The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-10
HAPPY BROWNIES.
Class of '97 Of the High
School Has an Excit-
ing Election.
GIRL GRADUATES CONSULT CUSHING
Disgraceful Bribery with Candy
Sticks, Ahem-Yreeland-
ties Downed.
GIRL GRADUATES CONSULT CUSHING

from the H1gh School since the old build
| ing that stands on Bay street went into
commission, still no graduating class has
achieved the record which the class of
June, 81, will leave behind it. For three
days did the walls of the High School
echo the confused babbIe of feminine
voices in faint protest and the sterner
and more threatening tones of the male
members of the class.
The cause of the three days,t turmoil
was just an ordinary class election. 1t
was not the class election in itself that
caused the trouble, but the faithful ad-
herence of two factions, each to it's favor
ite leader and the ingenuity of the lobby
lists, which would have put to shame the
shade of Gushing had he strolled in OH
one of those meetings.
The two factions were known, one as
the Vreelandites and the other as the
Brownies. William Vreeland led the one
and Edward Brown the other There
We're thirty seven pupils in the class and
including his own vote each of the rivals
for the Presidency of the class received
eighteen votes. The nominations and
ballots took place several times, but still
the result was always the same-the con-
testants each received eighteen votes.
When 1T was found that the ballots could
prlng about no other result than tie,
the pupils turned their attention to the
securing of another vote to change the
aspect of affairs. All sorts of schemes
were brought to bear. Promises of cara
mels and chocolates failed to tempt the
Brownies from their duty to their leader
and the vreelandites were also too de-
voted to their candidate to submit to such
designs upon their votes.
These means failing, parliamentary pro-
ceedings followed. Cushing's manual was
brought to view and then a session in the
laW OF parliamentary procedure followed.
cushing was hunted through for a case
slm1lar to the one which threatened dis
solution to the class of June, '97. There
were some, however, who were adverse
to having Gushing consulted. In the
midst OF the turmoil a shrill feminine
voice could be heard calling for recog-
milton. Having secured it, the owner Of
the voice promptly turned up her pretty
little nose and wanted ito know what any
Mr.. Gushing had to do with our class
election" Did not the class have con-
stitution to go by? Why, then, were they
bringing any book written by Mr.. Cush-
lng, ana which appeared to be teeming
with decisions against their cause. into
the meeting to be consulted.
On Monday afternoon a particularly
warm session took place, which resulted
dency.. Miss Anna Wittpenn, however,
was elected secretary and Miss Agnes
Toml1nS was selected treasurer. It was
rapidly approaching dusk when Princi-
pal Charles Haskell informed the class
that while the present trouble existed he
could not recognize them as class, and
that he thought it would be advisable
for the candidates who were the cause of
the trouble, to withdraw and let new
candidate be selected
But no, this would not do. Pouts, curl
ing up noses and looks of scorn We're
what that suggestion met with. Then
Mr.. Haskell proposed another scheme.
There was one young lady who had never
Joined the class association, although
she was a pupil in the class. He would
speak to her and have her join the class.
That would break the tie, and the secur-
ing of her vote would have to be left to
the fair lobbyists.
Yesterday morning, when the new mern-
Der appeared at the school door, she
was met by a delegation from each fac
ton and escorted to the class room. Such
chatter and such promises as were
madei One faction would promise a stick
of candy and the other faction would
promise two. So it went until the entire
list of invitations lay at the new mem
bers disposal. Through all this siege,
she said nothing, and the only response
either faction received was a smile equal
ly discouraging for both. When the
morning exercises were over, MT. Haskell
announced that the senior class would
hold a meeting in the assembly room as
soon as the other classes had gone to
their respective rooms. Breathlessly, the
rival candidates awaited the result and
equally anxiously did their constituents
await the announcement of the votes.
At last, the balloting was over and the
votes counted. Then the result was
read Vreeland had received eighteen
votes and Brown nineteen. A confusion
that beggars description followed. Such
expressions as 1.-THE sweet thing" and
sOh. what did she vote for him for!''
mingled with each other. Edward Brown
was then declared president of the class.
The Vreelandtes appeared to take their
defeat good-naturedly, but it was plain
to be seen that there was mischief afoot.
Then a rumor was circulated that the
vreeland faction threatened to withdraw
from the class and refuse to take any
part in the reception. This was a blow
the Brownies did not anticipate and it
was met with black looks. Whether this
action will be taken or not has not been
settled Still the election is over and the
Brownies are happy in the victory.