Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. 25 A Snapshot. T wasn’t really anybody’s fault but — it .just happened, as acci- dents will in the best regulated High Schools. It was a warm September night, three weeks after the v opening of the .Marsden High School and the coming of the nevv Professor, .Mr. Haywood. As might be expected the latter event caused much excitement and many comments among the students for, (horror of horrors!) the new man was to teach Science! The Seniors, despite the traditional adjective, were fourteen as jolly boys and girls as ever entered upon the mysteries of “ Physics.” They had watched with amazement the unusual actions of the new professor and after they had watched him read the barometer as “ half past six.” and heard him say that mercury was “ used for making electric batteries,” they came to the awful con- clusion that he was — “ absent minded! ” Until this same warm September night before mentioned each one of the fourteen was waiting with suppressed eagerness for a chance to play some prank on Mr. Haywood for they knew the opportunity would surely come, and now it had, although it was merely an accident. • Eight of the Seniors were sitting on the front steps of Margaret Graham’s house discussing the next day’s Vergil lesson and incidentally planning a hay- rack party and lamenting the fact that there had b een no excitement in Marsden for almost a week, when suddenly George Allison said, 11 Say, if you people want excitement, lets go over and break into the school. I want my kodak anyhow and I left it in my desk.” Pshaw, drawled Chester Dixon, ‘‘Where’s any excitement in that? We’ve done that stunt until even the girls are positive proof against the lovely ‘ cold shivers that just run up and down my back.’ ” 11 Then beside, added Tom Parker, “ Mr. Arnold had new locks put on all the windows just yesterday.” “ But the coal cellar door never has had a lock on it and I know we can get in there — come on. The girls are game, I know — anyhow Joker is.” Joker, whose class-room-Sunday-School name was Florence Moreland, was the leader among the girls and no one who saw her wondered at it. Her face was a perplexing mystery of fun and seriousness all the time. Bright, sympa- thetic and pretty, she had won respect and love from all who knew her and unconsciously drew with her a train of followers into all she did. The boys never thought of playing a joke, planning a party or starting a new study without Joker’s advice. So it was only natural that all started for the school when Joker did.

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. 24 Aet IV. — Scene 1 : Time, first half of last year, 1905. Place, German room of new central building. Characters, Miss Dunwell, teacher. Same pupils. Miss D: We will continue our read- ing of Wilhelm Tell tomorrow. Now, Clara, you may give us a summary of the last scene which we have read. Clara: Well, the last scene was where William Tell shot the apple off his son’s head. That’s all I can tell. Miss D: Andrew, do you remember anything else? Andrew: No. Scene 2 : Second half of last year, Miss D: Why, where is Kate, she is always here, she must be sick. Eva: She is. She and Hattie both have the measles. Miss D: O, poor girls. Well, we must go to our work; we begin our translation of Goethe’s Iphigenie today, don’t we? Grace, take the first para- graph. Grace: (holding Marie’s hand) The Goddess had determined, already Miss D: Look that scene over again and I will ask you about it tomorrow. Andrew: Tomorrow’s Saturday. Miss D: Well, Monday then, (bell rings) The class is excused. (The class passes out, but Myrtle sits with her head on her desk. ) Miss D: Myrtle! (Myrtle wakes up and hurries out with her magazine under her arm.) 1906. (Dark rainy day.) Marie: Yet. Bertha: Once. Miss D: (hardly able to control her- self) Girls! (Miss MacQuilkin enters.) Miss M: Miss Dunwell, we will have to dismiss on account of the darkness; there is something the matter with the gas. (class passes out.) Miss D: (alone) Oh, it is a great senior class. (curtain.)

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26 HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. It was only a short distance and it wasn’t five minutes till they reached their destination. “ Come on boys, some of you to help the girls in. We’ll have to get in here first,” said George in a stage whisper, after he had succeeded in opening the small door. “ Well, you’d better let Tom get in first, for we’ll probably have to put him through by main force.” Tom’s superfluous avoirdupois was a standing joke in the crowd. With much pushing, scrambling and laughing they reached the Assembly Room. All but Joker, Tom, Chester and George stayed out in the hall to keep guard. George groped his way to his seat and got the kodak, when all at once, Joker said in a low voice, “ Boys, there’s some one on the platform! ” All three of the boys paused abruptly to listen for the sound of an intruder for they knew that all of the crowd who had come in with them were at the opposite end of the building. The boys were plainly frightened, but Joker remained calm. “ Give me a match, Chester, I’m going to see who it is.” “ We’d better get out of here without waiting to see who it is,” replied Chester, preparing to make a hasty retreat. “ Fudge ! What for? Whoever he is he can’t be dangerous for he’s fool- ing around the reading table, so I’m not afraid. Where’s that match? ” Gently she stole up to the foot of the platform and listened a minute. The boys followed. “ Listen boys,” she whispered, “ He’s mumbling something.” All stood holding their breath. Joker gently struck the match and a sight greeted their eyes that they always remembered. There, in bath robe and silk hat, one felt slipper and patent oxford and a tuxedo coat, stood — Professor Haywood ! Evidently he was somnambulating, for under his arm he carried an umbrella and in his hands was the large Bible used in chapel exercises. It was almost too much for the gravity of the four. Chester rushed out to tell the other people, who were waiting in the hall. “ Mercy! What if he wakes up? ” said Margaret. “ We would be in for it then sure enough.” “ Well, he won’t. Don’t you worry, but come on and see the fun,” advised Grace Goodwin. When all had gathered to watch the movements of the unconscious actor, Joker, smothering the laugh that seemed determined to come, said, “ Say people, I’m going to take a flashlight of him. Give me your kodak, quick, George ! ” Joker never waited long after making up her mind. Deftly fixing the machine, she snapped the professor just as he was coming toward the front of