Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

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PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS It is my pleasant privilege to express in behalf of the class of 1918 something of the feeling that naturally arises at this period, when we are about to part from our school to do our portion of the great task which our country has set itself to accomplish. Our first thought is of gratitude to our instructors. Thanks and much more we owe to those who have so long labored to fit us for the work we will have to do. How keen should be our desire to become more like the ideals they have set before us! They have prepared the ground and planted the seed. Let us see that is grows well. As a class our goal is reached. The reward for which we have so earnestly been working is ours. In the short time past we have learned to love our school very dearly, but now, as we are about to leave it, we can see that that love is but the earnest of the love which we should and must bear to our nation, now in the throes of war. We have been striving for the welfare of our school. Now let us strive still more for the welfare of our country. To strive for justice should be the aim of every man, woman, girl or boy who lives within its boundaries. We justly take pride in the fact that we are graduates of Athens High School, but what greater pride should we have than that we are AMERICANS? A fortunate class we are to have finished the first step in our career in time to be of some assistance in helping Uncle Sam to effect the great change that is about to come in the world toward establishing the cause of democracy. As we go forth, probably each with a different duty to perform, let us do that duty with the earnestness, the eagerness and with the honesty that will ever bring honor to our school and reward to our country. WESLEY VANNOY, ’18. CLASS HISTORY First, and Second Years Entering the high school was a strange and new experience and we were all nervous and excited. There were fifty-seven in the class and no one knew what to do or where to go. We were certainly as green as freshmen are expected to be. The first year in high school our class was not organized, but we were allowed to have two class editors for The Athenian. Celestia Ovenshire and Raymond Williams were chosen. Our class seemed to have a strange influence over the teachers. Miss Roper, our English teacher, remained only a month. In Latin the fate of the teachers was even worse. First we had Miss Louise Cowell, then Miss Alice Stiles, and while we were waiting for another teacher, Edwin Campbell and Irvin Macafee acted as supply teachers. But the fates were more propitious and we finally succeeded in getting Miss Ikeler for English and Mrs. Page for Latin. When we became second-year students, there were forty-seven in the class. We were allowed to organize our class and Miss Ikeler became our class teacher. We elected as president, Marjorie Carner; vice president, Celestia Ovenshire; secretary, Isabella Catlin; treasurer, Wesley Vannoy; Class editors, Celestia Ovenshire and Paul Evans. During the year we gave a play entitled Pygmalion and Galatea before the high school. Also different students of the class appeared before the high school giving recitations and book reviews. We realized, however, that our real work would not begin until we entered our Junior year. Then we would begin to see the value of high school and would work with a greater purpose in mind. ANNA CATLIN, 18. Junior and Senior Years After two years of high school we became more a part of the school and immediately started to organize our class. The Junior Girls’ Walking Club was organized first. Mrs. Page was our class teacher and we took many enjoyable trips around the country, after which we had supper in the Domestic Science rooms. Nothing very exciting happened the first half of our year as Juniors. On the 15th of February we saw our dear school go up in smoke, but although the building was 10

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Truancy: (Meets Careless and Thoughtless): Oh, here comes Careless and Thoughtless. They can come with us! Won’t that be fine? (Turning, speaks to them). Oh say, fellows! I want to speak to you a moment. If you want to make a hit with Athenian, come to Round Top with us. Careless: What an idea! I was just thinking that I wasn’t prepared in a single thing today. Oh, Truancy! You always come to my rescue! (Start on, chatting). Athenian: What a blessing it is to have such a friend: I’m certainly enthu- siastic over the trip, even if my knees have to shake when I hand in that excuse. Careless: I’ve tried to do it. but of course, not being as clever as Truancy. I always had the misfortune to get caught. Then—Oh well, words couldn’t express it! Say, I tell you— Thoughtless: Well. Athenian. I think you must be quite fascinated over Round Top the way you take things in. Athenian: I certainly am, and this isn't the last time I’m going to visit here. It is a great deal easier to come here than be down there poring over textbooks. (Jumping up quickly). Say, boys, it must be four p. m. I’ll have to get home, as I have a date with Ideals and Punctuality at half-past four. Truancy: Oh! Is that so? Well, be careful you don’t give them any news. You know they’re some of the studious kind. Athenian: I understand. Good night, boys. Truancy: Farewell, my friends. (Exit all in opposite directions. Enter Hope and Ideals). Hope: There’s no sign of him yet. Are you certain that he said half-past four? Ideals: Yes, I’m certain. Well. Hope, he’s going to fail me this time. Hope: Ideals, you must be patient. He’ll be here soon—even now I hear someone approaching. I’ll see. (Exit. Enter Athenian with nervous steps). Ideals (With his back towards Athenian): Oh, Athenian, I had great confi- dence in you, but— Athenian (softly): Ideals! Ideals (Turning quickly): Is that you speaking. Athenian? What have you been doing and pray, where have you been today? Athenian: Yes, it is I, and I wasn’t feel-ing-ing— Oh. Ideals, I have no courage left—but look! Look where I am! I was enticed into the society of Truancy and “that other set’’ you told me about. Now I’ve made a failure of myself. Ideals, is there such a thing as another chance? Ideals: Yes. Courage my boy! There may be a chance to crawl back in safety. Hope (Entering): Tell me! Tell me! Athenian, have you lost your last oppor- tunity at Athens High? Ideals: He has lost the first fight, but he has conquered the inclination he had to join Frivolity and “her set’’—and that’s the greater victory. Hope: But isn’t Athenian going to try again? Athenian: Certainly, but where is Opportunity? (Exit Hope). Ideals: He will be here soon and this time when you try you’ll finish with honors, my boy! Opportunity: Athenian! Athenian: Oh. Opportunity, forgive me, but I thought you had such foolish ideas, it made me shudder to think of your friendship, but now! Oh. Opportunity! Guide me on the road to success. Opportunity: “An honest confession is good for the soul.’’ Come Athenian, with the help of Ideals I’ll guide you back to where Knowledge is always awaiting you at Dear Athens High. (Exit—Curtain). THE END. 9 HONORA COVENEY, ’18. LILLIAN GEROULD, 18.

