Clinton High School - Clintonia Yearbook (Clinton, IL)

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lpresibent’8 Hbbvess “Planting of the Ivy” (Wilfred Brown) Classmates and Friends: This occasion is the last when we shall meet together as an organization. However, wc feel certain that our influences and our examples have been so organized and so systemized that they will remain after us, serving to inspire those who will become despondent and discouraged. The Class of 1918 entered High School a few months after the several European Nations began their struggle— not yet decided. The completion of our last school year marks the completion of the first year in which our magnificent Nation has become a belligerent factor in that struggle. As this struggle has affected all institutions so it has affected the High School, the Senior Class in particular. The Class spirit, although enthusiastic and active has been mingled with seriousness and with determined thoughtfulness. This spirit, marked at first, has increased proportionately in our life as students. Now as never before can wc realize the extent of our opportunities which have been facilitated by the community in which wc reside. To express our profound gratitude to the Board of Education, to the people of the community, and our parents for these extensive opportunities is the desire of every member of the Class. To the Faculty whose efforts have been untiring do we owe our fullest appreciation. Classmates! 1 wish to thank you for the honor you have given me, that of serving you as your President. The duty has been a difficult one, and although I have put my soul and body into the work, there have been short-comings and mistakes which have been numerous and vital. However, the willingness of the class to cooperate and aid in every way has lightened the burden and has served as an inspiration to me. '1'he Class of 1918 can well feel preud of its patriotism. It has been a leader in fulfilling the duties that have been given us by the Nation. There have been obligations, both monetary and otherwise, but every member has been willing to face the obligation whether easy or difficult. As the class has been ready to sacrifice in order that the wishes of the Government be carried out, so shall it stand ready to make the Supreme Sacrifice, should the government deem it essential. There are no slackers in the Class of 1918. In as much as this occasion is our last assembly it is fitting that we choose this opportunity of expressing our farewell to the High School. This ivy will serve to remind the future classes that the interest of the Class of 191S is still with our Alma Mater, and although we may be miles away our interest will be as close as the ivy which will cling to the structure. —Ivy is planted— PAGE SEVENTEEN

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5alutor (MAREECE MILLER) I am happy to greet so many this afternoon on behalf of my class. It is indeed a joyful time for us when we realize that we have so many appreciative friends. It is a time of gladness, yet a deeper and more serious thought creeps into it. For nearly fifty years commencements have been observed by the Clinton High School but it seems that this one is more significant than previous ones. To-day is a day of doing things. Every day we are measured by the standard of what we can do. Our own state, this year enjoying her hundredth anniversary, and our own country, participating in the world’s greatest war, is depending more and more upon the young people of the nation. Never before has there been such a demand for trained laborers. Upon the young people of the nation depends the future welfare of the United Stats. We who are in school will be the future leaders. We must keep up our standards and in such a crisis should even raise them. The world demands trained workers and so our schools arc advancing the idea of actual training with the rest of the curriculum. We no longer journey through our school life in a hit-or-miss fashion but we plan our destination and strive to reach that goal. Four years wc have worked to this end, commencement, not the various formalities alone but the true meaning of the completion of our work here, which is that we are prepared to help our nation in her time of need. We are now leaving to assume further duties for which we are prepared, because we know that the best way to accomplish things is to, “Learn to do by doing. Now my friends, again I wish, in the name of the 1918, centennial class of the Clinton High School, to welcome you. PAGE SIXTEEN

