Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

Page 12 text:

THE ORACLE Galiacstsee area Our run in High is almost o’er; Our acting here is nearly done; And what we’ve had of toil, or fun, Will soon be part of mem’ry’s store. The friendships that have started here, Will last for aye, through storm or sun; The thought of victories we have won, Will help our dreary days to cheer. The four years spent upon this stage Have been great steps toward future power, For we have learned each passing hour, Some truth which holds through every age. Here we have learned our roles to act, As seemed to best portray the part, To shun the stilt of studied art, To use simplicity and tact. We've learned to lend a helping hand, To those who are less fortunate; To share our pleasures, small of great; For truth and honor e’er to stand. And now as we go forth to play Upon the broader stage of life, May we, when pulled into the strife, By honest labor win the day. May we e’er guard each word and deed, Lest thoughtlessly we wound a friend; And give our lives the upward tend, By following our Master’s lead. May we with righteous peace be shod, As earth’s rough paths we wander through; “May we to our own selves be true,”’ And to the world, and to our God.

Page 11 text:

THE ORACEE 9 Piven seca she said, = Ahgnealemontanaow. lytebbe Alb’d git afeerd up thar. Ah’ve allus ‘lowed Ah’d marry ole Hepp Brone, an’ Ah reckin Ah’d bettah do it. Of co’se,” (for a moment Perran be- lieved that she was going to smile, but sie didn’t.) ‘“Hepp’s goahin’ on sixty, but he’s good enuf, and Pap’s acaountin’ on it, so Ah cyan’t goah.” He stood dazed. Could it be that this girl was to prove the insur- mountable barrier to his success? It was unbelievable. He brushed his hand over his eyes. His head hurt. She slunk past him into the cabin. “Ah’m sorry, strangan, but Ah cyan’t goah.” She never went. Stanas remained in the mountains, begging, pleading, raving, but she never wavered in her determination. She rarely answered or heeded him. As the weeks went by he grew noticeably older. His fifty years showed plainly. Jess never sang for him again, but the sound of her voice was always in his ears. Gradually other sounds grew indistinct. Then he fled, panic-stricken, back to New York. It was useless. He was always haunted by the “Dream Voice.” He could neither write nor listen, all other music was as nothing to him. He began to hide from the outside world in order to catch the notes more perfectly. Ten years later an old man was found dead in his bed, in a tene- ment lodging house, and when they cleared out the room, they pushed into a waste basket the tattered manuscript which they had found clutched in his hand. It was late October in the mountains. The woman leaned over the cot and drew a ragged cover over the wasted form. Two glitter- ing eyes followed her anxiously. She leaned over to hear. “Sing, Jess,” he whispered huskily. She straightened up and opened her lips, but no sound came. She gazed wildly about, tugged for a moment at her throat, then looked helplessly down again. “It’s no use, Hepp, it’s gone. Ah cyan’t sing.” And no one heard her tearless gasp, for she was alone in the cabin. HELEN LovuisE WooLLEY.

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THE ORACLE dd Salutatory Address Effie A. Beekman We, the class of 1912, welcome you all to our commencement exer- cises. As we think over the events of the last four years, we are sin- cerely grateful and we hope in the future we will be able to repay you for your active interest in our wel- fare. Through the untiring efforts of Doctor Maxson and the Board of Education, supported by the citi- zens of Plainfield, we have been given our beautiful High School with all the privileges of fine equip- ment and an efficient corps of teachers. The Board have spared neither time nor effort in order to give us the greatest possible ad- vantage and we want to assure them of our warmest appreciation. Our Principal has so planned the work that our life in Plainfield High School has been happy as well as beneficial, and our teachers have always been sympathetic friends as well as inspiring instructors. Tonight marks the beginning of a new era in our lives, the opening of a door leading to a broader life; at this time our hearts and minds are especially ready to respond to the words of advice which you, Mr. Speaker of the evening, may give to us. Yes, these years have been full of gifts and now the time has come for us to make a return, to show what qualities we have gained which will make us better, more useful citizens. We do not wish to be mere recipients, or to accept this education from you as a gift, but we expect to make a return in the form of better citizenship. We owe that to you, the old, loyal citizens of Plainfield.