Phelps Central High School - Highlights Yearbook (Phelps, NY)

Page 13 text:

THE LIMIT. 11 THE BATTLE OF LIFE iturned and are turning the battle of life into Class Orati-'zu by Charles Bent-wr The battle of life? ls life a battle? To some. life is just an easy time from childhood to death: to others. life a real battle. An illustration of the ITYSI class is furnished by the boy of whom the story tells. His mother was at work for one of the neighbors. and the boy was with her. lkhen the women began work the boy sat down in a chair to watch them. Every little while he would go to the water-pail. and. finding no water. would sit down again. After he had done this several times. the mistress said to him. If you are so thirsty. why don't you go to the well and get some water F The boy replied. Ld rather go without. 0h. exclaimed the mistress. what wilf you do when you get to be a man F The boy drawled out in a most doleful tone. Then I s'pose Lll have to work. A typical member of the other class is found often as a child in a poverty stricken home. but with a burning desire to rise and be known as some one of consequence. For him life is a true battle. Une great example of this class is Abraham Lincoln. Born in a place destitute of even the comforts. to say nothing of the luxuries of life. no schools around. nothing to aid him. but with a deter- mination to get an education and rise higher than a backwoodsman. he arose to the high- est place that his fellow-countrymen could give him. Another example is Garfield. a salt-boiler's clerk: yet another is Franklin. a printer's apprentice. yet each came to be of great service to his country. Look at John Knox. the little Essex lad who became the leader of the Scotch reformation. All were of humble birth. but through their own per- sonal light became a mighty intluence along some line of work. There have been and are many men in like circumstances who have t A 3 l Q n i v E i 1 l i l I 1 glorious victory. You and I may not be called upon to till any exalted position. but when we are called to account for our talents. if we can say with Paul. I have fought a good tight. T have finished the course. X0 man can say that he has done better. Let us then do our best. and In the world's broad held of battle. ln the bivouac of life. Be not like dumb. driven cattle. But be heroes in the strife. THE CLASS WILL. Laura Harris Durand. lYe. the Class of 1906 of the Phelps High School. of Phelps. County of Ontario. and State of New York. do make. ordain. publish and declare this to be our last will and testa- .nent. in manner and form following. that .is to say: First.-XYe direct the payment of our just debts and funeral expenses. Second.-To the Class of 1907. wehereby give. devise and bequeath: The honored name of Senior with all the dignity that appertains thereto. The right to rule the school and to make any criticisms on the teachers they wish. To Tully Townsend and Iva Mulchay we give and bequeath a box of Hurd's best note paper that they may write all the notes they wish to. To Sara French. the exclusive privilege of sitting with Edgar XYilbur in his classes. To Theodore XYarner, the looking glass in

Page 12 text:

10 THE LIMIT. career, and there is no doubt but that these books will be very interesting, as they are founded upon the actual experiences of the author. The next page bore the name of Edna Alcott. She will next year enter Brockport Normal School. After completing her course she will enter upon her duties as a teacher. She. will be very successful and after several years will open a private school in Philadel-A phia for teaching good manners and social eti- quette, etc. She will have a special class for. young men in which they will be taught the correct way to ask permission of a young lady to accompany her home, and, also, how and when to propose. In order to impress upon the young men the importance of these' things, she will declare that a good many girls remain single because the gentlemen, either do not use tact or because they are awkward in proposing, and will mention her-, self as a sad example. This school will enjoy' the distinction of being the only one of its kind ia the United States, and will be patron-fi ized by people from all parts of the world. Miss Alcott will continue to be at the head of this school for a great many years and when old age at last overtakes her she will cheerfully give the work over to other hands, feeling that she has accomplished her mission in life and that her work will be of everlasting benefit to women everywhere. ' As I finished reading these wonderful futures, I fancied I could see my classmates in the years to come, scattered throughout the world, each following the path fate has laid out for them, some winning fame and honor, others spending their lives in helping their fellow creatures. Witli many thanks to the mysterious power that had brought these rolls into my possession, I laid them aside, hoping that I should some day see all their predictions fulfilled. SCHOOL LIFE. Class Poem, Edna Jane Alcott. School life holds many joys For girls and boys. Every moment they dearly treasure, Study is a constant pleasure. They study German and French, if Their thirst for knowledge is hard to quench. Their ,heads are filled with Latin and Greek, Till they hardly know what language they speak. The end and aim of the student's heart, Never for a moment does depart, Is to conquer Regents, so hard of late, And endeavor their store of knowledge to relate. If the required standing is obtained, Juniors and Seniors they are named. VVhile Sophomores and Freshmen follow in A the line And think that they are quite as fine. VVe, the class of naughty six, Have accomplished all our tricks, And with our motto before us for all our needs, May we ever cling to it, HNot words but deeds And now with commencement in sight All things should indeed seem bright 'Q 5 2 And, classmates, although we mav never again be together Let us sadly bid farewell to our happy school days forever,

Page 14 text:

12 THE LIMIT. the upper hall, with the special request that he will not crack it. Third.-To the Class of 1908, we give and bequeath: The right to paint out any and all num- erals painted anywhere by the Senior Class. To Lay, Palmer, we bequeath Miss Bar- ton's sucessor, also a new whistle, choice to be between Blue Bellw and Uln the Shade of the Old Apple Tree.', To Harry VVhite, the water cup in the hall, so that he can get onthe water wagon. Fourth.-To the class of l909, we give and bequeath: The right of becoming Sophomores ant' making their presence felt in the school. Our stables filled with ponies which arc guaranteed to carry any one through an exam. The hand carved desks in Miss Reeds room with whatsoever chewing gum may adhere thereto. To Ingar Howe, we bequeath the piano in the chapel. , Fifth.-To the Class of 1910, we give and bequeath: To each individual Freshman, a bottle of milk and a rubber doll, with the request that they will not use them too hard. To the Class as a whole, a box of green paint, that they may paint the town over in their class color. Our heartfelt sympathy and earnest en- couragement that they graduate in due pro- cess of time. Sixth.-To Miss Reed, we give and bequeath the bannister, that she may slide down whenever none of the scholars are look- ing. To the teachers who are leaving us, Mr. Ingalls, Miss Barton, and Miss Corey, we be- queath our hearty wishes that they will have success in whatever positions they fulfill dur- ing the coming year. Seventh.--Now, we would like to make a bequest to the school as a whole, and as books are always acceptable presents, we will bequeath our class library which consists of books written by the members of the class. The first volume is by Marie Bussey and is entitled The Lightning Embroidererf' It .lescribes the difficult art of doing Hottentot ace with one hand and playing the piano with the other. s The Art of Flirting, by Ethel McMillan, 'ledicated to Charley Benton. At the Point of Death or Face to Face with a Hairpin,.by Edna Alcott. A hair raising story of life on Pines Plains. A Dictionary of Poker Terms, by Frances Curry, containing full instructions how to play. Wliy Did Allie Hatch? by Gertrude Don- ley, an epic poem in blank verse. Elements of Drawing, in two volumes, by Earl Bradbury, written at odd moments dur- ing Roman History, with a preface by How- ard Chandler Christy and foot notes by Patil Ryan. Debates on Burning Questions of the Day, by Charles Benton. Among the questions discussed are, Shall the United States Admit Australia as a State P Shall Bookworm T. Vlfashington be Admitted to the Phelps Ho- tel PU and last, but not least, that ever present question which has racked the minds of