Atwood Hammond High School - Post Yearbook (Atwood, IL)

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class, to reply to the presentation of the ladder, which he did with great credit. During the third, year two more members of the class dropped out. In April, 1907, a concert was given for the purpose of paying off the piano debt. Our class assisted in the preparations for the concert, and felt amply rewarded. when we found that the door receipts were sufficient to pay the indebtedness. On Monday evening, April 15, our junior class gave a farewell reception to the seniors of 1907. Three of those members now remain in the class. Of these Lora Biggs was chosen to represent the Atwood High School in the preliminary oratorical contest held in Bement, April 17, 1908. Here her essay obtained five hundred and twenty-eight points against the five V A I, K D BY LOKJ The time has now come when the class of nineteen hundred eight must gather up her books, and depart from the sheltering roof of the old school building. For tour long years (perhaps we should not say long' years for looking back over them time seems to have down) have we met within these walls, and shared alike each other’s joys and sorrows. Here indestructible friendships were formed, and though several members of the class have left us we still have an affection for them—an affection which we are unable hundred and thirty-one, the essay in whose favor the judges decided. Lora is a native of Atwood. At the age of seven she started to school. After a few years study her teachers noticed a decided preference tor the study of literature, and in the last few j ears, her literary talent has been developed to a remarkable degree. The third senior, Myrtle McClain was born in Josephine, Kentucky, and has been with Hie present class since the second grade, when she began to attend the Atwood school. I suppose many of the little incidents I have given, will be of small interest to those outside of our high school, but we will recall them with pleasure. The records of the class of 1908 will hereafter no longer fill the pages of the Atwood High School’s annals, but will be entered in the chronicles of higher institutions. C T O R Y BIGGS to describe but which will continue through the coming years and be recalled in old age. We indeed realize that our graduation is the first great event of our lives. We are to depart from our home, the high school, and go into the world where things are new and strange; decisions must be made in which no one can help us; our future careers are to be settled. Our ways will divide, but whatever bent we follow we are determined to put forth our best efforts. Our hope is that we may ever be useful to those

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CLASS HIS T O R Y 1JY MYRTLE McCLAIN The American race lias its historians, its artists and its prophets. Every class that graduates from the Atwood High School, and especially is this true of the class of 1908,— has its own wonderful class history. So wonderful, indeed, that as I look back upon the records of our own class, I am overwhelmed with the magnitude of our accomplishments. But our class annals will soon come to an end. From now on, it will be known as prophecy, which will in time become history, for “history is prophecy fulfilled.” So as a historian, I will endeavor to give you, briefly, the events that go to make up the story of the class of 1908. On the first Monday morning in September, 1904, eleven pupils entered the high school. I will mention, but will not attempt to describe, how frightened they were, how much they stood in awe of their teacher, Mr. Thrasher, how with trembling hands, and fluttering hearts, they arose, in the presence of that august body of high school pupils and endeavored with stammering tongues to recite their first lesson. This was only the beginning of their course in the Atwood High School. The class had seemingly, entered another world, and, although it was strange at first, they soon became accustomed to their surroundings. They began to realize that work must be done f any good was to be accomplished; so with a will to work and to win,—which was a characteristic of the class, they took up their studies with this one aim in view. When the class of ten, from the eighth grade entered the high school, Ethel Sutton, from Huinbolt joined us, making eleven pupils in all. Hitherto, the course, had consisted of three years only, but in 1904 another year was added. The board of education asked Prof. Hollister, the High School inspector from the University of Illinois to visit our school; and we received a few credits, which tended to put us in the rauk with others. At the end of the first year for various reasons five members of the class dropped out, leaving onlv six to take up the second year’s work. It was in the second year tbatour president, Leslie Lewis, went to Mont ice Ho with some other boys from our high school. Here by Leslie’s help they obtained third place in the athletic contest; for many of the points were won by him. Our president, Leslie Lewis, was born near Atwood, Illinois, in the nineteenth century. At an early age he began school, and before he joined us he had attended about fifteen different country schools. It was at the mature age of eleven that he became identified with the class of 1908. In 1907 he was chosen by the

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about us. Dear high school, we intend to do you credit for you have inspired us with higher aims, and given us a desire to gain more knowledge; dismiss us with your blessing. Schoolmates, since we are about to leave you let us reveal our secret. Though we have often shown our authority, as was our right because we were your “superiors,” we always had a warm spot in our hearts for you. Freshmen, Soph mores, Juniors, always remember that the days we have spent together will never be forgotten. It is hard to part from you aud we are sad when we realize that these happy days are now ended. Long shall we remember the timid Freshies, the laugh ing Sophmore girls, and the quiet dignified Juniors. We wish to think of you just as you are, and not for worlds would we have you changed. In our parting word let us offer our best wishes for your future success. The honors due to you, teachers, are very important. We sincerely thank you for the kindness aud patience with which you have daily led us along the rough and rugged road to knowledge. No doubt you wTere often justly annoyed when we frequently found things very laughable or unintentionally did little things that provoked you. It is not necessary to explain why a pupil does things he knows he should not do or how funny he finds the things which happen in school;'for you have had the same experience in your own school days. For this reason, dear teachers, we beg you to forget our misdeeds and think of us only with kindness. We now leave your protection but as we go out into the world without you your efforts will not be lost; for your influence is stamped upon our lives and with pleasure we will recall your teachings. Members of the school board, our last address is to you. We have not left it to the last because it was the least important, but because we owe you so much that it is hard to express ourselves as we desire. You know what we would say; first of all that we are glad of your personal interest in us; how we appreciate the efforts you put forth which have placed our school on an equal standing with other high schools in the state; and lastly that we thank you for getting the apparatus which has more completely fitted up our labatory and make our studies more successful. You have tried to make our high school life as interesting and pleasant as possible, may you be rewarded for these efforts by our future success. Dearest schoolmates, teachers and members of the board of education, in the name of the class of nineteen hundred eight I now bid you all—farewell.