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

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THE LITERARY SOCIETIES Shortly after the school term opened, the High School decided to follow the plan of the preceding years, and have two literary societies. The students were divided as evenly as possible by the faculty, and took the names of Alpha and Philomath-ean. The officers were chosen at the first meeting, and programs were started at once. The purposes of the societies were many, but the thing they were chiefly striving for was to cultivate the talents in the students and to enable them to speak in public without unnecessary embarrassment. This plan was carried out very successfully during the year, each student appearing on the program several times. Each was given a chance to appear in many different ways such as readings, essays, vocal, and instrumental solos, extemporaneous speeches, debates and orations. This wide range of subjects made it convenient for all, as well as making the program more interesting. Another feature which made the programs of special educational benefit was devoting the entire program to some writer s works. This created more interest in the study of literature. In the preceding years at each program a critic was appointed for the day, from among the faculty. This year, Supt. Nie-dermeyer recognizing the value of the students’ criticisms, suggested that the critic be appointed from among the student body. This plan was followed out, and proved very successful, as well as taking a burden off the minds of the teachers. The closer relation between the upper and lower classmen was also sought for. Members of all classes were frequently required to be on the same program. Seeing those venerable seniors get up and stammer about, often gave the freshmen more courage to appear. On the whole the societies can be considered a great success and well worthy of the time put upon them. As much benefit was obtained from them as from any high school study. A great part of this success can be traced directly to the Faculty. They seemed to have an inexhaustible fund of new ideas for the programs. Kenneth Wilson ’14. THE PRELIMINARY. In the district preliminary oratorical contest held at Bement, the Atwood representatives won from Bement every event in which they entered. Bement took the piano solo as there was no contestant from Atwood in that event. To say that Bement had not expected such a sweeping victory, would put it mildly, for their demonstrative gyrations earlier in the evening plainly be-spake a confidence in their contestants who were supposed to take everything and leave Atwoad nothing. Then imagine their feelings when the disappointment meant for Atwood, came upon themselves. Mary Colyer who represented us in declamation with ’The Talking Woman by More Isabelle Fiske, won her event by a unanimous decision of the judges. Helen Davis with her essay on The Passing of the Indian” won with a two to one decision. The decision on Paul Fisher’s oration Expert service” was unanimous. All of Be-ments’ contestants in literary events were girls who are deserving of much credit for the excellent rendition of their parts. A small company of Atwood rooters went to Bement in automobiles and their joy knew no bounds when the decision was announced. Their enthusiasm lasted until they reached home where they awakened the sleeping village with vociferous yells announcing the news of the victory.

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 Philomathean Literary Society. Front Row (from left to right)—Flo Shonkwiler, Minnie Scheffer, Blanche Rodgers, Maud Weatherholt, Annie Laurie Suffern, Mabel Smothers, Roma Call. Back Row—Gertrude Long, Herschel Baker, William Offenstein. Joe Wyeth, Floyd Wildman t Joe Moore, John Biggs.

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HOW HE The tiresome day was coming to an end at last. It was four o’clock. The students of the Galesburg High School were being dismissed, and they were a merry bunch, I must say. The students had just received their reports. Laury Mandan glanced over his and smiled, put his books under his arm. and started to leave. In the hall he met his English teacher. Miss Warren, who stopped and asked him if he was pleased with his report. More than pleased he replied, “you have more than done me justice in English. “Oh no, she said, “I simply mean to give everybody a square deal. Laury passed on down the hall, and was soon on the street going home. The smile had faded from his face. “Why should she treat me this way? This thought was running through his mind. Ethel Gillard, “his steady had dropped him. He knew not why. Was there another or had he fallen short? That very evening she had sent him a note, which read as follows: Laury, your company for Thursday night is not needed. —Ethel. He was certainly in a dilemma. Upon reaching home, he went to his room and flung himself in a chair. He glanced at his desk and his eyes fell on her picture, “Ugh,’’ he grunted, “I have that much of her anyway, and it always did flatter her. He leaned back in his chair and picked up an evening paper which lay at his side. While glancing over the sporting column, he gave a start. The Annual Dual Track Meet of the high schools of Knox county was to be held the following Saturday, on the home athletic field. According to the reports in the paper, the Giliflf high school, their strongest competitor, had a man, Fleet by name, who had in practice run the half mile in two minutes and nine seconds. Now Laury was the half miler on the home team, and this record set by Fleet was just one second DID IT less than he had ever been able to make' Laury pushed the paper aside, ran out, jumped on his bicycle, and started for the athletic field. He had thought, that he would not practice that evening, because of his ill luck and poor spirits, but he knew that the more practice he got in, and the better his form, the greater the chance he would have of winning that half mile run. Upon arriving at the grounds he donned his track suit and put in a good evening’s practice. As he went home to supper after practice he thought that he had been a little more loyal to his school, for who knew that the winning of that half mile, might mean the winning of the meet. He practiced every evening after school the remainder of the week, and during this time he had lowered his own record two-fifths of a second, making it two minutes, nine and three-fifths seconds, but he thought that he was capable of giving that two -nine -man a tough run to say the least. The sun rose the next morning (Saturday) into a cloudless sky. Only a slight breeze was stirring. What a day for the meet! Laury Mandan rose at six o’clock, took a plunge, and ate his breakfast. The meet was scheduled to begin at two-thirty o’clock. Shortly after twelve, Laury, with one o f his fellow students, Billings, took a stroll down to the athletic field, to take a last glance before the meet. The competitors from the various high schools in the county were arriving. but only a few of the great number of spectators, who would be certain to witness the contest, had arrived as yet. Laury and Billings were strolling around, not paying much heed to the other fellows on the field, when Billings stopped suddenly. Something had attracted his attention. What was it? We were soon to find out. “See that bunch of fellows over there talking, Laury, he said. Those are the