Since The Tattler’s inaugural issue in 1892, it’s no surprise that much has evolved in our issues over time. As I looked through the archives to find pieces to put into the current issue, I came across the “Valentine Number” of February 1915. Its cover features one curious cherub awaiting something (or perhaps someone) to the side, with hearts surrounding the figure. Inside, the pages are loose, washed out, and very fragile, but they also hold a valuable fraction of our school’s history. As I flipped through it, I found a few things interesting, a few surprising, and a few that have remained the same over the yesteryears.
Advertisements: The ads in the 1915 issue cover the first and last several pages. Advertisements included the Ithaca Trust Company, Ithaca Savings Bank, and a place called Ideal Lunch that was located on Tioga Street. It claimed to have “The Best Eats in the City.”
The Editorial: Our editorials now lay on the opening pages of each issue. But in the 1915 paper, the editorial is close to the end. I am not quite sure why this is, since other issues around the same time period tend to have the editorial at the very beginning.
No Printed Authors: Another interesting aspect of The Tattler at this time, which also seems to be a general trend in the articles published in that time period. The only credited names are reporters for interviews, positions of the editorial board, and a couple of vague ones like “PAX,” and a “German-American.” Today, only the April Fools issue of The Tattler, allows writers to publish under anonymous bylines.
Came at a Cost: At the bottom-right corner of the table of contents reads “PRICE IS 15 CENTS. $1.00 A YEAR.” A quick Google search reveals that one dollar in 1915 is supposedly worth about twenty-six dollars in today’s time. It must have been quite the effort to be able to create, distribute, and even read the Tattler.
The Jinger Jar: One of my favorite parts of the old Tattler. Full of sarcastic, witty, quick jokes, it’s something light on the eyes to read and chuckle at. Some of the lines don’t make a ton of sense, but maybe that’s just the old English. One of the jokes goes as follows:
One—”It is not exactly a mortgage I want to negotiate—only a loan.”
T’other—”My advice is, leave it alone.”
Pretty corny and elementary, but can still make a little smile. It might be fun to bring this back one day to The Tattler.
Clubs: A few clubs such as French Club, Art Club, and Drama Club (called “Dramatic Club” at that time) were still around. The French Club recorded that they were “very successful” and having various meetings, while still having fun and playing games in French. The Art Club was busy crafting posters for various things, and recently bought some sort of printer to help aid this. The Drama Club displayed its cast list for its mid-winter play, “The Gold Mine.” There were also a couple of clubs that we no longer have today, like Ithetaeria, which seemed to perform mini-plays, possibly on historical events, and the Cortelyou Commercial Club, which supposedly practiced snapping, and was preparing to perform at a Valentine’s Day party held by the Art Club.
It’s interesting to see how times have changed, and also have remained familiar over a century. It’s also amazing how much was documented in one magazine, considering the time period it was published in, and what went on in the lives of students at IHS. The early days of The Tattler may be long ago, but they shouldn’t be left in the past.
Be sure to check out the “From the Archives” section for various archived Tattler pieces, or go to ihstattler.com for more!