Salem High School - Clarion Annual Yearbook (Salem, OR)

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3: MERE? ' H, A l o? a. ' xxxnx THE CLARION 21 action which was taken in suspend- ing Jerry till his name was cleared. Meanwhile a flush rose to Evelynls face and a bright look came into her eye. Then she handed the letter to the president. As he read his face grew stern, then relaxed. When he had finished, looking kindly at Evelyn he said, 01 am glad. You have done us a great service? Graduation day dawned clear and bright. The students gathered in groups and slowly entered the chapel for the last assembly of the year. When the hoary headed president as- cended the platform a silence fell over the room. The usual opening exercises concluded, the president arose and slowly began to speak. Every one was startled at what they heard. itThe guilty one has been appre- hended and now'sits in, this assem- ' bly? Every eye followed that of the Doctors and' rested on the cowering form of Conway McKahn. He added further: ill have here a written tes- timony which, though it perhaps went aStray, still serves a good purpose? and he held aloft a piece of paper burned at one corner. Then the presidents voice grew stern and he commanded two stalwart fellows to seize McKahn. A With one accord the assembly filed out and followed the president, who started across the campus. At last he reached a small shrub like tree. Here Conway was given a trowel and told to crawl beneath the tree and dig. He did so. After a short sil- ence, during which the clink of the trowel could be heard, Conway ap- peared and with a contemptuous gesture threw the box at the feet of the president .and made a dash for liberty. But he was not quick enough for strong arms soon secured him. Conway McKahn, when he found the game was up, made a full confession and cleared Jerry, but he was com- pelled to leave the ,varsity in dis- honor and disgrace on the day of graduation. A note was sent to J erry. It acted like magic. His face beamed again and the remainder of the day a song was upon his lips. Night came and in a blaze of light, music, flowers and thunderous applause, J erry, with the first honors of the class of naughty six, was graduated. His face was flushed, his eyes bright. But his cup of happiness seemed running oler when he caught the merry gleam of a pair of sparkling brown eyes. Jerry and Evelyn were again be- neath the maples. Music still iioated over the soft, night air. The frag- rance of roses perfumed the breeze. The moon, now risen, threw a halo of light around them and made a fairy picture. A soft cool breath of air rose suddenly and fanned their faces. Then J erry softly whispered, itOn such a night as this, methinks, Media did gather the enchanted herbs which did renew Old Aesonfl A sil- ence. Then their hands clasped and J erry, looking into the depths of the brown eyes, whispered softly a ques- tion. The answer came, tiYes, Jerry? L726 gafnguaAe $y Jyll gye Miness. BY A. Raymond Parker, a former student of the Salem High School. Class of '08. but now of Oakland, Cam On looking over the April number of the Clarion I was much interested in Chester Moorels description of Cal.- ifornia. If he were to retrace his steps the sight around the vicinity of San Francisco would certainly be most appallingly different. The beau- tiful Memorial church, arch and gym. of Stanford University all shaken and crushed, lie Scattered over the grounds. But to Visit San Francisco tthat wasl he would certainly think himself in Pompeii or some other ancient city built 1000 years B. C. and now crumbling in ruins. The sight of the burning city from Oak-

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20 THE CLARION Conway threw his hand to his.face and at the same time let shp a handful of iine dry sand which took Jerry full in the face. None saw the trick. Jerry staggered but knew 1n an instant. Conwayis aim was not as good as it might have been, for it merely blinded one of J erryis eyes. A momentary pause but Conway was ahead. Half blinded Jerry ignored the pain in his eyes and spurted, straining every muscle, and grimly determined to win or die, if for nothing else for the little girl with the dark brown eyes. Suddenly the air was rent with shouts from a thousand throats and a cry arose that seemed to shake the heavens. iiRah! Rah! Rah! Bones! and the day was won. Jerry had fallen over the line five feet ahead of Conway, He was lifted. to the shoulders of a dozen wild enthusiasts and carried triumphantly around the track and over to the gym. The next day was graduation but still Jerry dared not enter the ivarsity. No clouds lifted, no change. It seemed as if the brilliant Senior would have to leave the ivarsity in disgrace and dishonor.' In the evening after the great race Evelyn was sitting in her favorite nook on the campus. She was troubled. Thoughts of Jerry were continually before her, though she would not have admitted it. How long she sat there she did not know but she suddenly found that darkness had fallen and that the air was get- ting cool. She got up slowly, for sne was still under the dream like spell, and started for her room. She had gone but a few steps when her foot struck something white. Mechanical- ly she stooped and picked it up. 4It was a letter, though without stamp or address. Evelyn could not see to read it there, so she put it in her dress and promptly forgot it. Late that night Evelyn found the lettter again and this time started to read it, though not without some compunc- tlons, for she was the soul of honor. She had scarcely glanced at the writ- lng when it fell to the floor. One glance was enough. She had seen that writing more than once and rec- ognized it. But now she hesitated. She picked it up. Would it be right to read one of his letters? She thought not, but still held the missive open. A fire was burning on an open hearth near her. She was gazing into the coals, deep in reflection, when her grip loosened on the paper and it fluttered toward the blaze. She saw it blacken and then a little edge of bright coals began to eat away a corner. She saw the little edge grow wider and wider but she gazed at it as if fascinated. Then her woman,s curiosity was aroused and she snatched the burn- ing paper from the fire. Still she could not open it and read. Finally she threw it down and looked at it. Then she picked it up and settled herself comfortably in a rocker. Deliberately she opened it and began to read. The first line she read she started and caught her breath, the next she sprang to her feet, threw on her wraps and started out. Evelyn had not gone far when in the semi-darkness of the maples she saw a tall form bending over the ground as if searching for something. She guessed who it was and hurried onward. She took the path that led to the home of the president of the university. Shortly she reached it and was admitted. Though late the hour, the president was at his desk. He looked surprised when Evelyn came in and a question was in his eye. She answered him by stating that she wished some of the particu- lars of the theft which had been charged to Jerry. Perhaps she had valuable information. Then the president told her how some one had entered his private oflice and had taken from the safe, which had been accidentally left open, a small box containing a deed to the university grounds, and several notes with which the final payment of the schooPs debt was to have been paid. The loss was a heavy one and the school was in danger of being ruined. The next morning after the theft J erry and Conway were both missing but turned up next day, Conway ex- plaining his absence, Jerry. saying nothing. But the faculty could find' no clue. Then under a corner of the safe was found a note written to Jerry. This was the basis for the m A .thlla ,t I .. ll! 1! d' 1'!

