Abington High School - Oracle Yearbook (Abington, PA)

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- ri K To rescue from oblivion the memory of former students, and to render just tribute of reunion to the many great and wonderful adventures that befall the Class of 1918 is the Historian's purpose in adressing you this evening. We were the largest class to enter Abington High School up to the year of 1914. There were seventy-eight of u? Altogether forty girls and thirty-eight hoys. Green you ask? Yes, that always must be the lot of Freshmen. But, ah! what a delicate soft shade, not visible to the naked eye, hut only after a most careful spectrum analysis. There is not much of importance to be told of those first few months. We were all rather shy. at first, and full of apprehension lest we should do anything to raise the wrath and ire of the tyrannical upper class men. We were divided into the General and Commercial sections, these sections differing principally in name, the work being practically the same for the first year. ’Twas during the first semester that we proved to the faculty and to the upperclassmen as well, our ability and ambition to be good diligent students, a reputation that has not fallen. Little of note happened that year, most of the time being occupied by study and becoming acquainted with our classmates and faculty. The following September we returned, but not all of us. for the mortality was high in the Freshmen vear, but the moat fitting had survived and were now raised to the Sophomore strata. We could now fully appreciate what an extraordinarv class we had been; for roundhs''T?efe the incoming classmen, small puny and backward in appearance, possessing none of he marked and Stirling qualities of the previous class. F.arlv in the term we organized, electing Edward Fincke president, and choosing the blue and gold for our colors. 16

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DOROTHY WHEATLAND. Our sensibilities are so acute. The fear of brine) silent makes us mute. Operetta, 16; Chorus of Flukey Duke. t ALICE WI1ITKAM. (At) The people free from cares, serene and ,;ay Pass all their mild untroubled hours away.” Rom January 23, 1898. Chorus of Flukey Duke. Favorite expression, Golly-whiz. CHARLES WILLIAMS. (Charley) am in a holiday humor. Born July 31, 1898. Oracle Staff, T6; Conspirator in “Flukev Duke, ’18. Favorite expression, Where do we go from here? MILLVILLE L. WILLIAMS. 'Antiquities, art. He is fond of. He knows the old masters by heart. And his taste is refined. Born January 11, 1901. Glee Club, ‘17. ‘18; Orchestra, T8; Librarian; Pedro in cast of ‘The Flukey Duke; Class artist: Literary Soiety. MARY WILSON. «o) (Wilson) Blest with a taste exact, yet unconfined A knowledge both of books and human kind. Born October i4, 1899. Basketball class team, 15, T6; Basketball team, ’16, T7, ’18; Captain ‘17; Glee Club, T7, T8; Oracle Staff, 16, T8; Chorus of Flukey Duke: Pi Chi Psi: Class Yell. Favorite expression, You look similar but I fails to organize you. HELEN B. McCLCRE. Her air, her manners, all who saw admired, Courteous, though coy. and gentle, though retired. Born October 22, 1897. Glee Club, 17, 18. Favorite expression. Believe Me. 15

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At this time a distinction was made in the courses, the majority preferring to foiiow the General. We soon became entbioiied in what seemed a nopeiess struggle to fathom the mysteries of Plane Geometry; while our classmates, the Commercials, were introduced to shorthand and book-keeping. During the basketball season of 1915-16 Fincke and Chesterman were holding regular and permanent places on the school team. That same season our class team captured the school championship, an honor that was never wrested from us. With the winter season and mid-years as history, the spring months passed quickly as all happy months do, and before we were aware of it, the term had closed, but not without a good frolicking picnic at Neshaminy Falls. Yet I can not pass over that year without mentioning the new members, .Margarete Curtis and Harriet Smith. The following summer passed none too quickly for us. Indeed, we were glad when September, 17, rolled around. It grieved us much to find some of the old faces missing, but joy o'ercame our grief when we discovered the new members to nil their places; namely, Charles Karffman of the Bankrupted” borough. Bill Mattson, the only human chantelion in captivity, of the same town; Xevin Harwood of the Smoky City” and “Pudds” Doyle the Oracle's illustrious Editor-in-Chief. Elections were held early in the term and as a result Claude Phipps became class president. That fall, football was added to Abington’s long list of sports. The team was composed chiefly of '18 men, captained by “Nigger” Fincke. The following winter saw the Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs organized, two very interesting and helpful additions to our school life. But let us not forget our new work; French, Economics, Cicero, advanced Algebra and typewriting having become elective for the Juniors. The number of electives scattered the class somewhat; however, the same general fellowship and good felling was maintained in our class life. During the winter the leading social event was the Senior Reception. It was held in the gymnasium, and besides being a good social gathering it firmly cemented the good will between the classes. • In February our Debating Team convinced the Seniors. Audience and Judges, that the minimum strength of our armies shou'd immediately be raised to twice its present number and we thereby set the present administration’s army program. Mid-years, spring sports and finals, soon things of the past and our year was ended. Franklin Dilworth, Croften Uniac, Dorthy Welsh, joined our happy forces as we went “Over the Top” to attain that which we are at present celebrating. At an early date the class met and honored Frank Chesernten with the Presidency. selected the cornflower as the Class flower and made “F.sse Quant Videri” —“To Be. Rather Than To Seem” our motto While the commercials were delving in the intricate problems of law. others were passing through the crises of the day. Thev were having Trig. A terrible 17