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gone, the spirit back of that school was what counted, because we did not miss a day of school, but went to school in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, which were so kind as to open their doors to us. Our class presidents were Harold Weller and Elinor Curtiss; editors were Marjorie Carner and Leland Grenell. Our Senior year was an active one. We had two bake sales and then we decided we would give our Senior Fair. Each class was charged two dollars for a corner in the gymnasium and could sell what they desired. Different features of the fair made it a great success. The Seniors then decided to give the play, and The Taming of the Shrew was chosen. The next question to arise was what to do with our money. We thought of going to Washington but because of the conditions existing on account of the war, we thought it best not to go. and instead bought War Savings Stamps. Altogether our last two years in high school, as well as our first two years, were beneficial to us and now that we are through we sincerely regret to leave high school because of its many pleasant memories, but it only fitted us for our next step in life and in that we can say these years in high school have surely been worth while. KATHRYN LYNCH, ’18. |E3 STATISTICS 1914-1018 The class of 1918 entered Athens High School with fifty-seven members. At the beginning of the second year there were forty-three, two students having come in from other schools. The third year there were forty-five. Nine of these entered from the class of ’17 and one came from another school. Two students dropped back into the present Junior class. Three others who had left school came back to graduate with our class, but one of these joined the army and is now a soldier of Uncle Sam. In this, our last year, there are thirty out of the fifty-seven who will graduate. Four of these came from other schools. Ten are members of the high school choir. Eight girls and two boys are interested in athletics. The girls are all members of the High School Girls’ Auxiliary. MAXINE W. SALSMAN, ’18. 1 3 ta Should High School Roys Leave School Now to Enlist in the Army? Our country is giving its people the best satisfaction along the lines of education of any nation in the world. The graduates of our colleges and universities who formerly were compelled to go to some other country in order to complete their course in whatever line they were specializing are now able to get as thorough a training here as in any European university. Up to this time our country had produced some of the best mechanics and scientists that have ever been known in the history of the world, but because of their foreign education we have not always received the benefit of their wonderful genius. Now why should we, a self-made nation, allow our boys to leave high school, an institution which gives the young boy his only foundation for the development of his future? High school training not only helps the young man, but also makes him a great credit to his nation in every respect. One who has had this one great chance and has not accepted it might, in plain English, be called a traitor, for he has deceived his country and has lost a chance only once offered in a lifetime—a loss that will make him slow to respond to the demands of civilization. At the present time the Government does not ask the young men between the ages of sixteen and eighteen to enlist in its great national army for there are men who, far better physically as well as mentally equipped, are already enlisted in this great army. Boys should be far-sighted enough to see that by their enlistment there would be a great lack of technically trained men. Now, High School boys, picture to yourselves the near future, if this patriotic idea of yours were to be carried out. We, once a great nation, prosperous and honorable, might find ourselves crippled when peace is declared, by a dearth of engineers and physicians. Since our enlistment, boys, will not benefit ourselves nor our country, let us stay out of the army until the call comes for our class; then will be the time to show our patriotism. JOSEPH FRANCKE, ’18. 11