Antioch High School - Torch Yearbook (Hartsville, SC)

Page 57 text:

$ I 1. Wind blown! i. Ball team I 3. Wanted: aen I 4. |7. Most reckless: o. Beware ! 7 What's on your mind? 8. No. 10's: 9. Waiting? 10. What's up? 11. Hadacol? 12. Play ball I 13. Cuties : 14. Where's Mary? 1$. High Valentine King and Queen I 16. Having fun? 17. Grammar Valentine King and Queen !

Page 59 text:

SALUTATORY Trustees, Teachers, Friends, Parents, and Schoolmates: The great English dramatist, William Shakespeare, has said, All's well that ends well, but in my case I think that phrase should be amend- ed to read, All's well that begins well. For, you see, in my position as salutatorian, there rests upon my shoulders the important task of opening the evening's program, of giving the keynote of the program fes- tivities, of impressing you favorably and lending you the belief that this is the most brilliant class that has ever graduated, and of putting you in an amiable and receptive humor. The vital question is-can I do it? And without further ado, I shall answer that question in my own way. I think it might not be amiss to take the amended Shakespearian phrase as tne theme of my talk. All's well that begins well -----they are words that have proven their worth many times in the years that have just passed. They have a particular value all their own. To begin well is the secret of success; to set forth with the firm foundation, to have within one's self the stern determination to succeed and succeed fairly from the start-these are the qualities that cast their shadows over one's future. These are factors that spell accomplishment in capital letters. But how, you might ask, does that apply to the members of this graduating class? In what way have the catchy words influenced my fellow graduates and myself? Nov those are questions that I shall be de- lighted to answer. .'He are sitting here tonight in all our splendor because we had the right beginning. ?re are basking under the sunlight of your aoproval be- cause we had parents who realized the importance of education and the value of sending us to school every day that we might not fall behind. We are wearing the crown of graduation tonight because we had teachers who cherished the principle of thoroughness. Tn other words, we started well, and the handicaps fell on the other side of the fence. The important thing about the lesson that we have learned’is-its very pertinent apllication to future days. It was not just a lesson for schoolday existence, but one for a life time. There isn't an adult here who won't agree with that statement. You, too, have begun projects that depended on the carefulness of the plans you laid. You, too, have known success because you were untiring in your efforts, relentless in your determination at the start. All's well':that begins well -that motto you kept in mind knowing that half the tale was told when you observed its telling words. ’'That powerful words they are J Battles have been won;.fIAgg have fisen, great principles of government and state have been preserved because of the potency of this simple phrase. And perhaps, I hope I'm not too optimistic, it may be that I have accomplished my purpose as salutatorian by sticking to that motto. It may be that I have fulfilled my duties as the opening speaker of the evening, that now you are in a mood to listen to the others, and that at last you are fully convinced that we are the most brilliant and worthy class that this school has ever graduated. If I have done that I am satisfied. v.rith that hope in mind, I am pleased to turn you over to my classmates, each one of whom has a vital and valuable message to give you, a message for their vanity, your pleasure and the honor of our beloved school, ANTIOCH HIGH.