Chicago Christian High School - Violet and Maize Yearbook (Palos Heights, IL)

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QI IE CLASS PROPHECY OF THE GENERALS . It was in the Spring of I934 when I finally persuaded Mrs. Dearquest Cformerly Jennie Ballj to leave her husband for a few months and accompany me on a trip to Europe. She suggested that we sail to Africa and take a glimpse at the Sahara, then travel through Europe according to my plans. So, three weeks later, after a most delightful voyage, we landed at Morocco, where without much trouble, we found a suitable hotel. After resting a few hours, we hired a pair of camels and rode slowly along the desert plain. Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted by a jerk from my camel which set me very graciously upon the hot sand. Upon investigation, we found that the camel's ankle was sprained. The sun was setting, warning us to return, when suddenly a camel came into sight, to our great relief. Its rider, perceiving that we were in trouble, came to our aid. Fortunately, he was a veterinarian and soon enabled the animal to travel quite smoothly. It was now dusk, and as we returned to the hotel, our slow journey was made pleasant by the humor of our new friend. The fluency with which he spoke English surprised us. I also noticed something strangely familiar in his voice which prompted me to ask his name. To our great astonishment he replied, John Ter Maat . He was equally taken aback at the revelation of our identity. During the many chats in the days that followed, we learned that John had grown tired of city life and that he had come to the desert to enjoy peace and to increase his wisdom by the study of astronomy. Much as we would have liked to remain here a while with John as our host, a week was almost spent and we must travel on. Two days later, we found ourselves on a prettystreet in Paris. As we had decided to inquire for a good hotel instead of searching for one, I used my unpolished French to address a fashionable lady. She very kindly accompanied us to the hotel at which she was staying, informing us that her errand had been to study fashions and make purchases for her little shop in Detroit, while her sister took up foreign languages for these few weeks. They were to return the following week. As I gave my name at the registering ofhce, our companion gasped. Upon recovering her breath, she exclaimed, Why-I'm Etta Bultema . It was our turn to be amazed. An excited conversation ensued and before we realized it, six o'clock had come. Anna appeared at 6:15 and a most enjoyable Evening followed. Jennie and I altered our plans and decided to return home with the Bultema rsters . About a week after this, we boarded the Rotterdam. It was noon and as we entered the dining room, we received a passenger list. Almost instantly, Anna pointed excitedly to the first page where we read Captain Jack Van Bruggen . It can't be Jack-it must be another Van Bruggen, we argued. But just then, many of our fellow-passengers rose and bowed respectfully as a distinguished looking gentleman in uniform smilingly passed through the room. We all knew him to be the captain. It is Jack, remarked Jennie. In spite of our repeated efforts to visit Captain Van Bruggen, we reached New York before having the opportunity. We left the steamer, feeling quite sad, and after our luggage had been examined, we took a taxi to the Woodstock Hotel. As we were about to enter, a beautiful blue Nash drove up before the building. An aristocratic young man emerged and followed us into the hotel. We heard him addressed as Mr. Hamstra, and the familiarity of that name made us feel quite Hustered. Curiosity got the best of us and while registering, Etta asked if a Mr. Hamstra was an inmate of the hotel. The answer was, Mr. Bernard Hamstra owns this hotel. Our exclamations brought an amused smile to the clerk's lips and he promised to arrange an interview between the millionaire and our- selves. Thru the clerk, we were invited to Mr. Hamstra's residence the following afternoon. Accepting the invitation, we arrived quite early and were welcomed to the marvelous dwelling by Bernie himself. As it was a lovely day, we decided to spend a few hours outdoors. Then Bernie began his story-how Droste's Cocoa and Frow-Frow were the cause of his wealth-how he had remained unmarried and lived with his father and mother instead. When we discussed our absent classmates, Bernie told of a letter he had recently received from Henry Hoeksema, who had become president of the University of Chicago. This welcome news did not surprise us greatly, as we had always expected Henry to be one of the world's best men. We learned also that Henrietta Kramer had taught at the University of Chicago for three years and had now married a famous minister, pastor in Portland, Oregon. We soon left Mr. Hamstra to continue his luxurious life of good work, and left for our respective homes. When I arrived at Chicago, alone, I received a hearty welcome. I soon learned that the new C. C. H. S. building had been completed, and it was the pride of the city, perfect in every detail. How could it be otherwise when Mr. Ben De Boer had been its architect? The student body, consisting of 8oo, with a staff of forty teachers, were to occupy the new building within the next two weeks. They would then resume their work, free from the hindrances which formerly had retarded their progress. Aucs VAN HATTEM. 25 Q .. . E

