Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-02-10
In the Devils Den.

The editor is indeed honored He
has received a card from Charles E
Bellatty, janitor of the bottomless
pit, announcing that he, the editor
is "a knight of the seeth.ng circle
in more or less full standing" He
is particularly gratified to have been
admitted to the flaming circle with
out undergoing the fortunes endured
by most neophytes, but perhaps that
was in recognition of the fact that
years ago-many years ago-he was
initiated as devil" with a baptism
of printers ink and a bite of the
printers louise Now he has been
admitted to the DEVILS Den, where
he may touch elbows with a circle
of choice fellows whose footprints
were familiar in Ellsworth during
several summer school sessions of
Boston University.
Concerning the DEVILS Den. the
4, says editorially:
The aims. purposes, ideals of the
club, if indeed the Den" possesses
such attributes, are known. Appear
ances seem to indicate that the Devils
Den Sporting Club is an organization
which congregates once a year to IN
dulge in an evening of amusement. 1t
would appear that the members OF
the club come together for the sole
purpose of inflicting a tortuouS de-
gree upon several ambitious and
frightened neophytes. While it is true
that the club does gather once a year
for the purpose of perpetuating the
Roaring Ritual and enlightening the
cares of life, there is also a serious
side to the organization as we'll and
this serious aspect is firmly impressed
upon the entering candidates.
The club was founded in Ellsworth,
Maine, in 1890 by students at the
Ellsworth high school, At this time
Dean Everett w Lord of c. p. A. was
a student at the high school The
organization was founded by Frank
e. Whitmore, who, tradition relates,
was the first editor Of the Devils Den
Herald. Frank Whitmore was typi-
cal honorable fun-loving American
youth. He saw the bright side Of life
and realized that there must be smiles
and fellowship to offset frowns and
Club
He entered the French Foreign
Legion soon after Germany violated
Belgium's neutrality and fought fol-
France for a period of two years at
tanning the rank of sergeant. He was
repeatedly wounded and incapacitatec
bv sickness, but each time he returned
In face almost GER
tain death. He was twice decorated
for valor. one of the awards belns
the coveted Croix de Guerre. After
two years of service he was killed II
action, and was buried on the field be
side the colonel under whom he ha'
rendered such noble service
To keep his memory fresh and II
Droyide an outlet for the fun-maklnt
,nclinations of the former soldiers IL
the C. B. A. summer session at ELS
worth in 1922, the club and Heral'
uare revived. The club was first opel
TO veterans bureau men. but 1T is nov
attending membership to all c. B. A
students.
Moreover, it still exists to perpetual
the memory of the fine quantities o
Frank E. Whitmore. The DeVils Del
Sporting Club seeks to keep fresh tn
memory of this type of American man
hood and, in the carrying out OF tn
fun and frolic of the evening, member
desire to enjoy themselves as Franz
whitmore would want them to II
were with them. and to see the brlgh
side of life that has been preserve
for us all by sacrifices of men sue
an Frank Whitmore.