Reading High School - Arxalma Yearbook (Reading, PA)

Page 29 text:

LITERARY 21 aeterizes all of its dealings with foreign nations it finds that security which en- ables the Stars and Stripes proudly to unfurl its glorious folds. The world of today is a world of ac- tion-a world that demands sincerity. In- sincerity has corrupted society. Decep- tion has wrought havoc in politics. Even the world of labor lis weakened by seams of wax as were those damaged pots in the days of Rome. Chaos has run wild long enough. The time for reformation is at hand. The evils of society must cease to undermine the vigor and the morals of the people. Political corruption and just government cannot exist together any longer. Labor disturbances are akin to anarchy and incompatible with internal peace. The fall of corrupted and graft- ridden Rome is the warning. Sincerity is the only protection. This however, is but the one phase of this world of today. It cannot be justly said that the whole creation is merely a collection of evils. Among the evil, al- though at times deeply obscured, is found the good. Even as the great de- mand of today is sincerity, just so are volunteers rising to the call. They are advancing into the lists as the knights of yore. Their purpose is evident-their intention clear. They are arraying against evil, on the side of good. With these first signs of a great awakening, we cannot fail to recognize that a brilliant future lies before the people of this world. Do not anticipate trouble, .or worry about what may never happen. Keep ln the sunlight. -Franklin. U 8 U Submission to a weak man is discipline. Submission to a strong man is only ser- vility.-Grilbert Keith Chesterton. 8 K K If Americans can be divorced for in- compatibility of temper I cannot con- ceive why they are not all divorced. I have known many happy marriages, but never a compatible one. The whole aim of marriage is to light through and sur- vive the instant when incompatibility be- comes unquestionable. For a man and a woman, as such, are incompatible.-Gib bert Keith Chesterton. Sincerlty, the basis of all successful enterprise and a sure foundation for national honor and prosperity, must and will win its conquests. 1 4 a And now, after such a lengthy dis- Course on sincerity, it would doubtless seem like hypocrisy if I should not ex. press the emotions which I feel. Four years have we labored by each others side. Some differences we may have both among ourselves and with our teachers. Nevertheless we have prospered mentally by availing ourselves of the opportu- nities offered us in this school by the citizens of Reading. So it is not without regret that we leave, although we are anxious to test our strength in the battles of life. To our teachers we owe a great debt--a debt which we can never fully re- pay. We can merely hope that our fortunes in life shall be such as will make them rejoice in the thought that they have helped us to win success. With this hope, let us all forget whatever mis- understandings may have been between us, and in true friendship, let us part. Farewell is a word that is unpleasant to the ear and penetrates deeply into the heart. Gladly would we avoid its use, but, Hllhappily, we cannot. Our time to leave is here. We must go to answer the call bf duty. So with hearts, ever grateful to our Alma Mater, we now bid the faculty, the school, and all who were interested in the progress of our class, a fond farewell. A J1M THonP KIND. MiSS M011GYbags- Malcom, a suspicion lurks within me that you don't. love me, but want to marry me for my money, Malcom- You are silly. Don't you know I'm a member of the Amateur Ath- letic Union? Miss M.- Well, what has that to do with it? Malcom- A great deal. It bars me from taking part in any event for money. Q l U DEDICATED 'ro RAVEL. There was a boy in our class And he was wonderous wise t?J Whene'er there was a speech to be made He never failed to rise.

Page 28 text:

Guns CLVH

Page 30 text:

1 22 THE RED AND BLACK CLASS HISTORY BY WILLIAM M. HARTBIAN One of the greatest blessings ,mf that ever fell to the lot of Old Reading High, descended upon her one morning about four years ago, on the morning of Tuesday, September 7, 1909, to be exact. That day is one that will long linger in the memories of all who then attended the school, for it was on that day that the noble class of 1913, 168 strong, began its memorable career. We were received on all sides with smiling faces and open arms by both professors and students, for it needed but a glance to observe that what they saw was true genius. One needed but to look upon their sagely brows and pick out here a future Webster, there a Patrick Henry, or even another- Teddy Roosevelt. As it is the custom for freshmen to be green,', so were we also green, but eventually this greenness wore off, and today, as a result of four years' strenuous and nerve-racking work, you gaze no long- er upon a motley group of verdant fresh- men, but instead, upon this-bunch-of sedate looking individuals, commonly known as Seniors, who are ready to tackle anything, anywhere and any time. The beginning of our freshman year was made extremely pleasant for us by our School Board, which sanctioned the installment of the one session plan, after a long campaign. Here, also, we might state that this plan had failed just a year before, in spite of the fact that over 90172 of the parents were in favor of it. But suddenly a large cloud loomed upon the horizon and eclipsed all the joy which this action caused. By a later decree, this same body of school directors decided that all social functions and secret societies be abolished. Truly, we were then living in a great age of progress. After accustoming ourselves to the new surroundings and getting acquainted with each other, our first crime was to select appropriate class colors. A committee was appointed, and after much deep thought and consideration decided that crimson and gold should be our colors. But Ah, how cruel are the vicissitudes of ADIES and gentlemen: l 4 Fortune. Later, this same comittee went down to Fourth and Court to confer about the colors, and when they left, they had decided that brown and gold were really more appropriate after all. Oh, how fickle are the minds of men. No organization of the class was effect- ed this year, but at the several meetings held Earl Reifsnyder took charge of af- fairs and acted in the capacity of a presi- dent. f In the first outdoor track meet, 1913 made a name for herself, but not scoring a single point, but in the words of Bill Shaksbeer, We should worry, for on the football team, two members of our class were represented, ReifsnyderandDotterer, both of whom. have since left school. When the Cross Country run was pulled off, while we did not win, we, neverthe- less, made an excellent showing, having four men who finished well up near the front. Among them was none other than our old friend Dutch McKenna, who is today considered one of Reading High's best athletes. Next on the list came basket ball, where we did really shine a bit. Instead of ac- cepting the cellar championship, we by our good showing conferred that honor- able position upon the class of 1912. Nothing of importance until the annual indoor track meet which was held early in March 1909. Here we succeeded in going one better than in the outdoor meet, and obtained a grand total of one point which made by our German friend whom we just mentioned. But, again, as Patrick Henry says, We should worry, for two of our men, Dotterer and Reifsnyder, suc- ceeded in geting on the 'Varsity baseball team, while James McKenna represented our class on the big track team. Just before the close of the school year, occured the first of the three calamities that befell our class. On June 18, 1910, Charles Miller, one of our beloved class- mates, was called to the Great Beyond. At last came the summer vacation, which marked the close of our Freshman year, and changed us into hardened and experienced Sophomores.