Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

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162 THE ORACLE of Michael Angelo’s “Moses” and of Donatello’s “St. George,” also busts of “Julius Cesar” and of “Homer.” To the Athletic Association, large funds were freely given. “In athletics they were marvelous. Their class base-ball teams were always a success. In their Junior year, their hockey-team won the school championship. While their men were managers of the teams, and while their own ‘Andy’ was president of the Athletic Association, the school was, by far, more successful than ever before in all kinds of sports. In the Field Meet, though the first place was won by the Class of 1905, the second and third places were easily gained by 1904. In the Battalion, their men were always at the head. In its most prosperous days, the Major and many of the officers were 1904 men. So, in spite of the meagre number of boys in 1904, they won athletic and military honors by no means small. As for the girls of this famous class, they were unexcelled in their athletics, ever carrying off the championship banner. “Had not each member of the class been destined for a higher career, many of them would have excelled on the stage. As it was, whenever they gave plays, the chief difficulty was to find a place large enough to accommo- date the audience. After the brilliant success of “The Rape of the Lock,” and of “Cranford Dames,’ even the Plainfield Casino could not hold the crowds who were eager to see their presentation of “She Stoops to Con- quer.” This was indeed the most glorious gem in their crown, nor is there any chance of finding another equally splendid, for what is perfect can never be improved upon.” These, dear spirits, are the most important of the records of that famous book, still there are many more which could be added, ever increasing the honor of the Class of 1904. Mary A. Griccs. Legacy | N the name of God, Amen. We, the class of 1904, of the Plainfield High School, do make, publish and declare this instrument to be our last Will and Testament. First. We order and direct our executors to pay our just debts for bunt- ing and our funeral expenses. Also to erect to our memory an im- posing brick monument to be suitably inscribed, suggesting a few of the more important exploits of our useful life. The cost of said monument not to exceed the sum of one hundred eighty-seven dollars and forty-nine cents. We also direct our executors to enclose our cemetery plot with a handsome clay wall three feet, two inches high and

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THE ORACLE 161 The Captain went before; Far on the other shore, Behold He crowns at last our trusting, weak endeavor! Van Wyck Brooks. History EA, ye noble forms of those illustrious ones who contributed one and all to the glory of the Class of 1904. I have found some records of our greatness. One night, not long ago, as I was wandering through an old museum in Rome, my at- tention was attracted by a very large sign—‘‘Hands off! The most valuable possession of the Museum!” Naturally I looked and there, under a glass case, was a huge volume. I read the title and looked again, yes it said, “A History of the class of 1904 of the Plainfield High School.” There was a volume full of our deeds, but most of all I was interested in the accounts of our life in dear old Stillman High and I jotted down a few extracts which were especially prominent: “They were the largest and most illustrious class that had ever entered the High School, and, though many of the boys and a few of the girls did not finish their course, a goodly number was graduated. “In their Freshman year, they were the happy recipients of stock- ings actually small enough to fit, the sole objection to them being that each member received but one instead of two. When Sophomores, they pre- sented their poor little Freshman brothers and sisters with bottles. As Juniors they gave the Faculty and Seniors the most elaborate spread ever seen in Stillman High, excepting perhaps, the one held by the boys in the Lab. on the preceding night. To be sure, the feast offered by the Juniors to this great class in their Senior year was almost as delightful and was most heartily enjoyed. . “They, broad-minded and noble-hearted as ever, were the first to do away with the dangerous custom of raising class flags, although every- thing pointed to success for them in this undertaking, had they not been willing to relinquish it. | “Generous and loyal they may be called, but these words give no idea of the depths of their generosity and of their loyalty. They placed in the possession of their beloved Alma Mater, a costly and artistic reproduction

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THE ORACLE 163 six feet thick, so as to prevent the curious public from reading the in- scription on our monument and relic-hunters from desecrating the same. Second. We give and bequeath to the High School janitors, in equal shares, one woolen umbrella, and one pair of oil-cloth rubbers, con- cealed in the girls’ cloak room, on the third floor, in appreciation of their valuable services rendered to us during the past four years, with- out compensation from us, other than their board and clothes and ten cents per month spending money, provided, nevertheless, if the jani- tors shall present a claim against our estate for any of their services than and in that case the legacy bequeathed in and by this paragraph shall lapse. Third. We order and direct our executors to deposit and retain our super- fluous white bunting in the garret of the Stillman High School for the space of two days and when by such treatment it has become gray enough to suit the artistic taste of the Freshman, they shall forthwith present it to that class, together with 23 inches of red bunting. Fourth. We do, hereby, give and bequeath to the class of 1905, the remains of our well-used books, Burke’s Conciliation, which have the extra- ordinary advantage of being filled with notes gathered from wander- ing discourses on: psychology and fatalism. We also direct our execu- tors to declare unto this class that, had their dramatic ability been de- veloped we would have given them the opportunity of at least attempt- ing to excel the brilliant production of the 1904 Stock Company. Fifth. We give and devise to the class of 1908, the privilege of the two session plan. Sixth. We give devise and bequeath the residue of our estate in two equal shares, one half to the Common Council of the City of Plainfield, to increase the fund appropriated by them for the new High School, the other half to the Czar of Russia to aid in reimbursing his government for the expense of the War with Japan. Seventh. We nominate and appoint Andrew Carnegie and Carrie Nation as executors of this our last will and testament. In witness we have hereunto set our hand and seal on this the 32nd day of September, I8QIT. CLASS OF 1904. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request have hereunto signed our names as witnesses. MOSES AND ST. GEORGE.