The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-07-07
A Mean Trick
By F. A. Mitchell

it was the men students who brought
about the passage of the regulation
that no woman should thereafter be
admitted as student to the college
Why the young men objected was a
puzzle to every one except the faculty
The girls claimed that the reason OF
their being dropped from the college
was that they took the scholarships
away from the men, so that women
instead of men were being helped
through college. The boys declared
that the reason why they did not want
girls In college was that they took up
room that otherwise would have been
taken by men and there were fewer
men TO draw from for competing with
other colleges in athletics.
This made the girls mad. 1t has
been claimed that In order to take re-
venge on the men they put up a job
to bring about the defeat of the college
team that had been long in training
for the annual regatta free to all col
leges at Poughkeepsie Immediately aft
er the June commencement. There
was every expectation that this team
would win the race, and every one con-
nected with the college was anticipat-
ing the eclat that would attach to
their alma mater on account of the
victory. The college was a small one,
and it was hoped that the winning of
a race so important would attract stu
dents-men, not girls.
About the LIST Of June both the cap
tain of the crew and its trainer pro-
nounced that they had not only the
best crew among the competitors so
far as muscle was concerned, but they
worked together better than any 9TH
er and had the best stroke From that
time bad luck set In. Perkins bow
gave out that his physician had for
hidden him to row on account of a
weakness of his heart He had been
relied upon to do great things, and it
was doubted If as good man could
be found for the place. Stanford was
selected, but every one knew that he
was not Perkins
Bowers, No. 6, one day was absent
from practice. The captain lectured
him. He was absent again. The cap
tain declared that another such Of
tense would put him of the crew. 1t
came. and Bowers was fired 1t was
a great misfortnna, for he was one
OF the best oarsmen I'm the crew.
And now misfortunes fell thick and
fast. Tomkins, No. 8, while climbing
cliff to get flower for one of the
prettiest girls In college fell and broke
his arm. The incident increased the
antagonism against the women stu
dents. But they paid no attention to
1t, being bent on gathering in the
prizes to be given out at the end Of
the term. Then Charn1ey. No. z, all
OF sudden said that his mother had
set her face against his rowing, fear
ing that the strain would injure him.
The consequence of all this was
that In the space Of three weeks the
crew had been SO reduced that many
We're opposed to its being entered in
the race. A meeting OF the students
was called to decide the question. and
a vote was taken. There were many
women students present, each having
vote, and they all voted for the en-
trance Of the club at the regatta.
There was howl among the men
students, who declared that the WON
en- had injured the college greatly since
they had been admitted. and now it
was evident that they would ruin it.
Well, the crew went to the regatta.
There were more of the women stu.
dents OF the college at Poughkeepsie
that year than ever before. They said
they had come to see their alma mater
win. They formed a knot of cheerers.
though they had no leaders. Every
girl looked inexpressibly happy.
There were six crews competing. At
the signal to go they started together.
but within a few minutes began to
separate, the better crews leaving the
poorer ones behind. When they reach
ed the goal the college whose co-eds
had come to cheer a victory came in
last, being hundred yards behind the
next last boat.
Then the women students gave a
cheer. but not cheer of victory. It
was a cheer for votes for women.
Then they each and all, went home and
In time the true reason for the run
ming down of the crew and its failure
came out. At a class meeting of the
women students on the 1st of June a
committee of the most fascinating
girls were appointed to lay in wait for
the members of the crew with view
to breaking down its efficiency. Each
girl was assigned her object. Perkins
was first captured and gave Ethel Cur
tbs a promise not to row. she suggest
ing the story about his doctor and
heart weakness. Bowers was shared
by Louise Van Wrinkle. Tompkins was
sent up the cliff for flower by Wini-
fred Turnlee, with the expectation that
he would break something. and he
came near breaking his neck. Charm
ley had no mother to oppose his row.
ing, but Lucia Harker stood in her
stead. With the success of these four
there was no need of any other mem
bers of the crew being lured.
When the students-men on1y-reas-
sembled in September every member
of the crew who had been seen in COM