Class History.

O

NE bright morning in June, a traveler was journeying through sunny

Phocis in Central Greece.  How tired he was!  but he must trod

on, for it was his aim to reach fame renowned Delphi that day.  An

old man came jogging down the road on the back of a lazy donkey.

"Ah!  He is an Athenian, I know," thought the traveler.  "What clear-cut feat-

ures and noble forehead he has!"  Then in a loud voice he called out,

"Good-morning, stranger, how far is Delphi from here?"  The old man looked

up with startled eyes, and, after gazing at the traveller for a moment, he said in

a soft, clear voice, "Not far;  do you not see the tops of those mighty oakes

yonder and amidst them those white pillars?"  "Ah!  yes, I see them plainly,

can that be Delphi?  I had almost given up hope of reaching there today."  The

old man seemed to become interested at these words, and came nearer to

the traveler.  "Stranger, are you seeking the ruins of the Pythian shrine?  If

you are, let me accompany you.  I cannot bear to go there alone, for super-

stition takes me into its grasp, even when I draw near."  "Indeed, I could

wish nothing better," replied the other.

     The two went slowly on, and within a short time they stood before the

ruins of an ancient temple.  Two pillars were still standing.  How beautiful

they were even now,---of Parian marble.  Awed by its ancient memories and

once world-wide influence, the traveler stood silently viewing the mass of ruins.

Suddenly he thought he saw writing upon some of the large stones opposite.

He hurried to where they were, and found, to his amazement, that the stones

were tablets and upon them was Greek writing.  The old man came to behold

them; everything here was to him a mystery.  The traveler drew pencil and pa-

per from his pocket, and with earnest endeavor, began a translation.  From the

form and style he could tell that the writing was a prophecy.  Thereupon the

fact was proven to him that these tablets had been used to take down the words

of a Pythian God.  His companion stood near, watching all with trembling in-

terest.  Thus read the translation:

Tablet I.

     'Afar in the west, dwell a tribe known as Naughty-twos--a name signifying

the time of their departure from this realm of bright hopes and aspirations.

The land in which they dwell is noted for its wise men and women.  Their fame

spreads afar over land and inland sea.  The Naughty-twos have dwelt here for

four or five years, coming originally from the realms of Wardschool, Central-

gram, and Townludus.  When they first enter this realm, they are young and of

little knowledge.  They are easily frightened by threats from the older and

wiser.  They wish to become great and mighty as a tribe; but they do little to

show their real ability for two years.  At the end of that period of time, they

gather together to choose a council, which carries on the business of the tribe.

A mighty warrior is chosen as their Chief and one of the clan of Unionsch to

assist this Chief.  Another is chosen to write down the record of the tribe's ex-

ploits.  Two more warriors, the tribe selects, to fill the number of its counsel-

lors,--the one to wrest taxes from the people, the other known as Sergeant-at-

Arms, to keep peace in the realm.

     The tribe is not without a shield of honor, which is made of costly gold with

the base of black and red.  These last are their favorite colors, which they ever

display in contests.  A precedent has been established for each tribe to choose

a war-whoop to arouse its courage and daring, when the enemy draws near.  A

band of warriors is sent out to choose a most inspiring one.  Upon the approval

of all, this is their selection.

With a hee, and a ha, and a hum,

               Boom stick-a-rick rack rick rack roo,

Grand Rapids High School          

        Naughty-two.                             

     Upon the tribal ensigns is engraved,  "Labore et Honore," which means, "by

work and honor."  This the tribe call their motto.

Tablet II.

     A tribe known as Naughty-one began to molest the tribe of Naughty-two

by all manner of theft.  These acts are resented, and the latter avenge them by

the agency of three of their warriors, one of them being their mighty chief.  The

King of the nation becomes very angry.  Lawlessness, however, goes on among

the Naughty-ones and they make an attempt to carry off the Chief of the

Naughty-two's into a far off country.  But lo! they are outwitted by the clever-

ness of this Chief.  His own tribe behold him, safe amidst rejoicing and ringing

of bells.  After this exploit the hostility of the Naughty-ones abates.  A chal-

lenge is now sent to them by the other tribe to contest in the open arena in feats

of strength.  Here more renown is added to the banners of Naughty-two.

     In the beautiful month of June the Naughty-ones prepare to depart to dis-

tant lands.  Their opponents in so many contests now hold a delightful festival

for them, after which all depart in peace and with many happy remembrances,

to the land of summer vacation.

Tablet III.

     The Naughty-twos return to the valley to remain for another year.  Their

warriors struggle on the gridiron with the outlying nations.  By one nation

alone are they defeated.  They are crowned with fresh green laurels, for nobly

have they struggled.

     When all these contests are over, a clan known as Litsociety meet together

to take part in debates and to listen to their members talk upon important ques-

tions that arise before the realm.  Then two other clans known as Gdelsi and

 Gdeltau appear upon the stage, as the Athenian youths and maidens do.  For

the first time the women band themselves together in a Basket Ball league and

choose a council to manage their affairs.  The warriors are forbidden entrance

to these Amazonian games until the women become expert at them.  Then it is

that the entire tribe, together with many others, see them win laurels in the land

of Ymseea.

Tablet IV.

     The tribe chooses its leaders as before, amidst great excitement, for there

are four clans struggling this time for the leadership.  All the chosen chiefs are

of the clan, independent, except one, who is of the clan Gdelsi.  Later the

tribe meet together and select two of their members as counsellors,--the one to

prophecy their future, the other to record their tribal exploits.

     Now a great contest is held in the open arena between all the tribes of the

realm.  There are many games to try the contestants' strength in running and

jumping , in throwing heavy weights, and in hurling a large ball, called the pig-

skin.  The victors receive as rewards, badges of yellow.  In a short time they

go to the land of U. of M. to contest with victors  from many different lands.  A

challenge is received from a far off country known as Allegan, for a debate upon

some great tribal question.  The tribe accepts it and sends three mighty chiefs

to defend it.

*          *          *

     Here the writing upon the tablets ended.  The traveler looked up from his

paper.  Suddenly had the old man disappeared from view; then, the ruins; and

when I looked again, the traveler had faded into mist.  But his manuscript had

fallen into my hands.

     Has this prophecy passed into history?  Yes, it has, and our school-life is

now ending, where it has lasted long.  During the senior year, the Class of

1902 has had no exciting exploits to write down within her annals.  None of her

members have sought to destroy school property, and so we may say, "Blessed

be the class that records no such escapades in her history."  As we try to real-

ize that we are leaving, we cannot help but feel sincere gratitude toward our

kind instructors--those who have certainly been a great influence in molding

our characters, as they are.  We sincerely hope that those who fill our places

will do no less well than we have done, but better, as we hoped to do.

Marion L. Powers, '02.                 

Class Prophecy

I

Unattended save at the right,

Where a crimson star glowed strangely bright.

Dark was the mount and all around

Reigned silence deep and most profound.

The waters in shining silvern spray

With ne'er a sound in the fount did play.

The wind was soft and wondrous still.

No living creature on that hill

But I alone.  Across the curve

The horn'd moon with ne'er a swerve

From her course now swift and light advanced,

I stood and gazed at her entranced.

Suddenly she reached her height,

Bright flashed the star upon the right.

A swift and steady wind now came,

A silent, noiseless hurricane.

For a moment, all grew wondrous light,

The fountain now a marvelous sight.

The waters from their depths were stirred

And rose in forms and fancies wierd

Boiling and seething, they rose and fell.

Then, like a silver, clear-toned bell,

A chiming low came to mine ear

And calm and peace gave way to fear.