Axton High School - Axtonian Yearbook (Axton, VA)

Page 39 text:

“Libby,” and youll be chief artist at Macy’s on Fifth Avenue. My, here’s Clifford Stone, our class giant! He’s kind hearted, generous, sympa- thetic and magnetic. He’ll probably be head of the Farmers’ Organization of Henry County and promoter of a new kind of hay which cuts itself and crawls to the barn. Doris McGuire is very methodical. She keeps her own secrets and her friends’ secrets, so she’s especially fitted for the position of checking clerk at Du Font’s new nylon plant. Well, it looks as if I’m next. My sign says “surprise” and that suits me. FRANCES E. HAWLEY. a GOOD-BYE (Music: “Good-Bye, My Lover, Good-Bye”) The time is passing fast away Good-bye, my classmates, good-bye. We may not meet for many a day. Good-bye, my classmates, good-bye. My thoughts will often be of you, Good-bye, my classmates, good-bye. To Axton High, you must be true. Good-bye, my classmate ' , good-bye. We’re leaving here to see the world. Good-bye, Alma Mater, good-bye. Our banner of learning is unfurled, Good-bye, Alma Mater, good-bye. We’ll think of you each passing day. Good-bye, our friends, good-bye. Before we go we want to say, Good-bye, everybody, good-bye. —ELIZABETH WAGNER. - o- AXTON HIGH SCHOOL LOYALTY SONG Music: “Maryland, My Maryland” We raise our voices in song to thee, Axton High, cur Axton High- In praise of vou we all agree, Axton High, our Axton High! Amid the shrubs thy halls are set. Wherein we pcnder hard, and yet The best of everything we get. At Axton High, our Axton High! The years will come; the years will go. At Axton High, our Axton High! But this will e’er be true we know At Axtoh High, dear Axton High! ’Neath shii .tng sun and heavens blue. Where’er we are, whate’er we do. We’ll still be thinking oft of you Axton High, dear Axton High!

Page 38 text:

PROPHECY— WHAT THE STARS REVEAL By the stars! What have we here? It seems the starry skies have for Axton seniors a bright future. Let’s see now who comes first. Why I do believe it’s Louis Cole, the class joker. He’s a Libra child and bets on “signs.” I’m afraid he’s not as e)|7ergetic and ambitious as the sign could wish, but maybe he’s generous and in- spired enough to be a farmer in the Axton Route 3 Community. Now, here’s Mildred Holland, our Gemini child, of an undecided nature. Your sign says you’re executive with your hands, so maybe you’ll be secretary to the Com- monwealth Attorney of Henry County some day. Marie Slaydon has great possibilities. Her chief job is to learn to know opportunity and improve it. Something in the stars tells me Marie will be entertaining us over the radio some day with her jokes, probably WMVA. Here’s Osborne Grant. Let’s see what the future holds for him. It seems that Osborne has a strong will and is a good conversationalist. He seems mild and gentle enough in class, but maybe we just haven’t gotten his dander up. As I see, some day Grant will be General Grant and bark orders to those stiff lieutenants. Next is Nellie Minter. Nellie is endowed with great possibilities which may take her to supreme heights of usefulness. Aquarius people, Nellie, are honest and kind hearted, but please don’t use all your talents as someone’s cook. It seems thafc. Wash Earles was born under the right sign, for his persistent will, determination, in+Kt tion, and purpose have come out. He is an ardent home lover and will doubtless make a grand farmer on the largest farm in the Axton community. He’ll also probably start cultivation of the skinless potato to keep from peeling them for his wife. Next is our class president, Helen Wright. Capricornus people are deep ' thinkers and natural orators. Helen is a fine entertainer and story teller, and we hope she’ll entertain her student nurses when she is an instructor at Annapolis. Melvin Winn is the child creative genius. He originates and carries to con- clusions. Just ask anyone! We know he’ll make a fine mechanic and maybe invent the floating bicycle without knee-action. Lisabetty Jones is our Aries child. She is determined and accomplishes what she resolves to do against all opposition. She is a good scholar, bright, genial, witty and talkative. We know Lisabet will advance to librarian in the Congressional Library and write a book, THE JONES SYSTEM OF CATALOGING LIBRARIES. Here’s J. P. Wade whose sign says he’s one of the strongest and weakest people in the world. He’s easily led by the nose! Wade has great possibilities, so maybe he’ll succeed Admiral Nimitz in the Pacific — if hot air doesn’t sink him. Virginia Jones is our Virgo child. She is very orderly, methodical, and neat, asl everyone can see. She is an extremely capable person, so maybe her life will go into artistic lines — artistic cooking. Elizabeth Rumley’s sign is very optimistic. Persons born under this sign possess a high degree of personality, are brilliant, talkative, and great readers. When Elizabeth finishes her secretarial course, she will probably hold a position as secretary td Admiral Nimitz’s successor. John Harris has the ability to convince people. This quality makes his ambition, as optometrist very fitting. When the war is over, we’ll probably read of Doctor John Harris fitting glasses for the King and ' Queen of England on a week-end trip. Ehzabeth Wagner is our artist. Her sign says, “unusual strength in mental dir- ections and, though not always physically robust, they have a wiry, tenacious nature which meets all emergencies.” They have a determination to win. So keep going.

