Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

Page 10 text:

6 THE ORACLE, Valedictory Address A little hepatica on the barren mountainside struggles up thru the gray worn rocks into the air. Hindered in its growth by biting winds and overtowering stones, shielded by the same rough boulders, shaped by the nourishing soil, the faint sun, and March showers, the cramped curls unfold in the brighter April sunshine. After four long years, surrounded by unconscious influences, our individuality is now developed. We may know the properties of hydro- chloric acid, the character of Henry the Fifth, the meaning of a projected line, but these things are only the unrelated details of the picture. Our thoughts, our habits, our moods are now forever ours and will give life its true meaning. The fixative has set the drawing, For all we may be to-night we thank our friends, our guides. Shall I say we are their shadows? Many things we have willed to do, but after all we are only the reflection of the silent influences about us. The stones, the soil, the rain, the sunshine all have done their work. And somewhere breathes a forest Deity who plans for every one. Against, and with our wills, we have been moulded by the master hand; and we are thankful with all our hearts for the mistakes by which we have learned, for every quirk and turn of our school life, and every self-sacrificing effort. Yes, class-mates, we have pushed our slender stems thru Stygian rocks and breathed ozone under circling suns. Each impression is a blending of combined influences; the thoughts of others have seeped thru our ideals and left their traces. By daily friction we have filed down our sharp corners; lived, and lived happily, together. We have known and loved each other well. “The moving finger writes, and having writ, May we, thru all the coming years that flit, Not lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all our tears wash out a word of it.” And the hepatica? We are pushing out into the great world. The shining sun and blowing wind will bring the flower face to face with blue skies. May our life be as real and true as our thoughts. We do not grow and bloom for mere existence. May we each strive to forma fair flower, cheer a little lonely child, found a happier home, make one heart the blither for our passing,—so—good-night. Meta Rutrer PENNOCK.

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12 tHE ORACIIE, gr zo AUr Z-00 2 LOUISE S. ANDREWS Classical; Dobbs . Ferry; Basket-ball AMY ABEL or o uate Gok eee A ; : team ’07-'08; Glee. Club 708, ’o9, “10; Chicken;” classical; Pratt Institute; ; ; : tus : G. A. A. Vice-President ’o8-09; Ju- Class Day Committee. nior play; “1910 Oracle Board.” BESSIE ALPAUGH “Betty ;” classical; Dana Hall; Basket- ball team ’o7, ’08; Captain ’08; Sec- ond Cesar prize ’08; Junior play; Glee Club “io. ELSIE. BIRD Classical; P. G. course; Oracle Board ‘og-’10; Second Cicero prize ’09; Sec- ond Modern Language prize ’09; Glee Cltiby005 10: ,