Westfield State University - Tekoa Yearbook (Westfield, MA)

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and Minstrel Show to the day when all the Sister Seniors left our little house. The year offered to the cause of Modernism the first Triangular Debate carried on by the Normal Schools of the State. Then, too, 1928 will always hold memories of the Freshman Dance, the first activity that we could call our own. — 1929 — As another year rolled by introducing us to our new Room, we found ourselves in a rather unique position; we were by name and position Juniors and Seniors. Time, however, was of no consequence for we were swept through the endless festivities. Halt! One step forward! The Commuters in their on- ward march, inspired by Modernism, danced into history with the first Commuter ' s Hop. What? — No, we cant be leaving this room so soon? Although th is is goodbye, yet thoughts of our last room draw us as if a magnet to — — 1930 — Poised, dignified, magnificent — Seniors! Our last step toward our goal. Looking down we find three steps of stairs: Seniors Juniors Freshmen Ready to step forth, we pause long enough to visit the last room in our little house. Reminiscing upon the whirlwind of festivities, the Inter-Class Prom stands forth, the acme of Normal School dances. Standing upon the threshold, we gaze upon a different world. All former familiar objects have taken on a new aspect; we ' re alone in this modern world. What we have to face and find is still ahead. The march is on! Shall we go for- ward or backward? As graduation draws near, Westfield Normal School grows dearer; we realize its possibilities, its opportunities, its broadening influences, and its successes. Our progress has been so constant that it has escaped our notice until now. The Pres- ent finds us ready, ambitious and eager to fulfil our debt for what Westfield Normal School has given us in Service. Helen Labrovitz Bessie Smith 26

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CLASS HISTORY — 1928 — The doorway of Modernism was opened to a group of bewildered and anticipating freshmen. We were strange to each other and yet we were bound by a thread which was to encircle us many times before we completed our explora- tion of this house of mysteries. Was this house really like a closed book waiting for us to open it and explore within? Swiftly passing through the hall, we stood on the threshold of Room 1928. Entering, we met Dame Modernism face to face. This was a three-year course; new trends of modern education were showing their heads; our class was the first; so march on. Our first adventure found mortified freshmen peeking through Harold Lloyd glasses, displaying green bows around their humble necks, and tipping brown derbies a la Al Smith deferentially to the illustrious Seniors. However, it is always darkest before dawn, and soon we were dancing gaily at our first Get- Acquainted Party. One after another activities tumbled down on us from Proms, Operetta, 25

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We, the undersized, being of insane mind and infirm body, do bequeath, give over, relinquish, surrender, and, in general, hand out to the insignificant ones who will follow in our illustrious footprints the following unique possessions: — Article I. — To Dr. Russell, an institution which shall be self -governed, thereby allowing the faculty complete freedom from arduous tasks of trying to control future perspiring Normalites. Article II. — To Miss Lammers, a set of traffic lights which will automatically direct the marching orders and facings. Article III. — To Mrs. Winslow, sufficient copies of Sinclair Lewis ' latest novel, The Niceties and Decencies of Life, to supply the incoming, uncouth, embryonic teachers. Article IV. — To Mr. Patterson, an inexhaustible supply of newspaper clip- pings on the Wickersham report and the gangster activities. Article V. — To Miss Snow, that beautiful modernistic painting, Cabbages at Play, over which so much furor has been created recently. Article VI. — To Miss Tobey, a checking account in the Farmers ' Trust- Co-operative-Savings Bank in East Jallope. Article VII. — To Dr. Wilson, the Mundale jungle stocked with the rarest specimens of insect life. Article VIII. — To Miss Pratt, a metronome for the exclusive use of Seniors with enough nerve to try to conduct Chorus. Article IX. — To Miss Fickett, a rocket ship and jumping belt for use when she investigates the planet Mars. Article X. — To Mr. Hawley, a set of invisible batons to go with every suit. Article XL — To Miss Roberts, the folk-lore of the Mississippi Valley and a pamphlet on How to Remember Names. 27