Hudson High School - True Blue Yearbook (Hudson, WI)

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30 TRUE BLUE In the eighteenth and nineteenth century literature again flourished, when Dickens, Eliot, Thackery, Carlyle, Scott, McCauley and Tennyson were contemporaries. In Tennyson we have the best representative of the culture of the Victorian age, while in Scott we find the first great writer of modern historical fiction. In America, Hawthorne and Irving kept pace with English writers of their time. Our poets, Longfellow, Whittier, Bryant, Holmes and Emerson have contributed to the riches of English literature. In our present century with the accumulated treasures of the past in our public and private libraries, we have the richest funds of knowledge to draw from that ever people had. The evolution of the literature of the present has been the slow work of centuries. It has taken many writers to make our litera- ture what it is; but the ideas for which they strove were always, and are today the same. With the great advantage of their expe- rience before us, let us too strive, like Americans in literature, as in all else that is worth while, excel all others. Athletics for Girls. By Victoria Buell. Until recent years but little attention has been paid to the question of Athletics for girls. The view taken of this question by the ancient Greeks and Romans was different. While it was true that woman had no high social standing, but little as woman was esteemed, it was thought necessary to developeher physically. This twentieth century is an age of athletics. This was not true of the time of our grandparents. Women then prided themselves on the narrowness of waist and daintiness of appetite. The aver- age city girl is more like our grandmothers and gives little atten- tion to physical exercise. One of the best exercises recommended and one in which all classes can indulge, is walking. This exercise brings all of the muscles of the body into play, and the value of the long walks systematically taken cannot be overestimated. English women go in for athletics more than we do, and take pleasure in walking especially. They spend much more time out of doors than do the American or German girls. Among the out- door exercises which should appeal to girls are croquet, tennis and

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TRUE BLUE 27 Class history bv Henry Johnson. It was a bright day in September of the years of ’97 when our fatuous class of about thirty-live entered the High School. With hearts that wore quaking but with a bold front we marched in. Some of us came to school at about eight o’clock that morning while others did not come until nearly nine but all were on time. We have since proved that a good habit once formed will remain. Some of the more timid ones dropped into the first vacant seat while others spying a friend quickly took a seat near them. The first day we were completely bewildered but at the end of the week we were as bold and conceited as some of the Seniors if not more so. We now started to battle with Algebra and Grammar but after the first month had passed about fifteen prefering the quietness of the eighth grade left our ranks. Those who were left worked harder than ever at those studies which now seem easy to us but sad to relate, many of us failed to obtain passing marks in them at the end of the year, so we were kindly requested to take them again. While Freshmen we were never hazed by the upper class men as they saw it was best for themselves to let us alone. Our first year passed uneventfully with the exception of the use of the rod upon some of us by our professor. But we will let these harrow- details sink into oblivion. At the beginning of the second year we made good resolutions but the majority of us failed to keep them. It was now that our intiueuce began to be felt as is always the way with Sophomore’s. Literary societies were organized this year of which we became members. But in this field we took no prominent place partly on account of our modesty but mostly because we were not allowed to. This year we chose our class colors and elected our officers. The colors chosen were blue and gold and there was considerable debate before they were finally adopted. But they were soon destined to be changed to green and white, which to us seemed more appropriate It was now that the girls became conspicious for their oratory and there was nothing left for us boys to do but to bear it patiently and give them what llittle encouragement we could. Our repre- sentative took first honors in the district declamatory contest and

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golf. The latter is especially commendable—Golf, better than anjT medicine, will make over the poor tired body. But we cannot al- ways be out of doors for the weather may not permit, therefore, a gymnasium should be accessible. Basketball is one of the more vigorous games played in the gymnasium. One cannot watch a game of basketball without observing the will power, nerve control and general self-government the observance of the rules of the game cultivate. There «are people who say that athletics make the girl immodest and awkward. But is this so? Did you ever notice a girl who is truly an amateur athlete and observe the ease with which she car- ries herself and the gracefulness she displays. Why is it that the country boy so often outstrips those who have had better advantages? Is it not because of neglect of those physical laws on the part of the city boy, that go to build up a strong vigorous mind. Let a gymnasium be erected in every community, that all may indulge in the benetitting exercise afforded by it. Pour years of athletics will doagirl more good than forty years of Greek, Latin or even geometry. Value of the Study of History. By Ethel Lewis. History is the records of social relations of mankind. A his- torical education is a motive power as well as a guide. It consists of a good general knoweldge of the past, together with the ability to aid in bettering the present, and to guide the future by the ex- periences of those who have lived in the past. The study of his- tory is of use both in private and public life, from the fact that it furnishes us men and governments that serve as models for us to imitate. Perhaps no other study in our schools is so important and influential and broadening. The student’s mind is strength- ened by contemplating the wide diversions of the laws and customs of peoples. The careful and thoughtful searching out of causes and effects develop the power of thinking more than mathematics can. To us Americans, especially, is the study of history very important. One of the great questions with which we have to contend at pres- ent is the manner in which we shall govern our recently acquired