Greenville High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Greenville, MI)

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History of Class of 1918 IT WAS iii the fall of the year 1911, when a large group of—what were they? —one can hardly name them. Some looked like lost slice}), and acted more so, all keeping close together, trying to find some kind shepherd or shepherdess to put them each in a separate fold. At last that long belated personage appeared in the form of a tall, slender lady with dark hair, who gave some sharp command which the sheep, though still young, understood; the flock then divided and each went to his individual place. A few stragglers had to be rounded up and driven to their corner, and then, after leaving them to get used to their new surroundings for a few minutes, they were turned loose with tin4 warning that they should return when they heard the bell on the following day. As might be expected, there were a few lost sheep wandering down each narrow lane, but, little by little, instinct told them where they belonged and so this grew to be a very unusual sight, unless, perchance, some new member was added to the fold. Hut in this flock, although the majority were meek, peaceable and loving, were one or two who deserve special mention. Hut perhaps I have carried my figure too far, and you do not realize that 1 am referring to a group of those notable beings, known and laughed at in all High Schools—the Freshmen. Hut now that I am sure you will not misunderstand me, I will finish telling you about those two bold and somewhat pugnacious members. One was a rather large girl, with dark brown curly hair and rosy red cheeks. 1 will tell you a secret—you’d never know that Freshman now as a Senior. If anyone hissed “Freshic” at her, she only turned up her nose and passed disdainfully on. They laughed at her then, but now the lower classmen almost wither at that look. The other was also a robust specimen of humanity. He had a pug nose and mischievous eyes which often caused him much trouble. Some sophisticated Sophomore yelled that magic word, and quick as a wink, the Freshman turned on him, and that Sophomore had to beg mercy. Hut if I should start naming all the notable ones in that flock, I would not know where to end so just leave those two as suggestions. The class was soon shut up in a little room and told to choose their leader, and they chose a fine man. lie was not big of stature, but oh my! he managed that flock with a whip hand. As usual, there was the universal feeling which exists between the two lower classes, and the “Freshies” were due for a hazing. One of our number, poor bov, was captured by a wild band of Sophomores and marched none too gently to Flat river, where, oh how I hate to tell it! he was made to take off his shoes and stockings, and made to do numerous feats on the dam and in the water. Hut there’s an inside story known to very few. which I am letting you in on. so listen well. Two meddling girls were along that night, and they watched the proceedings with anger, for wasn’t the boy a special friend of one? One of them grabbed a cap from one of their tormentors’ heads and hid it. Where? Well, this is the greatest secret of all, and if you doubt my word, you may still be able to find the cap, though report has it that one of the girls turned chicken-hearted and restored the cap to its original owner. Hut that’s not my story. Anyway, the cap was hidden under a stone at the edge of the river, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s there yet. There were very few social events that year, but among them was a big Hallowe’en party, at which some of the upper classmen forgot their dignity and tried to steal the ice cream, but were outwitted. Anyway, all said they had a fine time and wanted another right away. Hut as the “Freshies” were yet so young, they weren’t allowed another festive affair until they had a big picnic with the Sophomore class at Baldwin lake. You see, bv this time the differences had been forgotten, for they had had a contest to ascertain each other’s strength. I need not tell you that the brave Pa e Twenty-One

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VERDA WILSON: “I have fought a good fight and I have finished my course.” Chorus. ANNA WILLIAMS: “Once a friend, always a friend.” Chorus. HILBERT WITTKOP: “All the great men are dead and I don't feel well myself.” Editor-in-chief of Hi-Life. Treasurer, ’1(5, ’17. Vice President, ’18. Military Training. Instructor Mechanical Drawing. Staff Artist of Hi-Life, ’17. Commencement Committee. MARY HUBERTA VAN DEINSE: “Will anyone ever understand her?” Vice President, ’16, ’17. Treasurer, ’18. Class Prophetess. Commencement Committee. IRENE YERKES: ‘‘Blessed with plain reason and sober sense.” WEARERS OF THE “G” P. Lyndrup. L. Baldwin (Yell Master). R. Silverthorne (Captain Basketball Team). f Page Twenty

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boys of the Freshman class protected their beautiful old rose and silver flag from the onset of the Sophomores. But their strength became too greatly taxed, so the Sophomores won the tug of war. Final examinations! What a dreadful boogy that was! “It certainly must be awful,” though the Freshman, “for the teachers are as cross as an old woman with the toothache, and tell you so many things that you must remember, that you can’t remember half of them to save your life.” The ordeal was over at last, and with very few gone from their ranks; they hastened out the big front door for the long looked for vacation. At last the old bell rang! It was in early September, just before fair time, and oh, how everyone hated to miss those glorious days of the fair! Hut then it did seem good to get back, too. All were there, but they did not look the same as of yore. No, indeed! They carried themselves around with such an aloofness that it almost set the Seniors wild with laughter. Hut then, they did know a lot, for hadn’t they spent nine whole months in confinement, and received credit slips in return? Hut—well, you know Seniors have a superior way with them. They made up their mind to treat the little “Freshies who came in, in the same way they had been treated, but to do this, it was necessary to have a big man to fit the president’s chair, and “Doc” Fralick was just the man for the place. There were some wildly exciting times, especially when one tall, lanky Freshman was obliged to roll a barrel down one of the main streets. Hut the most exciting of all was the erecting of huge dummies. N e will hand it to those Freshmen! They certainly placed their dummy where we couldn’t get it. and how it was put up there we don’t know to this day. It was at this time that our brave president had to battle with two or three Freshmen on the roof of the gym before he finally made them understand that lie would like to come down. He received some slight wounds, but that only made us the more proud of him. Time heals a breach, so they say, and it did in this case, for by October we had a big masquerade party together. One really should have been there to appreciate some of the costumes, but I’ll tell you about a few of them. There was a soldier, who appeared very brave in his bright uniform, but who really wasn’t, for he ran when a little Dutch girl approached him. Then there were Romeo and Juliet, who made a fine looking couple; but if you don’t know who they were, I’ll never reveal their identity. And last of all, were a little Dutch boy and girl who went hand in hand together then, and are still in the same blissful condition. Hut enough for the party, I must hurry on. More picnics, more exams., and still they come. Hut we could not be downed, by the exams., I mean, and so the following fall, came up smiling, though really we were a great deal more thoughtful because we saw only two years more in which to prepare for life’s battles. Enthusiasm! Why, that was our middle name, and as we had had such good leaders at our head the preceding year, we retained most of them. We had to work some of this surplus energy off? and as we have a great deal of talent, what better way than entertaining the rest of the High School during chapel hour? Bright idea! I’ve forgotten in whose fertile brain it originated, but that really doesn’t matter. We carried it out with such success that we repeated it again this year with equal success. It is always said that the Junior year is the society year of every class’ life. But as we are an exceptional class, we took exception to this rule also. There, was a slight difference of opinion about who should come to the party and who should not, so it was finally given up. But what is one party in our gay young life? Oh, yes, we had the picnic, though. But you say, I’m interested in scholarship and athletics, too, as you have been such a wide awake class, what did you do along those lines? We did plenty! As to the manner of scholarship, we even soared so high that one of our number left a spot on the ceiling in the Chemistry room, when fooling with some sodium (as a memoir of the class of '18). Another one achieved first prize in an essay contest on the short story, and a third made the debating team. W by, one Pago Twenty-Two