about five 29

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THE 1915 SENIOR ANNUAL ures in the past. With glory before us and ruin behind, we trust that we shall pass through our next academic year with more flattering success. Our record may not be as high as 17 but it is pure and untarnished. To our superiors in age, besides being a great help in athletics, we were benefactors at the holiday season of the school year. For who had the good taste, and who could dec- orate as artistically as we? Last Christmas our class was called upon to use its skill. Early one morning some of the most prominent members were awakened by the call of the alarm clock. It would have been easier not to have heard the summons, but they knew that with them rested the artistic honor of the class. At 7 o'clock the select few were at the assembly hall making the walls again gay. Everywhere were masses of evergreen with red and white paper trimming. And the mistletoe with its pretty white berries was not missing from over the door until later when it ornamented many gay people. The older classmen repeatedly took advantage of the fair weed. “What wondrous life was that they led?” ““Why, the mistletoe hung above their heads!” The class of 18 has improved along other lines. When we arrived at the Academy we were considered very “‘fresh’”” by the Sophomores (indeed we were). At last the “‘freshness’’ passed away. We have done a bit better work than preced- ing Freshmen classes. Our conduct has been normal. ‘The names of the members have appeared on the detention lists less frequently than those of the upper classes. We are ably represented on the advisory board of the Academy and our representatives have upheld the honor of the class. Such has been our record. For our victories we desire no credit. Had we contented with abler opponents they might never have been achieved. As Freshmen we have been a success. As new duties devolve upon us we shall strive to meet them, that, when another year closes our historian may paint us in more glowing colors. et. Pe.

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THE 1915 SENIOR ANNUAL years old. He was howling loudly and at the same time precipitating profusely from both eyes at once. His extreme anguish touched Percy to the heart and he asked the yeung fellow what was amiss. The lad ceased lung action and replied in a voice full of sorrow, “Alas, kind sir, while plucking huckleberries in yonder woods I had the misfortune to be “HARRIS” sed in the rear by a “BIELBY”’, and I now suffer excruciating agony. As an evidence of his sufferings he again took up the cry and left us wondering what sort of a bee a “BIELBY” was. We then retraced our steps and arrived just in time for supper at the tavern. Upon being ushered into the dining hall we were seated opposite two young laces. This embarrassed Percy awfully but he attributed it to sunburn and started off to tell about Pikes Peak. When he had finished one of the women remarked, “‘Ain’t that fine? How ‘HIGH AM’ it?” Of course this terrible use of the English language shocked us ex- tremely, especially when we learned from Gherkins, the butler, that her name was “SEELY.” The other maiden was an extremely beautiful peroxide blonde, a perfect “ANGEL.” She wore her napkin tied around her neck like a “BIB IN’’Stead of placed in her lap. When we picked up the menu we were puzzled at seeing the startling expression “MALOGNA” on toast a la coffee. Gherkins informed us that it meant “Bologna on toast with coffee to wash it down.”” We found it was too peppery for our taste so we or- dered eggs. Gherkins then asked ““Will you ‘ave ““HALE”’ or wine with your h’eggs?” We told him grape juice. He soon brought on the repast. When we had finished we waited about half an hour for finger bowls but were in the end forced to use the water pitcher. Just as we were leaving the dining hall we were startled by a terrific sound in the kitchen. We were about to run to the rescue of whatever was in distress when the trusty Gherkins enlightened us that it was the new cook singing. The old cook had been a Swede but this one was a “NOURSE 'man. After being assured and having no desire to beard the monster in his den, we prepared to test the downiness of our couches. We were about to retire when a bump was heard outside the door and a huge “FOOTE” came crashing through the panel. We went out and the re lay a dilapitated specimen of a man very much under the influence. In fact he appeared to have reached complete saturation. He began to speak feebly. “‘Shay—mishter—be ‘I. GOOD?’ ”’ We did not know whether he was good or not and as he said he lived on the third floor we entrusted him to Gherkins. We then lay down and after applying Christian Science enough to change corn husks into feathers we fell asleep to be awakened by the grunting of a pig under the window. We threw him ou: mattresses. As this seemed to suit all concerned we at last cbtained a few hours much needed rest.