Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

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ih sORACIE PAUL LEONHAUSER SALUTATORIAN of the Class of 1921 who opened the Commencement’ exercises with his salutatory address, the theme of which was “Evolution in Education.” Mary PAtLu3o0 VALEDICTORIAN of the Class of 1921 who closed the Commencement exercises with her valedictory address, the theme of which was “Beauty in Modern Life.”

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THE ORACLE Class Poem Four years ago, to happy days In grammar school, we said farewell; And now again we have to leave The school days we have loved so well. As we look back we are surprised To think how meek we used to be When we, as Freshmen, held in awe, ‘The upper classmates’ dignity. As Sophomores we became more bold, For we were upper classmen then, But when we reached our Junior year We took our rightful place like men. We had an Oracle all our own, We showed the school that we had pep, We gave a play that brought us fame, We made the Seniors keep in step. As Seniors we’ve accomplished much To glorify our Class’s name, And working for our Class, we’ve tried ‘Vo gain tor, Plainfield High School, tame. We're starting on the Road of Life, Unconquered lands before us lie Where each one hopes to find success; But how we hate to say goodbye! Our Red and Gray we’ll ne’er forget, We'll always to our Class be true. What e’er we do thruout our lives We'll keep unstained the Red and Blue. MarcGaret WHITE. JacK DANIEL.

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10 THE ORACLE The Opportunity (As told by Charles Dayton, winner of Second Babcock Prize) The curtain of fog which had hung over New York Harbor was silently lifted and Basile Soultos and his mother, as they leaned eagerly over the rail of the great liner, could see before them the Statue of Liberty. For ten days they had endured the trials of a steerage passage from Greece and now the peaceful harbor, the “Land of Opportunity” and the Statue of Liberty, whose hand was raised, as in blessing, so filled their courageous hearts with emotion, that they did not care to speak. On the deck a vagrant harper was softly playing ““Home, Sweet Home.” ‘The patient mother felt the peace of one, who, at last, obtains the object of a life long struggle. Young Basile’s breast was thrilled with dreams of the future and his achievements in this land of promise. A brisk breeze sprang up, driving down the bay the last straggling bands of mist as the Macedonia proceeded proudly on to her berth in Manhattaan. What a sight was that sky-line to the immigrant lad! To the right reared the sky-scrapers. “The great Woolworth Tower pointed like a finger to the Heavens. Then flashed into view the golden dome of the World Building, glittering in the slanting rays of the setting sun. Basile was spellbound by the grandeur of the sight. Around the ship on silent, slender pinions swept the sea gulls. About the docks scurried the tug boats, coughing hoarsely as they neared one another. Clumsy ferry-boats lumbered across the river filled with people who cheered as they passed the Macedonia. ‘The liner’s passengers cheered loudly in return and the ship’s band struck up ““The Star Spangled Banner.” Basile’s dream of the future gave way to the enthusiasm of the moment. He felt a fervent patriotism for the country which was going to adopt him. When the great ship had been swung around by her tugs and was coasting into her slip, Basile rushed for the stairway, half carrying, half dragging his mother in his impatience to step upon the sacred soil of Uncle Sam. Before he could reach the door a man in uniform put i n his appearance who blocked his path and called, “Ho, there! Stand back. You, who understand English, tell the others you cannot land yet. You must take an examination at Ellis Island. You will be taken there in the morning.” Basile was vexed at this delay, but his mother counseled patience and together they returned to their little room. When the sun had set and’ the great buildings, shining like glow worms titantic, cast about the great city its luminous halo, Basile and his mother went again to the steerage deck to enjoy