Pottsville High School - Hi S Potts Yearbook (Pottsville, PA)

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One Friday afternoon early in the spring we were having an Algebra test in Miss Holt's rooms when the peace of the class was suddenly disturbed by a goat walking into the room. It is not ex- actly known whether the goat was simply taking a walk or whether some boy was hunting a way to get into mischief by bringing ani- mals into the building. At the end of the term the school, as usual, held a picnic at Railway Park. Everyone enjoyed the day thoroughly and looked forward with much pleasure to the dance in the evening. But alas! About 6:30 clouds began to gather and in a short time it started to rain. The pavillion was crowded until the storm was past. Then instead of dancing we were glad to get home safe and dry. Many of our class were in the chorus which sang at the Com- mencement exercises, under the leadership of Prof. Haviland. This was a new feature in the Commencement and was received well by all. At the beginning of our Sophomore year, nearly everyone re- turned who had started with us. At Christmas time as usual exercises were held, and instead of giving the gifts as had been the custom for many years, the girls, under the supervision of Miss Margaret Boyer, dressed dolls which were given to children here and in other towns. When we looked for the Christmas tree ornaments, they were not in their usual place, and further search proved that they couldn't be found at all. The next morning, much to our surprise, all of our decorations appear- ed on the Junior tree. Since then we've kept them in the jail through the kindness of Elva Walton, our former president, who promised to watch them carefully. One day at noon Miss Margaret Boyer went home and locked her door, thinking that no one was in the room. But three of our girls, who had been attracted by the mirror in the cloak room, were locked in. They pounded on the door and screamed but no one seemed to hear them. They had just about decided that they would have to go dinnerless, when Miss Betz, who had been detained in her room, heard the noise, opened the door and released the girls. This comes from being vain. Everyone will guess that Mazie and Marion were there. ' 14

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SENIOR CLASS HISTORY. Ruth Herbein, Historian. Just think! 1916 is here. Four years ago it seemed so far distant, we thought it would never come. Now that we have Gnish- ed our four years, we look back and wonder where the time has gone. Many who entered in 1912, are not with us any longer, while others have joined our class during the past three years. Since the dav when we entered P. H. S. as freshmen, up to the day of our graduation the time was filled with pleasant experiences and asso- ciaiions. Now we stand about the largest class that has ever grad- uated from P. H. S., ready to start out in life. Many will go to higher institutions of learning while others will go out into the bus- iness world, but all will be joined together by that bond of friend- ship which was formed during our four years together. Perhaps it would be interesting to hear a few of the many incidents which occurred during our stay in P. H. S. A few of ourclassmates elected a four year course in the com- mercial school which had just been combined with the High School. Some elected a few commercial studies, and in that way had the privilege of having High School and Commercial work. Late in the fall the three upper classes held a social to wel- come the Freshmen, the Commercial pupils and teachers, and Miss Margaret Boyer, the new English teacher. In this way we be- came better acquainted with the pupils and teachers, and our nrst year was made much easier. At Christmas time we took great pains to have our tree look as well as the rest. We decorated it in red and gold, our class colors. We also received gifts which were enjoyed by everyone. In January Miss Roads died after an illness of two months. We had been with her but a few months, but we had learned to love and honor her. For the remainder of the year her place was filled by Miss Florence Short. As had been the custom for several years, the members of the G. A. R. were presented with roses, on Memorial Day. Ruth Seltz- er was chosen to make the presentation speech at the Chapel. She performed her duties very well and we were all proud of her. 13

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About the middle of the school term William Bennett entered our class, who surprised and shocked Miss Boyer in English class one day by denouncing chaperons as useless articles. Only one thing occurred to mar the pleasure of the year. Dur- ing institute week we received news of the death of Karl Seltzer, one of our classmates. He had been absent from school but a few days and his death came as a shock to all of us. We all deeply sympa- thized with Ruth, also a member of our class. We were somewhat diminished in numbers when we returned in the fall as Juniors. A few went to schools out of town, while others received positions here in town. ln September Helen Mor- rison and Charles Gallagher entered our class from the Minersville High School. This year we studied English under Miss Umbenhen and took up the study of Shakespeare. Mildred Zerbey gave us a new version of 'tThe Dagger Scene from Macbeth, by changing the tirst line to, Art thou a dagger which l see before me!', lt was in this class that in some way Ruth's and Mazie's curls were tied together and they couldn't stand up to recite. ln connection with our English work, we had to write compo- sitions on Why Buy at Home. The Merchants' Association of town offered a prizeof seven dollars and fifty cents to the class that would write the best compositions. The contest was between the Seniors and Juniors. The Juniors won the prize, the best com- position being written by Preston Shimer. lt took a long time to decide how to spend the money, but at last it was decided to present the school with a pedestal. One Friday morning we thought we ought to have a social, so all necessary arrangements were quickly made. A program was ar- ranged consisting of vocal and instrumental selections, and recita- tions, one of which, Pete Kenny's, entitled, At the Railroad Crossingf, is best rememibered. This was our first social, but we all enjoyed it and tried our best to make it a success. At last we enter P. H. S. as Seniors. As we look back over the past three years, they seem very short, and yet so much has happen- ed in those three years. High School has become much larger. When we entered, part of the building was used for grade schools, now the whole building is devoted to the high school, and still there ' 1 5