Ann Arbor High School - Omega Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 32 text:

Glass I'-listorg- .ii-ll' BY M. CALVIN BOYLAN. OST of the class of '90 entered the High School building in the fall of 86. Some there are, it is true, who have been Seniors Qso calledj for a number of years and who bid fair to continue such till the end of time, provided they don't become Juniors instead. There vvere 187 in the class at first, now there are only 90 or thereabout. , T Like all Freshmen we had to undergo our share of burdens imposed by those vvho had the supreme honor of entering the school before ourselves 5 torments which had before been under- gone by our tormenters.i , The first hard lesson was learned by some of the class, when they found themselves neither so brilliant, nor so Well prepared as they had fancied. Having taken up two courses, in a short time, they were glad to drop all but the required branches- and I believe We have found our hands full with these. Fresh- men have little class sentiment. We spent the year in learning how to work and formed some acquaintances. Class-sentiment was, perhaps, irst awakened in us by the sudden death fby drovvningl of one of our number, Mr. Fred Freeman. On taking up the Sophomore Work We were able to estimate the advantages We hadreceived from the first year. lVe found ourselves more systematic as students, more thorough in the mastery of a subject, and with higher standards of excellence. We were not privileged to finish any study, as yet, but the Woods began te Clear HJWHY, and we caught glimpses of the dis- tant goal. Thls Year marked a change in the general-English courses

Page 31 text:

And now Mr. Perry announces an essay by Miss Carrie I-Iemenger, but as the young lady speaks without paper and in exactly the same manner as the young gentlemen before her, we are set to wondering why one is an essay and the others omtfons. As Miss I-Iemenger comes forward two old ladies on the front seat are heard to wish devoutly that she may not faint or forget her part. I-Ier subject is Geometry and Greek 'versus Dan- cing and Dress as factors in education, and she takes her seat again without having either fainted or forgotten her part. After her it is announced that Mr. John I-Iosmer will deliver an oration on The ill effects of cigarette smoking upon the physical and mental constitution of youthfl It is delivered with such eloquence that every Junior there inwardly resolves never to touch a cigarette. - J And now the second young lady, Miss Emma J. McMorran, advances and, making her two little bows, harangues the audience on The ideal relations between teacher and pupil. Then again a young gentleman assumes the place of honor, this time our class poetess, Mr. J. Raleigh Nelson, and he de- livers a very touching poem on- the song 'iClS11lG11tl116,H which leaves few dry eyes in the house. ' A ' And now steps forth Mr. Charles VV. Ricketts. His subject is purely literary, The soothing properties of Moorels poem, ' The time I've lost in wooing,' when you've lost both your heart and the girl that's got it and feel most awfully blue. There are four or five young gentlemen among the graduating class who seem especially to appreciate this oration. But while the applause following this speech is atits height, I am suddenly roused from my day-dream, and I do not see the tenth poor victim come to: the altar, although I have previously ascertained that this last is one of the three who vie for tl1e honor of the feminine part of the class. I do not even see the culmination of the hopes of all those hundred youths and maid- ens, the receiving of the long-wished-for diplomas, but, instead, I find myself again surrounded by green grass, trees and flowers, and birds singing their loudest in the tree above me. Let us hope, however, that we shall all see for ourselves these glorious events on a real day in June not far oi. I

Page 33 text:

and they have been vigorously pushed ahead ever since., In this year also, a change was promised in the school-building, a change that was to meet -a long felt want by giving addi- tional room. WVe were happy to have the benefit of the hand- some new building, before leaving the school. The year of 1888-89 was somewhat more eventful. The growing class-sentiment now demanded class-ofdcers. A meet- ing for the election of these was called soon after the com- mencement of our Junior year. Mr. Alfred B. Connable, chair- man of the meeting, was chosen president. In a digniied and simple manner, he thanked the members of the class for the honor which they had conferred upon him, and promised to spare no eiforts for their welfare, a promise he has most faith- fully fulfilled. The other ofdcers elected were as follows: vice-president, Miss Beckwith, secretary, Miss Grace Ander- son, treasurer, Mr. Boylan 5 foot-ball captain, Mr. Jewettg base-ball captain, Mr. Paul. A committee was appointed to select class colors and a motto, after which the meeting ad- journed. ' 1 The colors chosen, light-blue and tan, are a very artistic com- bination. . The motto is, Sapiens qui Assiduusf' He is wise who is diligent. It is quite axiomatic, but acquires a certain dignity from the Latin language. Soon after the year opened, we were notified by Mr. J ewett, our foot-ball captain, that the day was appointed for a foot-ball rush between the Seniors and ourselves. As the soldiers of the allied armies in the Napoleonic wars were conquered before the battle joined, by the mere fact that the French had always won, so we were borne down in this contest by the knowledge that Seniors never had been beaten on a similar occasion. We would not break the spell, lest we should suffer ignomimy when our time for glory came, but in the other athletic sports we showed what we could do if we would. Our heavy-weight boxer, Mr. Patter- son, sat upon the ground, with a glove on either hand, waiting, until he caught his death of dampness, for the 'opponent who -never came. Shortly after, tl1e Seniors, by dint of hard run- ning, beat us in a game of base-ball. This ended the athletic contests for this year. Our first class-social was held at the home of Miss Beckwith. The weather on the important night was very damp. In short,