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Philos of '79 - '80

February 2, 1906, V. XXIII, No. 37

CHAPTER 78.

Philos of '79-'80 continued.

J.W. Zeis teaches in Tiffin, O., and is a county examiner. Mr. and Mrs. Zeis named their oldest son Lehr Zeis. Lehr graduated from the Tiffin high school two years ago and a few days after graduation, while bathing in Lake Erie was drowned. The Smith sisters and cousins, of Bellevue, were excellent ladies and loyal Philos. They all roomed at the Watt house.

E.S. Stevens was fine student. He is now a missionary in Japan. The Dean boys were all good students, W.E. Hart was a fine student. He is a successful physician. L.H. Seager and W.E. Putt and A.E. Ewers are preachers. I frequently see Mr. Ewers. His was is a graduate last year at Winona Lake. J.H. Fimple is practicing law and is very successful. Flora Cunningham took lessons this year on the piano. Some years later she recited to me in Algebra.

Sarah Caley and Eva Thomas were members of the same class. In an experience of fifty years I never had any pupils that were more refined and agreeable that miss Cunningham, Miss Caley and Miss Thomas, now Miss S.D. Fess. I have had many others equally good, but none better. J. Jerome Welty was a noted Philo poet, Anna Plummer a noted elocutionist.

S.D. Hazlett came to Ada a young sprout of a boy; now he is substantial citizen of Ada. He is like the rest of us, not always perfect, but I always like the boy and still like him. It has been surmised that he is a Democrat.

Perry Turner is now one of Ada's substantial citizens. He and I have been warm friends for many years. Miss Lottie Mathews, now Mrs. Jacob Ream, and Clara House came the Fall term of '79. They slept beneath the Lehr roof the first night they were in Ada. Both were among our best students. Mrs. Ream was a good student as she is a saleslady, just as kind and obliging. The Lehr family reckon her as a true friend and appreciate her friendship. She has not forgotten her first night in Ada. Sarah Day, an excellent lady, entered that year. She was a student many terms.

Many instances could be related which occurred that year but will relate but two. The societies bought fine pianos. J.L. Hampton, a strong Philo, planned and carried out an excursion to Dayton's Soldier's Home. It was Ada's first excursion there. The Philos cleared $520 and some cents. The other circumstance was of a different nature. A strong Philo, a skeptic, read a series of essays on the "History of the Devil." A very brilliant Philo was critic. He criticized the essay severely. The writer declared if the criticisms would be equally "unjust" the next night he would thrash the critic. The essayist was an athlete, the critic was tall and slender, a great debater but no pugilist. I advised the critic to be careful; but he replied that he would flay him the next night. I visited the Philos that night. The essay, as I thought, was crude, but I hope the critic would pass on it lightly; but his black eyes sparkled fire. He slashed right and left. The hall was packed almost to suffocation. The essayist jumped off the stage and made his way to the critics stand. I yelled out at the top of my voice, "Mr. President." The President recognized me. I stood near the critic. All eyes were turned in that direction. The essayist stopped for a moment. I called out, "Who is president of this society?" The president answered, "I am." I replied, "Well then, act or I will take charge." The essayist called out, "I will settle tomorrow." All became quiet. Carrie McDowell, a strong student, cultured, refined, a womanly woman from the neighborhood of the essayist, was in school that term. She was a tower of strength in the society. Mr. Fimple and I called to see her immediately after breakfast. She roomed on Johnson street. We asked her to accompany us to the room of the essayist. She was to do the talking and she did. In less than half an hour's talk she got his promise to drop the matter and he did and said no more about the Devil. A year or two later she died. Her death was a loss to the world. The critic and the essayist have made life a success. I have lost track of the president.