The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-24
A Mean Trick
By F. A. Mitchell

ago young women were admitted to
the courses. 1t is well known that
1t 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. It 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
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 1t
was doubted If as good man could
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 Off the crew. 1t
came, and Bowers was fired. 1t was
a great misfortune, for he was one
of the best oarsmen in the crew.
And now misfortunes fell thick and
fast. Tomkins, No. 3, while climbing
a cliff to get a 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
it, being bent ON gathering In the
prizes to be given out at the end of
the term. Then Charnley, No. 7, 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
were opposed to its being entered In
the race. A meeting Of the students
was called to decide the question, and
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 a howl among the men
students, who declared that the wom-
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 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 goods
0hu Guile " CutcA NhAnC III
last. being hundred yards behind the
next last boat.
Then the women students gave a
cheer, but not a cheer of victory. 1t
was a cheer for votes for women.
Then they each and all went home, and
their alma mater saw them no more.
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 LIST 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
lev had no mother to oppose bis row.
ing. but Lucia Harker stood in her
stead. With the success Of these four
there was no need Of any other mem
beers Of the crew being lured.