Canton High School - Monthly Yearbook (Canton, OH)

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Class Poem Forty Years After I saw an old man quiet sit and think, I wondered what was passing through his brain, At times his wrinkled face would wreathe in smiles, Then quickly sober would it grow again. As curious I became, I wondered much, If I someway his thoughts discover could g And as I stood and meditated thus, A genius strangely beckoned from a wood. I followed him, and thus he spake to me: Your wish you have, if you but will it so, XVho wears this magic cap, men's thoughts can see, It take, and use, and readf' then, GOI I took the magic cap, then found the man,- His thoughts were plainly now revealed to meg And as I saw them on that afternoon just so I truly tell them now to thee. Yes, those were good old days in Canton High, I love to sit and think of them once more I wish that I could see all of the class That graduated there in days of yore. XYe surely had a fine old class in 'double-one,' No better's left the school before or after, And when I think of them and their lives since, Some things call forth a sigh, and others laughter. There's Ilinns who used to be our President, He was an entertainer, I declare! He used to get up walks and wagon-rides, And every thing you'd think of that was rare. He always had a bold and scrappy spirit, And always stood for what he thought was rightg I guess what made him such a lawyer, was The way he always hankered for a tight. And there was old .lack Price we loved so well, XYho always was coach Hazlett's right-hand man, In games, no matter what or where they were, He was as true a sport as ever ran. In business, too, he was a shining light, .Xnd ran the High School Monthly in fine style, .Xnd when it came to running class-boo-ks, well, He had all others beat at least a mile. There's XX'agener who was editor-in-chief Of that old classbook, nineteen double-one, I guess he's handed down his talents all, To the editor of this year's book, his son, But if his son gets out a better book Than his old daddy did, he'll have to Work, He'll have to toil away both day and night,- The smallest task he'll never dare to shirk. I believe Ruth Nusly helped to write that book,- Yet how she did it never has been shown, For she was such a wiry jumping-jack, For keeping quiet she was never known. She's grandmother for three weeks now, I hear, And, strange to say, the name by all preferred

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have forged ahead. It required labor to enlist the interest and support of the city and se- cure recognition from the public. Surely, this is a fine example of the right spirit dis- played by ,our own citizens. History teaches us that organized efforts attain results. How often, indeed, is it true that man is inclined to be selfish, to work for himself alone, when unselfishness is one of the greatest exponents of the right spirit. lYhen men unite for a cause and work with- out friction, their united efforts show rr greater tendency towards success than any individual efforts could produce. Every great social. mental, or spiritual movement has shown us this. The American Revolution, through the concentrated efforts of a few colonial leaders and the spirit displayed by our forefathers, cost the British a victory. XYe have to-day the best government among all nations and this has been brought about by the spirit of '76, our richest inheritance from our Revolutionary fathers. Party spirit, it is claimed, is largely responsible for many of our present national troubles. Still men should belong to some one party, should be aware of prevailing conditions, and strive to work for the harmony of that party. Party rule and principle, though a necessity at times, must on many occasions be laid aside for the higher principles of man. The future should be considered as well as the present. The thought that an office may be his reward often causes a man to forget what kind of a public servant he is supporting. The right spirit, however, would compel us to forget personal advancement and to take a broad view of political activities as they may affect future generations. The Church now comes in for a great deal of credit. It is the greatest of all modern institutions. It leads men aright through its teachings of honesty, justice, kindness, and helpfulness. llere in our own city it has been taking a big step toward the moral and spiritual improvement of many who have re- fused to answer its call. Through the re- alization of strength in organization, It has brought about a union of denominations that are preparing a great revival for next year, which will make a better and cleaner Canton. This is the right spirit in religion. We now come to a point where man must realize that although evil prevails in many quarters, the spirit of honesty, of justice- the right spirit-is far overshadowing it. For a while it may have seemed that the right spirit was idle and dormant, but now it is up and moving. Every existence has become an aim, and at the head of the mighty ranks of the nations the prevailing spirit moves. Imagination paints the picture for us, we have but to follow. lfVe see it looming ahead, a commanding figure, clothed in the whiteness of purity, at the top of the Mountain of Life. As we look it beckons us on and upwards. Men push forward, eagerly endeavoring to reach the summit, and though there are times when they lose sight of the figure, times when bowlders loom ahead or a turn in the path causes the travelers to change their course for a while, the spirit, however, still beckons, still asserts its irresistible influence. Now the path changes, abruptly it leads men down- ward and away from the crest: now the detour becomes puzzling, but the ranks have grown thicker and the army continues to go on. Now a cloud appears and enshrouds the fig- ure, but suddenly the sun drives away the mist and again the powerful influence of that commanding spirit is felt and man continues to advance. Thus it is, no matter what the object may be-dignifying citizenship, po- litical rule, or the church-the prevailing spirit is ever present to bring out the best there is in us-to beckon us on. HERBERT E. HUNIiER. English Orator

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By which her little grandson should be called, XYas one we often heard in school, Millard. HI wonder where old Harold Ellis is, I havent heard of him for many a year. No matter where he is, there's one thing sure, Of his success I needn't have a fear. He always was a hearty stalwart lad, lYith common sense for half a dozen men, Since that's the type of men who makes things SO, He's sure to be ahead of all of them: At least, we were oft' told by Mr. Shutt, That that's the type of man who does succeed, And all I've learned in my long life since then, Has proved to me that he was right, indeed. How well I do remember Mr. Shutt, XYho used to crack those jokes so old and stale 5 And how we used to falsely laugh at them, To keep on his good side so's not to fail. But yet he was master of his art, As English Prof. he never had a peer, At heart we always liked him honestly, Tho' his demerit slips we had to fear. In fact, when I that faculty consider, VVe really liked them every single one, And tho' sometimes we had disputes with them, XVe soon forgot them all when we were gone. Yet there was one dark spot I oft' recall, XYith truest reverence, sincere and deep, Ah me, that ours should be the class to lose Our dearest friend in death's long silem sleep! But ours was not the only class, by far, XYhich by that stroke of Fate did lose their friend, He was a friend to all, we missed him much, But gloried in his triumph at life's end. K'liVe learned to like the man who followed him, ' .Xltho' we didn't know him very long, We learned to know him well enough, indeed, To know that he would never do us wrong. And then the end of our high school life g- Distinctly I remember that last night, And how Ralph Jesse, our class orator, IYith eloquence did point us to the right! Then he who had the Valedictory Our parting made so very sad and sweet, The talk that Bobbie Hartman gave us, too, Like every thing of Bob's could not be beat. I recollect that I was poet then! yVhy, I knew more of pumpkins, wheat, and corn, Than I did of how to write in verse! For those were things I learned wherel was born. Yes, I'll always remember everyone, lfVho in that great commencement had a part, The picture of the girls in sailor suits Will ever stay with me a work of art. Yes, that old class of nineteen double-one XYill always stay with me a mem'ry sweet, I loved them all, and always will do so, And hope some day them yonder all to meet. The old man's form relaxed, he dropped his head g The magic cap had quickly lost its charmg I ran to him, alas, it was too late! The old man's spirit was beyond all harm. Cn.xRI,12s .XM12Nn'r.