S. be enlisted, and sent out
to scour the town, holding, out a subscription paper that is properly
worded at the top."
"How worded?" demanded Ted Butler.
"My freshmen chums and I have prepared a draft of the paper.
May I read what we suggest as a heading for the paper?"
"Hear! Hear!" cried a dozen.
"Thank you," Prescott acknowledged, gratefully. Then, drawing
a paper from his pocket, he read as follows:
_"'Gridley is justly proud of its public spirit, and rejoices
in having the best in several lines. Few if any cities in the
United States possess a High School football team that can down
the eleven from Gridley H.S. We are proud of our High School,
and as proud of its reputation in athletics. We believe that
Gridley prominence in athletics should be fostered in every way,
and we know that real athletics cost money---a lot of it! We,
The Undersigned, therefore subscribe to the Athletic Committee
of Gridley H.S. the amounts of public spirit set down opposite
our names in dollars.'"_
After Dick Prescott had ceased reading it took nearly a full minute
for the cleverness of this direct appeal to local pride to strike
home in the minds of the football squad. Then loud applause broke
loose.
"Freshie!" roared Sam Edgeworth, over the din, "that's genius,
compressed into a hundred words!"
"It's O.K.!" declared Thompson, with heavy emphasis.
"Bully!" roared Ben Badger.
Then one pessimist was heard from:
"It's good, but it takes something mighty good to force people
to part with their own cash.
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