The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-05-12
STUDENTS GAY LARK.
Willy Sophomore Plays Part OF
Italian Tarnbourine Girl.
DARK TRESSES WERE NOT HIS

HonOre c. COnnette of Hartford,
Conn.,, Clad In Gaudy Skirt and
Playing "a Tambourine, Won a Wa
ger by Following "a Hand Organ
and Deceived All.
That italian" tambourine girl who re.
Gently followed hand organ through
the streets Of Hartford, Conn.,, and be-
guiled from the impressionable inhab-
itants their hearts and pennies was
none other than Mr.. Honore G. Con-
nette Of the sophomore class Of Trim
ity college, says the New York Herald
The proceeds of his expedition are
$4.75 in coin and fund of experiences,
to say nothing of the winning of q
wager.
Youths who smiled upon him in yell
low silk skirt and red scarf, with a
black lace 'mantilla flung over the
heavy tresses Of a dark wig, fear now
to meet his gaze. He knows more
about the traits Of his classmates, the
dispositions of the faculty and the be-
havior Of citizens Of Hartford than he
could have ever known in any other
way.
Young Mr.. Connette comes from New
York, and he dips into literature and
sociology. He wrote story in which
he spoke of youth going disguised as
a hurdy gurdy man to see if his ina
morata was true, and classmate who
heard it read said that such an incl
dent could never take place. To win a
wager by proving that fiction could be
real Mr.. Connette hired the necessary
outfit and started on his travels.
Starting from tenement in Me-
chanic street." said Mr.. Connette, Il
was almost overcome with a feeling Of
self consciousness. The first step was
the hardest, as the maxim goes, and
when 1 met the first policeman I was
afraid that he would see the student
under the wig, the gaudy gown and
the gay colored shawls which l had
twisted about my shoulders.
''He looked at me critically, but
seemed to decide that l would pass
muster. felt more at ease after that,
for q policeman is a good judge Of de-
ception, and l felt that I had fooled
him. We played in an alley off Main
street until I became accustomed to
persons smiling and staring at me, and
fhay NO do
MANY Of the students and towns
men whom I knew gave me money
and never recognized me. 1t was hard
work not to laugh. Some looked anus
cd, others smiled, and others seemed to
pity me. 1t was constant study in
expressions. One Of my classmates
crossed the street to avoid giving me
penny. l was surprised at that, for
thought he was the most generous
man in the college. I know different
~ now.
at seems to me that the faculty is
not very generous to- tambourine girls
and organ grinders, for 1 did not get
cent from the houses of any Of the
professors. We started for Washing
ton street, and 1 began to lose that
retrospective look that I knew 1 must
have had.
1.-TWO pretty girls gave me money
and smiled at me so sweetly that
smiled back. In Elm street 1 met a
man whom I had often dined with,
one Of those staid fellows, you know.
He smiled at me in the most winning
way. l would never have believed it
Of him. 1t was such good joke that
I laughed aloud. Two young fresh
men heard me and followed the pro-
cession for five blocks. Once I uncon-
sciously gave smile to a seedy look
ing person with straw colored hair,
and he was a satellite for an hour.
We had a procession in our wake at
times. One of the shadows was a we'll
known business man.
whether any saw through the dis
guise 1 do not know, but I do not
think that they did. They thought
that did not understand English,
and I had the benefit Of frank criti-
cisms"