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22 THE CLARION land tmy homel, nine miles across the Bay, was one of the most awful, but still magnificent, sights that one can imagine. The flames, miles in width, and ascending to the height of eight miles tas estimated by a noted professor of Berkeleyy, mingling w1th the reports of dynamite, as block af- ter block of those magnificent struc- tures were razed, combined with the general restlessness of the people, gave one a most weird and dazed realization of what was pissing be- fore his eyes. No one seemed to realize the situation until it was all over. Then they awoke to the true and awful state of affairs. The fire raged for four days and nights, the second and third being the most in- tense. 'In the neighborhood of 10,000 acres tall in the heart of the cityy was totally wiped out of existence, with the exception of the postoflice and U. S. mint, which were saved by all blocks being blown down that surrounded them. Forty public school houses besides as many sectarian schools were among the list. The area burned was about six times that of the Chicago fire. The estimated loss is 400,000,000 dollars, of which about one-fourth is covered by insur- ance, and about 300,000 people made homeless. The loss in dollars and cents never can be estimated, for art, books and records cannot be replaced; Go to the top of Cemetery Hill- near Salem, imagine all the country you can see north for about three miles, east two miles, south one mile, west one mile, is a burned city with towering broken walls, chimneys standing alone, piles of brick mingled with twisted steel girders in wild disorder. Then you may possibly conceive some idea of the view from the summit of Knob Hill, San Fran- cisco. But there is a big city here yet. It is astonishing to see how the people are taking heart again, cheered up by the many kind hearts from all quarters of the globe. Right here let me say, I am very proud of my native Oregon, and especially my Salem City High bchool. nAll have shown the spirit of the Golden Rule, Temporary buildings are springing up on the old sights, and no doubt San Francisco will be rebuilt a more substantial and beautiful ,city than before. My personal experience of the earthquake-I was rudely .awakene I- about 5:15 a. m. by my; bed jumping about like a hog going to war. I. sat up and hung on '.while oil stove, lamp, pictures and trinkets went hop- ping around in time to it. One might imagine he was having an oyster cocktail night mare, but it wasnlt; it was stern facts, for as my bed got steered around so I could look out of the window I saw people trich and poory flying out into the streets with nighties sailing like a Kansas cyclone was after them. It struck me as a good ioke and after the ball was over the people suddenly found out they were out inathe street with their nightdress and hastened in after their clothes. I laid down and fmished my nap. Having never ex- perienced such a thing before, I did not realize the danger at the time, but should another as hard One come. its very likely my shirt tail would float as gay and high as theirs. Hardly has a day passed isince the 18th of April but We have had a slight shock. Tonight at 8:20, May 17, the hardest tremble since the lirst; very much the. same nature but less severe, others being of the pushing, sliding and corkscrew mo- tion. i mammae- Prof. Powers tspeaking of Lincolny -He devoured all of the books he could get his hands on. Criss QeHe must have been aw- ful hungry. V Going outing? Buy your fishing taokle, guns, ammunition, etc., at WllSOIl 8z Maureris. Mabel M. is going into the express and drayage business in Albany. Rex T. is going to Roseburg for his summer vacation. Lawn tennis is the game! Wilson 8x Maurer carry a complete line of tennis goods. :2 fr