Chester High School - Summit Yearbook (Chester, IL)

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Among our noted cooks were Sadie Gant, Estella Hecht, Estella Hamm, and Florence Adams. With such unusual array of talent, how can we help but become the leading class in high school? Watch our smoke next year. School opened with the characteristic rush. An early meeting was called, and coach Brown was selected as advisor, Daniel Colbert, President; Thies Lohrding. Vice-President, and Marie Gilster, Secretary and Treasurer. A few weeks after organization a weiner roast was decided upon. We set out in a large truck filled with hay, and despite the many jolts, and bumps, we reached Hogrefe’s bridge about seven After running around over the hills, a call was sent abroad to help yourself to the “grub”. When each one had eaten his share, a rollicking round of songs was started, accompanied by the bass of some frogs in a nearby stream. When our stock of songs ran out. jokes, riddles, and dances were presented. We returned to Chester about eleven o'clock, every one declaring. it had been the best time ever. About this time, coach Brown resigned the leadership, and Miss Schroeder was elected advisor. A call was issued by coach Brown for candidates for the Foot Ball squad. About eighteen appeared for practice, but were very willing to listen to instructions. Six Junior boys made the first eleven, and about three members of our class were substitutes. Thies Lohrding was declared ineligible by the State Association, and the team was without the service of their host player- Coxie hurt his foot, and could not play for a long time. The boys of our class who went through the entire playing season were, Vernon Granneman, Arthur Fricke, Fred Herschbach, Elbert Finley and Charles Smith. When the foot ball season had ended, a call was issued asking for men to be selected for the basket ball squad. After a few weeks of practice, Ray Cox. Heine Juergens. and Elbert Finley were chosen as Junior representatives. Finley shopped many threatening rallies, while Cox and Heine were piling up a lead for the Orange and Black. Heine was high point man. which made us Juniors feel very conceited. We again won the Inter-Class Tourney in basket ball, after a very hard fight with the Seniors. In the Inter-Class Track meet, we defeated our nearest opponents by twenty-five points. On the night of the Kendrich game, the Juniors were bubbling over with pep. We met the Kendrich players at the depot, and took them to the hotel, which had been decorated in their colors. After the game we took them to Steber's for a Chili “feed”. They spoke very highly of the royal reception given them, and promised to gives us two games next year. Among the members of our class there are Melba Harmon, a noted dancer. Ralph Gulley, sedatness itself. Melba Eggers, full of fun. Hazel Valleroy. belle of Claryville. Goldie Hogrefe. the country vamp, Edna Eilerman. our cliorous girl. Gertrude Stirnaman. a go getter. Viola Wegener, our violinist and Percy Hylton, the author of this sketch.

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THE CONSTITUTION ALIVE We are Americans. We are the greatest nation on earth. We live under the most liberal government and the most perfect and progressive Constitution. Yet how many Amerirans ever seriously . eflect on these facts? The only time most of us refer to the Constitution is during a period of agitation when some blue law experts is attempting to put through a measure, which we think will curtail our privileges. Then we make ourselves heard. They are taking away our Constitutional rights! Rome and Athens had their Constitutions; Nations through all age have had Constitutions. We have our Constitution; successful, because it keeps apace of the progressive tendency of humanity. They had their fundamental principles, failures, because they ignored the onward march of society. Thus the honor of formulating the world’s most perfect and most durable set or organic laws, is justly bestowed upon our aristocratic forefathers in their powdered wigs, knee breeches and silken hose. They receive the credit of creating the instrument that has served scores of nations as a model for their own governmental principles and has served us, the richest, most democratic and enlightened nation for one hundred and thirty-five years. The secret of success of American democracy and the key to the American governmental posterity lies in the magic tenets. Article 10 provides for the admission of new states and the addition of territory Article 5 stipulates the method'by which new amendments may be added. The Congress whenever two thirds of both houses deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution or upon application of two thirds of the several states legislatures, shall call a convention for proposing amendments which in either case shall be valid to all in all interests and purposes as part of this Constitution. This article shows clearly how the Constitution stands on the subject of change. Change! Everything changes. One hundred-fifty years ago. where were the great cities, throbbing with life and activity, where were the ocean liners, cutting the waves at thirty-five kno’s an hour, where were the luxurious motor cars, purring along the ribbons of transcontinental highways. Could Washington say “Bring around the Lincoln at 2:10. 1 must catch the 2:15 to Chicago”? No. Could Jefferson say. “There is a good picture at the Gem, call a taxi and we’ll be away”? These are only a few of the more apparent changes, but more subtle and powerful though less obvious alterations take place. Law and government have always been the straws to indicate the wind of public opinion; and a government not in accord with the general feeling will sooner or later fail. In Colonial days a feeling of abhorrence was expressed but the firm establishment of a government then uppermost in the people’s minds. A bloody civil war was necessary to up-root the curse of slavery to establish tue thirteenth, fourteen'h and ffiteenth amendments, which have held our un.on together and furthered our progress and civilization. The sixteenth amendment by providing for an income tax greatly increased the justice of our system of taxation. In keeping with the perpetual move of democracy, the seventeenth amendment provides for direct senatorial elections. The world is getting dry. but how slowly. Did not America anticipate this universal tendency? Woman suffrage! What picture that calls into one’s mind. Of woman’s struggle with man for an equal share in the determination of national destinies. In America she has more nearly won her victory than any where else, even in England she has not completely triumphed. We do not revere; we do not respect enough the magnificant instrument that has preserved us a nation, and pushed and guided us to the head of all nations.