Paris High School - Arena Yearbook (Paris, IL)

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Senioriad--An Epic F THE Class of ’ll. I sing, first from the familiar sur- roundings of the eighth grade, driven by the onward rush of time, came in the fall of 1907 to the portals of P. H. S. and to the lot of Freshmen. Much har- assed were these Freshmen, both in school and out. on account of the unrelenting rage of cruel Vance and sneers of the upper classmen. Be with me. O. Muse! Be with me in brief description of these people of ’ll, of their trials and tribulations, of their successes and conquests! Again I say, much suffered these people in those Dark Days,” but occasionally gleams of light prophetic of the future would flash through the murky gloom of traditional oppression and give encouragement to the hearts of the struggling mem- bers of the class. Having passed through those times of hardship and de- spair. uttering many times the stoical remark, “Sic est vita.” they came at last to the Hesperian shores of Sophomor- ism. Here the class of 101! established itself firmly in the affairs of P. H. S. and introduced its beliefs and doctrines without delay In commemoration of its death as the Fresh- man Class, funeral games were ordered and the remaining tribes of the school were invited to participate. The chief sport selected was basket ball and the youths of 1911 rallied to the support of class spirit amid the joyful shouts of their maidens. As the loud trumpet gave the signal, the young men of '11 sprang forward to the contest Then with the applause and uproar of their classmates and the eager acclamations of the favoring crowd, they won game after game and ruled supreme in the kingdom of basket ball. In the other forms of sport, they gained first place and not less important, they excelled in the military maneuvers of the Cadet Company. Thus the excellence of the class in all forms of athletics was proven. The time approached for the departure of the class to the Junior land. However, some feared the hardships of the journey and wished to remain Thus those who had no heed for future glory were left behind and the remainder of the I admire my hero, basketball, or otherwise.”—“Blondy.1

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I’hoCo !» • Jay. CLIFFORD THOMASON. Tommy Ihomason! Well. I should My so! The only professional debater who can talk without even having a subject to speak on. Noted in the Senior Cla s for his brilliant recitations in Economics. and who has for his motto: Gripe and the world gripes with you: smile, and you smile alone. CHARLES WENDEL. We'll surely miss “CussieV giggle next year. Ever since his entrance two years ago. he ha been the life of the class. He i the other Itrocton delegate that has helped to raise the class of it to its highest standard. lie ha been interested in all kinds of athletics, and as fullback on the Senior football team, he walked through the pposing line as it it was not. In spite of his long cognomen—Charles Augustus Wcndcl he i inclined to be short and chunky. Charles i« hooked for Illinois next year and we know he will make good. SYLVIAN SHOLEM. A wonderful man was Caesar. and in managing the financial part of the Annual “Sid” has shown himself to be quite as wonderful a when he played the role of Miles Standish. As second lieutenant of the Cadet Company, he presents a command- ing figure. and we recommend that lie be decorated for bravery in the famous battle of Stepp's Station. Lieutenant Sholem has not yet been injured on the field of action, but if occarion presented itself, we feel sure lie would prove as capable a commander of the army as he was in The Captain of Plymouth. In Physics. Sylvian is a star —well, anyway he gets out of the exams, and that's the same thing. Who said I'm not a pessimist? Why, I’ve got the original grouch.”— Tommy.'

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class, the choicest of the youths and maidens, resumed their onward march. Arriving: after three months, at their destination, the stout-hearted voyagers of 1911 at once conquered the tribes and established, once and for all, their unquestioned suprem- acy. Here in the land of Junioratis, they applied themselves with redoubled zeal to the shrine of learning and won much approval from the tutors and lusty praise from outsiders. Here performing due sacrifice to Pallas Athene, the Goddess of Learning, and to Mercury, the God of Athletics, for a period of nine months, they again embark for the place from which they shall finish the final stage of their journey. After wandering for several moons, the band of conquer- ors arrived at the appointed spot from whence they strive to reach the coveted goal of Graduation from where Tantalus beckoned so many times and, in vain, to great numbers. Honor after honor the class of 1911 reaps in every conceivable department, and a chronicle of its achievements would seem as a repetition of the deeds of the gods—not mortals. And now as the class approaches graduation with num- bers somewhat diminished, yet greater than any other that has ever accomplished the journey, festivals will be kept for weeks in the honor of their departure. On the night of June 2nd, the forty-seven heroes of 1911, with their brows wreathed in garlands, will take their places (chosen by lot) in the am- phitheatre under the blue dome of heaven for the final cere- monies. After these rites have been performed according to cus- tom, in due order, loud lamentations from the sorrowing under-grads will arise while the old world (who has received so many classes of graduates in the past ages, but none to compare with this) with wide-open arms will greet the im- mortal class of 1911 of Paris High School as it goes forth to conquer, achieve and SUCCEED! Thus, having spoken. I take my flight and vanishing in thin air. make my way to the realm of the shades below. Note Took—A thoroughly useless mode of torture, much in vogue with the faculty. —P H. S. Dictionary.