Looking Back to The Bearcat news in March 1938 – ‘Rube’s Day’
This look back at Paso Robles history comes from local newspapers in the Paso Robles Area Historical Society collection. News for this column is selected with the assistance of the society’s Vice President Nancy Tweedie and Research Director Jan Cannon.
Excerpts from Friday, March 25, 1938, The Bearcat:
Paso revives Rube’s Day
“What fools these mortals be,” that’s what people might think if they look in on Paso High next Friday.
April first, that’s Fool’s Day when everyone who wants to have a good time puts on a crazy costume and acts silly. The freshman and sophomores, not having seen Rube’s Day before, will probably look with awe at the undignified antics of the upperclassmen.
Commissioner of Publicity, Fritz predicts an early influx Friday of Tarzans, cowboys and hula dancers, arrayed in outfits that may have come from a ragbag. That doesn’t matter, folks, just so you don’t wear your ordinary clothes.
Click here to read the full front page of the March 25, 1938 Bearcat
“Look, a big hole in your dress,” is one of the most common jokes pulled on girls, don’t grab the bail too easily. Though, if you can catch someone else on it, why not?
Rube’s Day will be a day to remember! Better bring your camera and get some Candid Camera shots of your friends.
Mary Merrill wins Berkeley honors
Mary Merrill, Bearcat alumni of 1935, has been awarded two distinctive honors as an outstanding student on the Campus of the University of California.
The Prytanean Women’s Honor Society elected Mary to its club as one of the 23 most outstanding, all-around students in the junior class. Considering the large enrollment at Berkeley, this is an extremely distinctive honor.
Mary was also elected to the Mortor Board, a national women’s honor society.
The talk about gossip
Gossip seems to be a chronic social problem, even in 1938. Two Bearcat staff members admonished classmates, faculty and the community about gossiping.
The editorial on page 2, by L. S. (Lillian Swayze?) wrote, “Above all else, friendliness eliminates all GOSSIP in conversation, whether it is about new friends or old.”
John Hibbard wrote in his “Bearcat Merry-go-round” column, also on page 2: “Gossip, gossip—it seems that at this time of year students, teachers, and townspeople start malicious gossip about the school, students and teachers. A sharp tongue if you can remember the old saying, can kill more than a sharp knife.”
More Bearcat news
The Bearcats baseball team took a 6-1 win over Templeton and five of the Bearcat stars were credited by name. Read more on page 3.
Pet peeves of the students included gum popping, apple polishers, faculty in general, skunks and drunken men. Find out who on page 3.
Despite the warnings about gossip, Ophelia Heart-Throb reveals the latest romantic secrets and embarrassing moments of her classmates in Bearcat Bites on page 4.
More names are named, also on page 4. Find out who was the “senior personality” on March 25, 1938 and try to “guess who” without looking at the list of names at the end of the Guess Who column. A couple of freshmen also get some nice recognition.
Read previous Looking Back articles
- Looking Back to 1936: Tom Mix to bring circus to Paso Robles
- Looking Back to 1936: The lost is found — the adventures of Oliver Olsen
- Looking Back to 1940: Four youths arrested in local crime wave, IRS helps locals file taxes
- Looking Back to 1950: City bans bus stop on Spring Street
- Looking Back to The Bearcat news in February 1938
Thank you to sponsors of Looking Back
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