108 THE BOOK OF THE CLASS OF NINETEEN-ELEVEN
never reached the mat at all. I think the mats were placed too far away. Chambers and
I always did think so, but Emerson says not. We do not argue the matter, for she landed
on the floor, too, only it was on the other side of the mat.
My jumping encouraged the Freshmen too much and they became quite cocky, so
sacrificing ambition, I went to put the shot. There I stood at the far end of the Gym, by
the piano, while Houghteling and Canan hurled the shot at it so that I had to keep bobbing
about. However, I got quite expert in putting back the shot, and I warded off the Freshmen
by sending them to Parker to learn how to hurl the thing straight, and hit Miss Gray only
once or twice myself.
Parker was an admirable Captain, always cheerful, even when we considered the
possibility of Mary Minor as anchor on the tug-of-war, or Isabelle Miller as final in the relay,
or when we were forced to take Emerson out of one event (she was registered for all) just for
the looks of the thing.
You all know the rest and the two years of track glory. Yet all the while it has kept
troubling me as to whether putting the shot could be registered as heavy exercise. Do
you think it could? I hope not, for otherwise hundreds of hours of midnight runs with
Esther Cornell have all gone to waste.
IsopEL RocErs.
