The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-18
HAS JUST A WEE
TOUCH OF LIFE
Skeleton Substituted For Uni
VerSity Student.
INSTRUCTOR GIVEN SURPRISE
"DEMD UNPLEASANT BODY HAS
BRIEF FREEDOM.

For years a skeleton. the bare,
bleached remains of an unfortunate
whose days on earth began many de-
cades ago. but whose bones have not
yet been granted repose. has stood in
the museum OF the University Of Utah.
"A demd, damp, moist, unpleasant
body. the unfieshed frames one mis-
sion has been TO illustrate just what
man may become when his time chap
ter has ended AS such, the dangling
mass of bones and skull has been pro-
tccted from the living world by a case.
a thin case Of glass, much more able
t. withstand buffets than its solitary
occupant
The thing has stood this way for
many month. When the museum
was full Of sunlight and thronged with
students, the skeleton has been undis-
turbed. When all was dark and quiet
and the university deserted, the lone
~ dweller in the glass case has still
kept his vigil.
No one noticed him much-except in
cold. scientific manner He always
seemed the same. Even the dust re-
fused to sit on bones spurned so long
since by dust. At least no one ever
noticed that the frame had taken on
any semblance, however slight. Of its
former covering.
SO utterly In little world Of his own
did the skeleton dwell that none sus-
pected, least of all he, that he would
ever be party to one of the most sue
cessful pranks played at the universe
ty in many years. 1t would probably
have been some relief during his long
stand within his glass cage had he
known that the day was coming for
him 10 take an active part in the real
life of the institution.
Opportunity Seized.
The opportunity of this skeletons
lifetime came a few Gays ago when
the janitOr of the college buildings
thought TO take a better look at his
former brother dweller on earth. The
door of the crystal case was opened.
Fortunately the man who was alive
and breathing forgot to lock up the
'demd body" after making his inspec-
ton.
Members Of the prep class noticed
that the case door had been left I'M
locked.
Here was a chance to give the skeIe-
ton a leading role in a practical joke.
Quickly the case and actOr-to-be were
carried upstairs to Professor Reyn-
ODDS recitation room. The instructor
at the time was at lunch.
What better than that one Of the
students take the skeletons place IN
the latter's glass house. and the skele-
ton take the students place in the
row of seats.
If the skeleton had any sense Of hu-
nor at all he must have seen the pos
sibilities. But no one cared TO be one
of the dramatis persOnae with the
skeleton. However, years overcamt
here as they had in the skeletons case
One OF the smaller students was car
ried struggling to the case.
The cold thing within the case was
embraced by several willing arms and
was carefully placed i'm an upright pO-
sition i'm the students seat. The LAD
who had thus summarily been called
upon TO fill the role q skeleton was
showed into the house which belonged
10 the newly made scholar.
Skeleton in Seat.
The latter sat with his hands on the
desk much as though he were thrum-
ming away a minute or two before re-
citation. Some one raised window
Il was necessary to close it again. Tn,
new scholar had not sat in an easy pO
sition for so long that he threatened t,
fail i'm the direction of the air cuTren
which had been admitted.
The fellow in the glass case, whethe
he Willed OF otherwise, had TO StanC
up much in the manner Of his prede
CeSSOr.
What followed during the next few
minutes. when Professor Reynold
discovered the plot, meant the china,
Of the scene for. the students. but TIT
dismal dropping Of the curtain for tn
skeleton. After being taken to tn
heart and bosom of his fellow men 70
the space OF Il few minutes. he wa
forced back into his dOmicile like s.
much stage property.
The skeleton has resumed its da.
and night watching and it's mission a
the awful example" Of times raw
ages. and incidentally as a specimen
of the human frame for the education
~ bo