[Sidenote: Kissing Games]
The small high school at Lexington had fallen into the deplorable habit
of playing kissing games during intermissions. Mr. Poe, the principal,
decided to turn the attention of the students into a less dangerous and
disgusting channel. He decided upon asking the pupils to help beautify
the school grounds and buildings.
He appointed two seniors to choose sides, so that every pupil in the
high school would be on one side or the other. He then assigned the
north half of the buildings and grounds to one side. On fine days they
raked, mowed, planted flowers and vines, placed shrubs, etc., on stormy
days they planned interior decorations. At the close of the school year
a committee from the town not only decided which side had done best
work, but declared that the pupils had gained much practical knowledge
and that the schoolhouse and grounds had never looked so well before.