Billings Senior High School - Kyote Yearbook (Billings, MT)

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10 the kyote kindly counsel, and the able instruction of the Faculty have made all rough places smooth. “1908” is not obliged to borrow good characteristics or have its virtues un- duly extolled, she has made a record of which she is justly proud, and one can- not hut recommend her to the consideration of less brilliant classmen—“1909 for instance! The march of the “Ten” holds the same place in the annals of the Hillings High School as does that of the “Ten Thousand” in the records of the Greeks. They have paved the way for other exiles! hat they have done can be done by others! They leave a “Rich” legacy, the high standard of scholarship which they have upheld will prove an inspiration to all who may follow! “When can their glory fade? O, the great record they have made. All the students wondered. Honor the record they made!” Much more could Ik' said about the greatness of “1908” but I prefer that her works speak for her. What a variety of great characters she possesses. There is George, the renowned scientist, William, the great athlete, Ray, the silver tongned orator, Helene, the charming linguist, Grace, the expert ac- countist, Ellen, the poet laureate, Flossie, the brilliant student, Hazel, the ver- satile genius and Etta, the gav butterfly. The class of “1908” has overcome all obstacles, she has conquered every- thing, but unlike Alexander, she is too manly to weep. Through them a halo of glory has been cast about the Hillings High School and from its portals they go forth to give others the Umefit of their knowledge. “The tissue of the life to be. We weave in colors all our own. And in the field of destiny We reap as we have sown.” —Marguerite Wilcox, ’08. TIIE TRUE AMERICAN Our forefathers came to this new land to enjoy the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity. When they landed on Plymouth Rock they erected their log cabin, cleared the timber from the land, and at once es- tablished their homes. They were happy. They enjoyed life because they knew that they were under freer skies. Each was king within his own palace. Many were the hardships and great was the suffering they endured, but labor here has always found its reward. In the end this people were victorious over the land. They hazarded their lives and their all in the great struggle of the American Revolution to keep the land in which they lived free from the dic- tation of the English crown. With these people there was no class distinction. There was no upper class as distinguished from the rank and fife. They were all Americans striving for a common cause. Freedom and liberty were more dear to these {ample than their own comforts. They were true Americans. A question has arisen in the minds of thinking people of late year®.

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THE KYOTE IS I lie “Gracious Clark stepped forth to lead “On to Victory. It was en- tirely unnecessary for this valiant army to hoist its banner of purple and white to tell the weary travelers ahead, and those even in the distance, that now, they were Juniors, for already their great achievements were the talk of the High School. Their early years had been devoted to study but now they branched out into the field of athletics and of oratory. Was it not the great powers of William that won for the B. II. S. great renwon upon the gridiron? And was it not the oratorical genius of Kay that plaeed Billings high on the the rounds of success in the debating field? The first issue of the “Kyoto was published during this year and it was “Don, the Knight,” that carried this paper suc- cessfully forth and placed it on the lofty pinnacle of glory it holds today. Twas in the fourth month of tin reign of “Clark, the Gracious,” that several menders of the hand lx gan to deal too freely in red pepper, and hence it was necessary, for a time, to dispense with the presence of some of the brightest of uve sterner sex.” “1908” was as successful in her social undertakings as in other fields; the party given in honor of the Seniors on May 24th has never been excelled in point of decorations, in number of dainty maidens and gallant youths attend- ing, and in the sparkling quality of the leverages served! At last the dream of years was realized; proudly “1908” stalked into the “Land of Knowledge”—Seniors. No Roman senators ever bore their titles more gracefully than did they. Under “Snell, the Commander” they marched with full share of Senior pride and conceit, but with ranks somewhat dimin- ished. “Woodson, the C harmer,” had sought eastern pastures, Cupid seized Grace Mason and Myrtle Tschudy. Household Cares claimed Anna, while the Newspaper World captured Don: but what was lacking in quantity was made up in quality. No one ever thought seriously now of questioning their superiority for it was a self evident fact that “1908” was an exceptionally brilliant class and ihcv were held in great reverence and awe, two of the underclassmen in partic- ular seemed to realize the great Ixmefit to lx» obtained from companionship with these Seniors and were constant in their attention upon Hazel and I lelene. The historian always endeavors to give the details preceding some mighty struggle and the causes which lead to it, but 1 have no such task, for the mem- bers of “1908” have been such devoted worshippers at the shrine of Peace and Harmony, that there have been no contentions nor brawls; few classes have passed five years under the same regime, hut such is the record of “1908; it was in 1903 that Will McKenzie was elected president, George Hubbard vice president and Grace Awe treasurer, and ever since have filled these stations with great credit; all class meetings have been harmonious, even the class emblem, a ring, being selected without gnashing of teeth! Faulty, indeed would the account be, if it failed to give aught touching the members of that “August Body” under whose direction their march has Ihhmi made. To them is due the hardest trials and some of the deepest pains of the “Ten,” but to them is also due their proficiency. The willing advice, the

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the kyote 17 It is this: Is the American of today as nearly the true American as his Puritan ancestors? Is In po s'SH'd of the same high motives ami lofty ideals? Vre fear not. Perhaps the occasion is lacking or perhaps the type has changed. What is the true American? lie is one who has respect for morality, one who has a literal education, lie is a lover of industrial and home life. He has an high ideal of government ami society. The fact is today that the original type has changed. Where we had only one sort we now have at least two. In every community one finds two types of men. The one, the true Ameri- can; the other, one who professes to be. Which of these makes the more de- sirable citizen? We all readily recognize the true American as a man who up- lifts. Our forefathers fought, not for the love of glory hut that they might not te compelled to bear a foreign yoke. When the war was over these brave men went home to a truer citizenship than otherwise would have been theirs. We telieve it is even harder for one to te true to his country in time of peace than in time of war. We do not infer from this that one is more likely to lx a traitor, but in times of danger a common cause binds men together. They work for one common interest, their hearts beat in a common sympathy. In peaceful times, on the other hand, pursuits of men are various and people be- come more widely separated, partisan, sectional, and even antagonistic. Then it is the hardest to maintain the loyal spirit of our forefathers. Peace is a blessed thing but perhaps an occasional war may serve a useful purpose. Men who strive continually to further their own interest, no matter what it may cost their neighbor, make but indifferent citizens and the more they do this the more they depart from the type of the true American. It is plain to every thinking man that a slavish devotion to personal interests cannot fail in time to make of us a very un-American nation. But a more eminent danger to our citizenship lies in excessive foreign immigration. The immigration of a certain type of foreigner is regarded by all the prominent men of this land as a great evil. It is not our intention to criticize intelligent and enlightened foreigners but only those of the lower type. Many Chinese, Japanese, Italians, Greeks, Russians, and Poles who are loo ignorant and shiftless to rise in their home land come here for the sole pur- pose of earning and carrying hack home some of our freer American money. They know nothing of our ideals, care nothing for the goverimffcttl of our country. I arge groups of such laborers, if they become natupfized, vote as their employer may direct rather than incur his wrathyrifus debasing the American ballot. Crimes and anarchy breed test intte soil. Intermarriages sometimes occur and the evil is fastened upon us. fne immigration evil is one. of the biggest feeders to the wrong type ( citizenship. Fortunately this matter is under our control. It is to te hp eil that the legislation already be- gun will te prosecuted with vigor ajpKtist all worthless immigrants, whether they come from the Orient or the Occident. Again there are men of two types in all parts of the world, the man with the good character and the man with the bad character. The foreign immigra- tion to which we object represents men of the latter type but unfortunately for us we have some native born citizens of the same sort. In addition to keeping