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-:f-- -+2:c+-- -4 .I 5 HISTORY OF THE GENERAL SENIORS OF 1924 Our general class originally consisted of twenty-four members, namely: john Moll, Jacob De Boer, Martin Hoekstra, Ida Ostema, Henrietta Kramer, Henry Hoeksema, Andrew De Boer, Jacob Ter Maat, Herman Niefoif, Arie Doornbos, Dena Punt, Bartel Zandstra, Marie Torrenga, Henry Pluymert, Aldrich livenhuis, Herman Renkema, Lenus Belgrave, John Jellema, Robert Weidenaar, Martin Benncma, Crince Siegers, Ben De Boer, Kate Siegers, George Stob. The class of February was very small consisting of three members, Alice Van Hattem, Bernard Hamstra, and Jennie Ball, so it was combined with our class. Alice has already graduated in February. Our class spent its first year in the building on the corner of 72nd and Loomis Streets. During the second year, we moved to our present location and our class was increased by the enrollment of Anna and Etta Bultema. But by this time, our class was no longer as large as it had been, it gradually dwindled to a very small class and at the close of the third year the following were left, who hope to graduate in June: Jennie Ball, Anna Bultema, Etta Bultcma, Ben De Boer, Bernard Hamstra, Henry Hoeksema, Henrietta Kramer, John Ter Maat, and jacob Van Bruggen. Looking beyond June we see some of our fellow students entering college, some going into the great business world, and some entering the teachers' pro- fession. We hope that in whatever vocation we may find them, they will be true to their motto, Let Deeds Proven. ETTA BULTEMA, Class Historian. 24

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VIOLET AND MAIZE This combination of colors may suggest very little if anything to most of you here present, but to the student body of the Chicago Christian High School it has acquired an added meaning, a deeper implication than a mere association of colors. You probably think green should be included? Probably, but the only vision we graduates have of green is a very dim one, of Freshman reception night of 1920. You say red? We're progressive, but even if we were located in VVisconsin we would not include red. These colors, through the meaning which has attached itself to them, determine our attitude toward life which in a great measure is formed at this stage of our lives. There are great forces operating in this modern life toward which, though unconsciously, we form our attitudes. The American nation during the last few decades has made tremendous in- tellectual advances. Universities, colleges, and high schools are filled to capacity. Full courses of a highly specialized nature are offered everywhere. All knowledge and thought are being made sciences, are taught scientifically, and made practical use of in the same manner. Fire prevention courses, natural resource conservation, home economics, and many other courses are offered. Social and political sciences are stressed in universities today. All these evidences point to the intellectual advances of modern life. Sad to say, the moral advance- ment has failed to keep pace with the intellectual. A murderer may kill someone with a knife, While the surgeon aids in the saving of life and with divine help restores from apparent death to life. Both could handle the knife, but what strikingly different uses each one made of it. The intellectual faculties were brought to play in both these actions, yet the moral purpose of the latter was entirely lacking in the former. Again, what do we see about us every day? Wonderfully educated men, potentially the most useful men of the country, selling their prestige, sense of honor, and morals for a mess of pottage. It is not generally the uneducated man who most frequently transgresses the law, but the educated rogue who lacks moral stamina. Idealism in the business man has largely been replaced by an intense realism and utilitarianism. The status of present day morality is far below that of the intellectual life and the uneven advance of both causes the lawlessness and general discontent which is so prevalent today. Widespread wretchedness and wickedness have caused man to realize that only divine aid can bring him to normalcy. Men have turned to art to find some- thing which they haven't found as yet. Men work feverishly thinking that in toil they can find that mysterious something, they have traveled, have studied, have searched for ancient treasures, have done everything to find God. Toward these forces, intellectual advance, moral inertia, and seeking after God, the Chicago Christian High School graduate should have determined at- titudes. You simply must avail yourself of the opportunities offered you, what- ever line you are particularly interested in, and do not restrict your field. Most of the sciences are in their,infancy and only a systematic study will keep one abreast of the scientific times in this country. The political field offers oppor- tunities, in the community, in the city, in the nation. Enter into this field, it is your patriotic duty. Spend your leisure hours in the company of good books, keep your senses alert to see and hear things, get acquainted with the great men of all times. Today men demand that they be shown by example of conduct, and this does more good than incessant teaching and preaching. Prove the efficacy of sound morality in your own life and the exigency of clean, high living will force itself upon the minds of others. Politics today needs men of good sound morality. The voting populace de- spairs of the graft and crime which crop out in political deals as they are called. 26 Qi.. ..-.Q 2.3 QT. V