CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A NEW DAY AT PURE FOUNTAIN HIGH
- In the early twenties, Professor Jernigan
replaced Professor Edmondson as principal of the school, and
Miss Anderson appeared on the scene.
- She brought lots of new culture with her. She worked with the high school kids, and included
in her innovations was a club she called the Athenians - the Greeks had come to Smithville! It's purpose was to
foster debate and declamation and related activities.
- We got along real well, but it soon became evident that we needed competition. So, she formed
a rival which she named the Theta Epsilons, and divided the available people into two groups. Being the village
idiot-poet with ever-ready pen, I wrote a piece depicting the sorrow of the separation, which I recited from the
stage that afternoon.
- Another of Miss Anderson's brain children
was a brand new school paper - The Highland Voice. Barbee Reeder
was Editor-in-Chief, and I was her Associate Editor.
- Chuck Paris was Athletic Editor; Walton
Lawson was Art Editor, Buna Spencer,
Lerline Judkins and Maggie Pedigo were Editors for other departments. Rebecca Crowley
and Evelyn Staley reported for the two Greek Societies. Jim Fitts was Business Manager.
- Our first issue was in December, 1922. I Wrote a piece for it titled "A Christmas Tragedy"
- a real tear jerker. The local merchants supported us in a very fine way - practically all of them took ads in
the paper. Various students contributed stories, articles and poems, and everyone connected with the paper received
some good training.
- Miss Anderson was doing a fine job. The two clubs put on good programs,
and we learned a lot about parliamentary and forensic procedures. You understand this was new ground being broken
in Smithville.
- A keen rivalry developed between members of the two clubs, and this was carried home to parents,
who became intensely interested in the new program. This rivalry reached its climax with a grand four-man debate
near the end of the school year in May, 1923. It was to be held in the auditorium on the second floor of the General
Stores Corporation building.
- Repsie Foutch and James Walter Hooper formed the Athenian team, and Jim Fitts and I were
ready to do or die for dear old Theta.
- The townspeople had taken us to their hearts, and they filled the auditorium. The audience,
of course, was divided down club lines, and there was considerable feeling as the big night got under way.
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- I can't recall the subject of the debate, but I do recall the agony of looking out over that
ocean of faces, and fearing I would forget my speech.
- I guess we did all right. Jim and I won the
contest, and were presented a pretty loving cup. Jim kept the
cup for a while that summer, and then let me have it. I carried it to Texas, which was a mistake, and this caused
some unpleasantness before I sent it back. I wonder what happened to it.
- I want to pay tribute to Jim Fitts. (In all
seriousness, and I hope he reads this.) He was truly an all-American boy. He was a star athlete and captain of
his team. He was a good student, and participated in all school activities. He was a leader. He was a good, clean,
moral Christian boy. He made a brilliant mind - in fact, of the Smithville boys I have known, I would rank him
right up there with you and Ed Bell in brain power.
- He was one of the few persons who ever beat me in a debate. In one of our Theta programs, we
debated the subject of compulsory military training in our schools. I remember the title because I'm such a bad
loser. My partner and I got him and his partner later on, so I feel fortunate in breaking even with him.
- One of his obvious talents I have not mentioned was his popularity with the girls. He was top
dog for quite a while, until Mermon Potter appeared on the scene.
I think Mermon was his cousin, and he stayed with Jim's family and attended our school for one year, as I recall. He was a rosy-cheeked
cherub with a lot of city spit and polish, and he just about pushed ole Jim into the number two spot while he was in town. You know, Dick, I hadn't thought of Mermon Potter in fifty years.
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