Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-25
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE OUNCE
By Marion r. Co,can

INtEN had gone all through school to-
i gether, The Ounce" and THE
Smartest Girl-in-the- Glass" - and now
they were seniors at the same college
This fellow, the Ounce. who always
sat in the last row and last seat of
every class, worshipped from that dis
tance The Smattest Girl, who sat In
the first rev, first seat. But. as for her,
der her dainty feet. for no other reason
than because he was the Ounce whom
everybody spurned
The last year of their school life to-
gether was In its infancy--in fact. IT
was the beginning of october--when
one day the Professor of E " twh'ch
meant fourth year English, }, remind
ed his class of Columbus Day, which
he wished every scholar to write poem,
10 be read at class on october II, on
The subject Of Columbus Day and all 1t
Signified, and the best poem would earn
for its writer "a prize.
Even the Smartest Girl found inc
task a difficult one. She had about
come to the conclusion, after spending
an entire Saturday morning frultless-
~ that she would give 1T up, so, putting
on her hat and coat went out Tor
walk
It so happened that in the course . Of {
tune. which stopped abruptly when he
saw her and beheld her troubled race.
What is the natter he queried.
For once she was civil. Here was
some one who would at least listen 10
her troubles sympathetically.
ITS that poem" she explained. Il
cant seem to think of anything worth
lis that so? thought UP one
without thought of self he drew a
paper from his pocket and thrust it.,
folded. into her hand.
Take that and use it as II 1t were
your own"
He lifted his hat ard passed on
quickly. leaving her standing there, as
tonished. with the paper in her hand
Eagerly she unfoldcd the paper he had
given her. This is the poem which he
ad written:
In fourteen nincty-two Columbus took
To 70 sailing out across the briny ocean.
I<ing Ferdinand and queen Isabella Of Spain.
Outiitted him with ships in which he sailed
DER the main.
And after westward sailing many days. of
His men suddenly mutined--for the search
losing Hest.
"If in three days no land we find" he said
to his men
'fW'll turn the ships around and go nome
again
Two days went by-no lani--the men in
But on it'' thr third day they beheld the Western
Hemisphere.
Centuries assed--lIistory centcred on coun-
tries new,
Among them our country, win lts nag reu'
white and blue.
Here in the good old L. $. A..
We set aside October 18th as Columbus Day.
And finally came war in the Countries afar ,nr
Emperor and Car.
Thinking to rule the world with his might
He raded their countries by day and by
night.
But, like columbus. a discovery he made,
When the Western Hemisphere lent the Allies
aid.
And when from South. East, West and North
The Allied victory shall sound forth,
Remember. twas Columbus who found the
Which afterwards produced our heroes grand.
Then the Smartest Girl learned two
things-that ounces sometimes, nave
hidden talents. and that sometimes they
have large hearts.
Hastening back to her room. she
wrote him little note which read;
Dear Jack--I am returning your
poem--and thanks. but | could not be SC
mean as to rob you of ii. It's great.
Use it yourself. And--would you like
to go to the Columbus Day dance with
me?'
She didn't sign this-there was nc
need to.
A week later the Ounces poem, witt
those of the other students, was reaG
to the class. and although some Others
We're good, his was best and he Wof
the prize.
And from that day the Ounce cap was
lifted from his head, and in its place
he was crowned with the title of The
Poet"
The evening of October IL he escorted
certain young lady to dance giver
by the senior class. Not only tina
night, but for the remainder Of the term
they went to many places together.
Winter passed. spring came and thei
their school life was over
Then, one night, several weeks attei
commencement out under the summer
skies a young man was bidding good-bI
to a Young woman. A moment he helo
her in his arms as she wished him god
speed and safe return from "OVei
There"-then he was gone
The girl. alone pressed a sparkling
something on her left hand to her lips
and the moon smiled down, protectingly
caressingly.
TOnorvOlr's Complete NOreiette--
"THE DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTIONS
~ n II IL L.,