Canton High School - Cantonian Yearbook (Canton, IL)

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THE CANTONIAN 1916 Thanksgiving Story OHN ASTOR, a wealthy New York club man, was endeavoring to pass away the weary hours of an early winter day at his most fashionable club rooms. After an aimless walk about the building he decided to go into the reading rooms and tor- ture himself with a few newspaper Thanksgiving stories which were extremely plenti- ful, it being the day before that national November holiday. On the front page of the first paper which he picked up was a picture which some tender-hearted or well paid cartoonist had laboriously sketched. The scene represented was that of an old-fashioned kitchen. A glimpse could be obtained of the pantry and through a half open door, and the printed dainties made John Astorls mouth water. Near the center of the room stood an old-fashioned mother welcoming a well-groomed and long lost son. Through the old-fashioned window could be seen an old-fashioned father putting up old Doblin. The cartoon strangely affected the wealthy man and laying aside the paper he fell into a deep reverie. Once again he was a boy, back on the old farm. in good old Vermont State, and he saw the old surroundings. his mother and father, the old barn. the well and the little attic in which he used to sleep. Then he thought of the many tales which had reached his ears of the glories of the city, how his roving spirit had overpowered his better judgment and caused him to determine to leave the old folk and make his fortune in that golden city of New York. He thought of his weary journey to the city and his entrance there. He had been a long. lanky eountriiied lad witl1 little education and less resources. He soon found out that gold was not to be had for the asking and that the city was Iltlt the heaven which he had pictured. but instead. was one long continual battle which has been rightly called the survival of the iittest. But his Astor grit had been his mainstay and he had slowly worked his way upward. His folks were now dead and the money received from the homestead had come at a critical time and enabled him to continue his financial climb. He now had more money than he could possibly spend in two life times and was rapidly mak- ing more. He had never married. saying that he hadn't time to bother with a home. .lust then a far-away voice seemed to say. To-morrow is Thanksgivingf' Yvhat had he to be thankful for? He had no real homes-still he must have something. He sat up with a start. took out his watch. looked at it and heaved a sigh of relief. Zounds. he exclaimed softly, l came near forgetting that l was to finish that Stockton deal at four. That will add another twenty thousand to my little wadf' Roseau AGVIQ, '16 Will! KHlllHNIHifilllllllllllilllilltlllil lllllllll Efficiency in the High School HE first aid to an efficient High School is plenty of room. Coupled with this is the need of a larger teaching force. Both of these factors are badly needed in Canton High School. At present thc class rooms are far too crowded. This is the ditlieulty in the Assembly Hall. too. The teachers have to hear classes which are out of their line of work. Besides having six classes daily and one consultation period. they must be in charge of the Assembly one period. Some teachers are in charge two periods. Added to this is extra work. such as Declamatory. Debates, Extemporan- eous training. For such extra work as this an extra teacher should be provided as a

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1916 THE CANTONIAN Hot HE sun beat down mercilessly upon the city streets and the glare from the pave- ment blinded the eyes and parched the lips. No breath of air stirred and an overpowering sense of sutfoeation hung over everything. All who could, sought the darker, less glaring heat of the houses, but it was scarcely less unendurable there. An occasional delivery cart or milk wagon rattled past, with the driver drooping list- lessly in his seat and the horses dripping with perspiration. The policeman on the corner wiped the moisture from his face as he waved a limp hand at the street car conductor in his shirt sleeves who answered witl1 a weary nod of the head. In the tenement district the children sat on the curbing with their feet in the gutter or drooped in the doorways, waiting wearily for the coolness of the evening. At last the newsboys' shrill cries penetrated the air and the people hastened to look over the list of those prostrated by the heat. Soon, however, the shadows of evening veiled the sun's wrathful countenance and a cool breeze brought relief to the suffering world. I.ULA Liawis, ,17 llllfflll HllllH1lHWlllllllHlllIl1illllllllll llllllll Believe Me, If All Those Torturing School Hours QI'arody on UBelieve Me, if All of Those Endearing Young Charms, with apologies to the author, Thomas hIoorej Believe me, if all those torturing school hours lVhich I put in so slowly each day, Wfere to vanish to-morrow and leave me in power, VVith authors' gifts coming my way, This poem a weight on my soul must depart, Let its awfulness fade as it will, And around the drear ruin each thought of my heart lvould entwine itself mournfully still. It has not a beauty and charm of its own And the meter is 'much changed, I fear, But the worry and woe of my soul can be known. lvhen this sorrowful poem you hearg No, the brain that truly struggles never forgets, But as surely must often repose, And my thoughts are aweary with rhymes and regrets, So this poem I bring to a close. .IANETTE IVALLACE, ,16 'li ,

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1916 THE CANTONIAN regular teacher has enough to do without the added burden which of course such work is. Light, air and an adequate heating system are necessities for a more efiicient High School. The light is not so bad as it might be in Canton High because the Study Hall l1as a great number of windows and most of the class rooms have good light. Tl1e ventilation is bad because of the crowded condition and year by year it becomes worse. This should be remedied. Another great difficulty here is the lack of proper equipment. This includes more extensive Laboratory equipment and a more extensive school Library. The science equipment is especially poor. Laboratory work is very beneficial, for great educators tell us that we learn by doing. This is true, for one gains great value in the figuring out of experiments. lVhile we have a school library, to a certain extent. it is scarcely adequate enough to mention. The great need of books is in History. It is here we are short, having only a few volumes for many students to use. I think that fifteen minutes at least three times a week for Chapel would help wonderfully. lXIusic hath charms to soothe the savage heart,U we are told, and I think that while we are not literally savages, a little music every morning would do wonders toward brightening the day and improving the efHciency of the school and students. Other things which would make for greater ethciency are compulsory Physical Culture, Public Speaking and systematic method of study. The first of these is made compulsory by state law, but because inefiicient equipment and the larger number in High School it is impossible here. Public speaking should be for all, as its benefits to the student are more than he realizes. If this should be introduced, as they are thinking of doing, it would necessitate the forming of a class of advanced students for those who have it this year. As to the matter of a method of study, it seems to me that rests with the student. He is to be the judge of how he must study. No hard and fast rule could be laid down because every one would not be able to use it. An efhcient method will make an efiieient student, who will in turn make an etlieicnt SCh00l- CiRAf'E SILVA, ,IG IIWHII HIIHIHHHHNHHHUHIHNHHHIIIIN iiiiiiiii H seedling Under the leaves that are under the trees, A little voice was heard to murmur: lVon't the breeze blow and scatter the leaves So I can talk to my mother?', The wind heard the murmur and scattered the leaves. Disclosing a little seed snuggled close to the ground. It looked toward the sky and softly sighed, I wanted to look up from this cold mound. K'Up to see the light so I might not smother, IVatching my big, beautiful mother Spreading her branches in every direction In order to offer me protection. PIALLIE FILLINGHAM, ,16