Westfield State University - Tekoa Yearbook (Westfield, MA)

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16' lVESTFIELD NORMAL. 1909 0115155 lgiatnrg Given- T11 ursday, June 17, 1909, at the Banquet. BY SEPTA LYNN. NE of the most noteworthy events of modern history oc- curred on September 12, 1907. On that date the Class of 1909 of the 1Vestfield Normal School entered this fa- mous institution of learning. Our aim in coming here was the same as other classes have had and will have, namely,- a. desire to manipulate the ruler and to learn how it may be done most effectively. Although we came into existence in much the same way as other classes there was one important difference for which we were very grateful, and we hope the same privilege may be ac- corded to all classes of this school hereafter. Former classes, be- fore entering, were obliged to take examinations as a test- of the knowledge they had already acquired. In place of these, we were allowed to submit certificates of our high standing in the various high schools from which we came. Needless to say, we availed ourselves of the opportunity, excepting a few who desired to show that examinations could not frighten them. Now that almost two years have passed it is hard to tell what our first impressions were, but this much can be said: Vxlhatever they were, they were supplied by the seniors who, the evening before school opened, took great pains to give us a very clear concept of each member of the faculty, with the traits of character of each, also various suggestions as to how to get on the 'fright side of them. Mr. Allyn should not have blamed us

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1.909 WES TF I E L D .Y 0 18.11,-1 L. 1:7 Then the old man ninety years of age. with a beard way down to here, said, I think that is all there were in the class: of course these arc all you care to hear about. He wa.s pretty weak as we had been standing during' the recital but our enthu- e P siasm over-balanced our fatigue, so we did not feel any Hill ef- fects. I then asked him what we might do in return for his kindness and to show our great appreciation. He exclaimed. '4Sing! young' ladies. sing I It is ages since I heard music from a human voice, and that is the cnly recompense I shall accept for my servicesfl IN'e seemed to realize controversy would be useless as with open eyes and vacant expressions we looked at each other and exclaimed, sing! Then Helen breathlessly whispered. for Petals sake Margaret what will we sing. Dreamily I added. The Seven Time Prilzciplcs''-''11.s.sociut1'm1 and sugges- tion, working together so powerfully I could not bring reu- souw or Htlzouglziw' to my assistance. Taking my stage whisper as an inspiration Helen began with a full, round quarter note do and faintly I joined her in the rest. XVe had finished but as the last echo died out in Gillett's woods we saw the old man totter and fall, looking tragic and trying to tell us he was dy- ing. XVe then sent for Alice NN'hitney as she could and would un- tertake anything and she disposed of the body. promising se- crecy. NVe never dared to tell it until today we give up the se- cret as we find ourselves among our friends and the breath of their divine protection hovering over us. Somewhere in the dis- tance methinks I hear Alice say, 'CI went to Westfield Normal School. No! I know she won 't tell. And let us today bury our secret for life eternally. Amen! HELEN T. How.xRD, IXIARGARET I. LEAHY.

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. 1909 l'l'ESTFlELD NORJIAL. 17 iwhen, in our notebooks of the fall term, he found that we had been very generous with red ink. NVe soo11 learned that, although both Mr. Allyn and Mr. Monroe liked red ink, it would be a good plan to be a. trifie more economical with it. Get the idea? Dur- ing the first week or two we had a most enjoyable time. thought Normal School very easy, and resolved to get the full benefit of our stay here. For some unknown reason. it seems almost a dream now, Mr. Monroe was not present at the opening of the school, and did not put in an appearance until a whole week had pa.ssed. Strange, was it not? Mr. imma did not come until we had been here about two weeks and so, with the absence of two of our teachers, life here at first was very unlike what it was after they were all here. During the first term we studied Zoology under Mr. XYilson. It was not long before Normal girls could be seen almost any time in Search of grasshoppers, crickets, etc., some of which caused very strenuous and exciting times in Dickinson Hall. In arith- metic, under Mr. Allyn. we learned that a subject may have very different aspects, and were obliged to look upon this one in a different way than we had ever before thought of it. keeping always to the practical side. Is it not so? Having learned that no text books were used in this subject. we thought it would be very interesting indeed but, when repeatedly questioned as to actual facts? we thought of it in a different light. 'With Mrs. Knight we had grammar and here, at least. was one class in which we were always greeted with a pleasant smile and allowed to recite with the use of all of our senses. XVith Mr. Monte we soon learned to distinguish all the colors of the rainbow in any one of the beauties of Nature and were happy to think that we could always get the H1llOllI.f.H Although we had been fully warned as to the proper thing to expect in Mr. Monroe 's classes, we came out of our first reci-