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Class sing ‘ Old C. H. S.” Senior Charge (William Sharkey) ‘ Listen, my friends, and you shall hear” of the wondrous adventures of this class of students who call themselves Juniors. A kindergarten would be a better place for them, the class of ’19. It is not my plan today to pass any complimentary remarks upon you, but just to show wherein you have fallen that you may not fall again. There is one among you who is noted for her great ideas 011 woman suffrage. Oh, if we could only take the vote from the men! I refer to May Downey Oakrnan. i'lease show her wherein she is wrong, that she may not disgrace herself by any more such wild and erroneous speeches as she has given. In this wonderful class of yours there are a couple of young adventurers. Edward Lonergan and Claus De-Long by name, who swiped Spot” Ward’s Ford one snowy winter's eve and started to the home of one of the Junior girls, namely Sarah Willmore. It took them two hours to get out there, the Ford stalled three times for the simple reason that Brokic” McClelland had the gas turned off. While they were there they left the Ford out in the cold until the radiator froze up and they had to take turns pushing the car back to town. When Mr. Ward heard of this he gave poor little innocent Spot” thirty days of solitary confinement. Little he knew that Spot” was a dollar to the good and he out a set of chains by the trip, or the sentence would have been much more severe. Xow what do you think of a class of fellows that would do a trick like that? Another instance, Juniors, in which Claus and the suffrage leaders arc involved. Claus wrote a note to May Downey, and the ever-open eyes of Miss Cline saw that note. She requested May Downey to bring her the note and with the assistance of the whole faculty she went down to get the note, but May Downey had that precious billet-doux in her shoe, and you should have noticed the nersous attitude of Claus during the cross-examination. Do you think for one moment that a Senior wrould conduct himself in such an unbecoming manner? Now as to your athletic ability Whom have you that is w'orthy of mention? You will answer me right away by saying Harrison. What was he? He made a few touchdowns in the time he played football, but the hole was made by Draper, a Senior, and a blind man with wooden legs could have carried the ball for a touchdown. Again I ask you, whom have you? Whom can you compare with our Draper or Lowe who made the All-Star Football team? Whom have you to compare with Howard Lane, a second Eckersoll in football, and who very seldom misses a shot in basketball? Whom can you compare with Ford in basketball or baseball? What do you think of the captain of a basketball team who will go asleep on the floor during the best game of the tournament? Asleep? Yes—dead to the world. Did this not happen and was not the offender a Junior? You would have had no football or basketball teams this year w'ere it not for the Seniors. What do you think of two men who will fall down and hurt their ankles on purpose before the hardest game of the season? This happened before the U. High football game and the offenders, Paul Harrison and Walter Kent, were Juniors. Is not that characteristic of a Junior in general—afraid to meet the arduous tasks that confront him? What do you think of a full-back that will not accompany his team on Thanksgiving day for the reason of missing a litle dinner? Did not this occur last Thanksgiving day and was not the offender a Junior? Juniors, you are beyond recall. I have been tempted many times to give this up, thinking it an impossible task, but having that characteristic perseverance of a senior, I have filial succeeded. Look whom you have chosen for the pilot of your ship—-Warren Kirby, one who cannot as yet pilot a threshing machine—one who could never come up to our Brown, who, when he w'as getting low in his subjects, he deserted you and went to the farm. After he left you the prospects seemed somewhat brighter and we were looking for an immediate improvement in your class. Imagine the shock wfe encountered on finding out that Mabel Brown had been chosen as his successor. Mabel Brown! Juniors, think of it! Mabel Brow-n, a girl who had her hair cut short for the purpose of causing an outburst of laughter upon her entrance into the asembly room. What is your opinion of a girl who will bring her breakfast to school and eat it in the asembly room? Is not that beyond your comprehension? But such was the action of your president. Juniors, whom have you that is capable of giving an extemporaneous speech? Fid Lonergan flunked Junior English six times because of his inability to do it. Take a few pointers from Wilfred Brown or Ruth Griffin when they speak, Juniors. One of your four minute” speakers tells us we are in w'ar. Wake up, Juniors! We suppose you had heard about the new invention It has replaced the horse and buggy. I refer to the automobile. You have a large class, Juniors. Large with respect to a few members. There are Beef” Chapin, Baby Bliss’ only rival, Goggles” Catlin next in line and Mary Kenney and Spike” Davison tie for third place. Do not the leaders of the gang of so-called Rowdies,” icecream thieves, party menaces and the like, belong to your class? The officers of this gang are: Clumsy Claus DeLong, Presi- dent; “Ori” McClelland, vice-president; Rhody” Wilson, guard: and Spot” Ward, chauffeur; and the treasurers arc very numerous. Juniors, what do you think of one of your classmates who. w'hcn he saw' his old girl and her escort suddenly halted on a joy ride one Sunday evening for the wrant of a little gasoline, pass ed them as a freight train would a tramp?f’aul Harrison is again the offender, Juniors, another instance that my duty bids me mention. Ethel Jones and a friend of hers (and it wras not a girl friend, either) played hookey one bright afternoon in May and went walking. As luck w'ould have it, her mother telephoned to the school for her, but she was not to be found. Do you think for one minute that a Senior w'ould do a thing like that? We have a few gifts and honors I now wish to bestow upon you, hoping that you will care for them, and fulfill the vacancies as well as your predecessors have done. We give to Warren Kirby seat 1, row 1. hoping he will care for it as well as our worthy president has done, but at the same time knowing he will never perform the duties of tht office as conscientiously as has Wilfred Browrn. We give and bequeath to Sarah Willmore, providing she docs not have a scrap with Ed, the ability to crack her gum. now held only by Maude Jeffrey. If Sarah fails, Mary Kenney is the alternate. Wc give and bequeath to Claus DeLong and Marion McClelland, the stiff collars now owned by Harry Ford and Charles Kern. We give and bequeath to Mary Mustard the ability to flirt, now' held by Aldora Stone. We give and bequeath to F.d Lonergan, the oratorical ability now held by Harry Ford. Wc give and bequeath to Paul Chapin and to him only PAGE EIGHTEEN