Page 40 text:

DEMOCRACY; A LIVING FLAME We, the senior class of 1944, salute you. Here we are at last graduates. Our dream of four long years has been realized and the time of our departure from Axton High School is at hand. This will truly be commencement for all of us because tomorrow we enter another world. We enter a world of war — sufiering, d5dng and glory. Upon our young shoulders more than ever will fall the task of winning this, war and establishing a better world in which all nations are free and independent. We will play the most important part in this because these are the principles upon which our nation was founded. In the history of no other country has democracy played a more brilliant part. May I review for you a portion of this history: The United States was settled by people of not one but many nations, people who sought refuge from tyrannical rule, people who sought freedom. They found this freedom in America. When, after a short time, their rights were challenged, they fought; and because they were fighting for a just cause, they won. The Revolution marked the end of all tyrannical rule in America. Democracy prevailed. In the years that followed, America grew and prospered. The United States became renowned among the nations of the world. We stood out as a nation whose government was different from that of others. We grew to be a powerful nation whose rights were respected. Europe was constantly thrown into a tumult of war and conflict, but on this side of the world, everything was peaceful. Manufacturing developed and) with it both interstate and foreign commerce. Our products were sold all over the world and the profits reaped were ‘great. Then in 1914 clouds darkened the peaceful horizon. In Europe a dictator arose, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. His aim was to rule the world and he presumably set out to do so. At first we paid no attention to this. It was merely another war in Europe, we thought; but this time we were wrong. England and France, the principal nations fighting against Germany, were good markets for our products. Germany, realizing this aid, began to sink our vessels bound for English and French ports. No chance was given for the crews of these ships to be saved; all were lost! America awakened and, realizing her menace, gave Germany warning that our neutrality and rights must be respected, that no more American lives must be taken. This warning went unheeded. The ruthless and inhuman treatment went on. We knew then that there was no alternative. We must fight to keep the flame of democracy, glowing! In his war message to Congress, April 2, 1917, President Wilson spoke these words to be echoed by millions cf American citizens, “The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty ' . . . . We shall fight for the things nearest our hearts — for democracy, for the rights of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own government, and for the rights and liberties of small nations ” With Wilson’s words ringing in its ears, the nation went to war. Armies were raised; munitions manufactured; and soon American doughboys went overseas to fight. During the hard bitter campaigns that followed they did not falter, though many lost their lives. In less than two years Germany was defeated and peace was signed. Democracy had been preserved! After the war the United States resumed its old mode of luxurious living. Dis- armament followed, but peace reigned only for a short time. On the calm eastern horizon a dark spectre of absolute government appeared. Once more, after so much had been sacrificed to make the world safe for democracy, the forces of aggression began to arise. Japan, who had been trying to extend her territory for some time, occupied Manchuria. That was in 1931 and the fire that was kindled on the shores cf Asia was lighted anew in the beer halls of Munich, where an Austrian paper hanger abandoned his name of Shickelgruber and became known as Adolph Hitler, the leader of the blood-thirsty Nazis. In 1933 Hitler and his Third Reich overthrew the German Republic and established themselves as rulers. The flame of aggression and total war burned brighter. Benito Mussolini in Italy tried to extend his power by the conquest of Ethiopia and Albania. All this time the rest of the world was asleep. The United States failed to notice the dark shadow over Europe and Asia that was soon to cast its gloom over us. Events moved rapidly. In 1938 Hitler started his march by taking Austria and soon six more helpless countries had fallen. Japan, Italy, and Germany banded themselves together and became known as the Axis Powers. Finally, in the spring of 1939, Great Britian and France awoke and realizing the seriousness of the