Waynesfield Goshen High School - Reflections Yearbook (Waynesfield, OH)

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istory of Senior Glass BY ELDON R. BUFFENBARGER. N the early autumn of nineteen hundred ten, when the song birds were singing their melodious carols while Hit- ting about from branch to branch in nature's home, sheltered by the verdant leaves, when the buzzard was wheeling his solitary flight deep in the abyss of the heavensg when the mournful notes of the whip-poor-will were heard by night, and the hum of bees by day, buzzing about in the beautiful sunshine from flower to flower, delving into the depths of nectar and pressing it away for winter, while the zephyrs playing over hill and vale, there came a gentle mur- mur, Just started. Then too it was, that the class of fourteen, Just started. They slowly but steadily pressed their way to- ward the seat of knowledge. Stop l 0, ye gods l assist me that I may paint the picture that now is branded on my memory. Glance backward and you will behold us occupying a conspicuous place among the wise of this institution, preparing ourselves for the winter of life, conquering all difficulties and delving into life's problems with the zeal of a Napoleon and the intellect of a Solomon. We had our Alps to climb, when we were suddenly aroused by the an- nouncement of a test or even an examination, but when soon over we rode along in the deep valley of satisfaction. Thus we blazed a trail and pressed toward the goal of r knowledge, never swerving, even when severest trials and difliculties beset our way. Although when at first we were only Freshmen, we were not pursued and held in check by manifest destiny and the heavy hand of fate, as most Freshmen are by their nominal superiors. No chains were forged around us, no nets were set to lure us and the bait with which the Seniors wished to lure us on, we ignored. Thus free we paddled our own canoe and sailed into the mysteries of the past by diligently ply- ing ourselves to the oars which propel the ship of life. We erected a firm foundation on which we built a true and noble character. We pierced the Barcan wilderness, we mowed the difliculties of good and evil as does Reaper Death in the beautiful poem: There is a Reaper whose name is Death, A And with his sickle keen He reaps the golden grain at a breath, And the flowers that grow between. -Longfellow lVe fulfilled every task, we applied ourselves to every possibility, we conquered every obstacle and at last we placed the frame work on the foundation which had become strong by labor,study. midnight hours and by sacrifice of many pleasures. . The teachers were astonished and pronounced us the most studious class in the High School. The only phase that the upper classmen were able to utter in a criticising but dignified manner was, Just started. :Look again and you will see the famous class with a 'few more loyal and devoted companions added all climbing as ever to heights sublime, and mounting the ladder of fame

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VIOLA GAMES. firnml,lu .' Yo, urlml fx lhe youd 3 We were made to be ylml, noi xml, Lf' il 4' llilfill I lflllllll .' Sing F Yes, in be sure : lin! fl life.-ffl II bil, not if, We shall better 6Il.tfllfI'6, Infvfylf .' Yes, 11-hy no! :' U' the 1I6fl7'f,S-fill, of .wny all dau long, IIN lwlwfr fhfm crying, rc lol : Although Viola has only been with us two years, it is needless to say that we have enjoyed her presence. She is always ready to see a joke. In fat-t, she giggles at everything, howeverinsig- nilicaunt. She is exceedingly scholarly in literature and helps make the class interesting. She is very much interested in her violin, and we hope that we shall some day hear of her being a great violinist. CHARLIE STE WA RT. There wasn't a minute when Bullefs :vas-n'f in it, Do not think from the quotation that our beloved Charlie is a bad boy, because he really fri' isn't. He is only a little mischevious. When he really isn't in mischief a person can see con- templations of it in his eyes. Charlie has been in this class during the four years of the High School course. He has at all times applied himself in his studies and has received good grades, but, ah! We sometimes pity Charlie when wen look at his deportment marks. He has also conducted himself so that he is one of the best liked members. not only in his own classes, but in the whole school.

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in the words of the poet by leaps and bounds. V Heaven is not reached at a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted sl ies, And we mount to its summit round by round. -Holland. As I said, the start was well made, the race begun, and soon it became a rush, and finally we cried out to the Juni- ors and Seniors, Look back! See our smokewl Just then a gust of wind carried the smoke among them, and like a whirlwind they turned to their books, when again they heard the words, i'See our smoke! Now they fiew to their les- sons as a herd of buffalo when pursued by a prairie fire. Finally the chase ceased, and with the medal won we stepped into the tracks of the Juniors, which were much too small for a class of great ambitions, but while we were adjusting ourselves to surrounding conditions and environments, the walls were heard to reverberate. 'iJust started. I have just cited these few instances to entertain you, while our class was passing through the Dark Ages of High School life,-those first two years when we were beginning to think upon the mysteries of education. The dawn of the Modern Age found us well established as third year students. Look again at the painting and you will behold us cheering the Seniors who have almost lost hope, advising them to push forward and preserve that little spark of life which yet remained, picking up the down trodden Freshmen, much abused by the Sophomore who tapped them on the head to see if they were ripeg caring for the Sophomores, that had fallen by the wayside, taking them to the inn fOld Alma Materl curing their ill and helping them past their difficulties. Again if you push back the curtain, you will behold us, an oasis in a vast desert, where the Freshmen after spend- ing three or four hours on a first year Latin lesson, or rack- ing their brains on a problem in algebra, come to bath their fevered brows before ascending the stairs at midnightg where the Sophomore after whipping the Gauls in an all day battle with Ceasar as lleader, or pursuing the Germans, fleeing, for many hours, bring their tired and worn out ponies to quench their thirst and feed up in the tender herbs of con- solation. Euch of us pursued his favorite purpose keeping in the well marked path, neither turning to the right nor left just as the waterfowl led by the invisible hand seeks the reeds and rushes. He who. from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight ln the long way that I must tread alone, Will lead my steps might. -Bryant. With a few more companions added who have helped to increase the strength and brilliancy of the whole class, we now began to throw our radiance over the entire Senior band fthe small number onel whose footprints once more proclaimed our motto, Just started, as he slowly departed from the threshhold of Wayne High. We hold these truths to he self-evident that we are the most glorious class that ever entered this institution, that we were endowed by our Creator with certain surpassing at- tributes, that among these are wisdom, foresight and uni- versal powers. We have shown forth a beacon light to all the lower classmen, guiding them past the shoals, and keeping them off the rocks that might destroy their humble ships. We have been willing to help anyone in need or in trouble when hard lessons come, or drop a little advice here and there for the benefit of those who could prosper by it. Ask the recluse for the keys to the records of the class if you believe this a fable. There can be found the informa- tion concerning this class, summerized in a chronological orderas were the Sibyline Books. As I am unfamiliar with the art of astrology I cannot tell the future except that we are guided by the humble words just started. But what of that, All's well that ends well.