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Page 22 text:
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history Class of 19 U OUR school days, like a voyage, must come to an end and as we have now reached the end of our High School career we may pause, and, turning back the leaves of the “log” review the various events which have transpired. In our course there have been many periods, some calmly serene, some tempestuous, but our pilot, always with the aid of a faculty adviser,” has steered us clear of all the rocks and shoals which might have proved disastrous to our frail bark. It seems to us a long time, but it is only four years since we started on our voyage. We began with a fleet of ships. Each ship had the same port in view but there was no general commander. The first point which each had to pass was the point farthest south from the common destination. It was that of “Freshman Year.” In this first year of our voyage we all learned that to be on a ship of the “High School Fleet” one must become unnaturally dignified, one must acquire an air of wisdom, and an expression indicative of learn ing must repose on one’s countenance. One must learn to act of his own accord and remember that “we are young men and women as we were so often told by our officers. These experiences were gathered by all. They were perhaps dearly bought, but were treasured as valuable because collected in foreign lands. After this point was passed, the course seemed clear to our still inexperienced eyes. We thought ourselves “jolly tars,” who might now, to a certain degree, lessen the vigilance and the care formerly so necssary. Why, we had been at sea a year, and surely then one is no longer a mere landsman! During cur second year’s voyage, we delighted in looking down on and tormenting those who after a year’s delay followed cur example and embarked on unknown seas. We called them “Freshmen.” They were so delightfully refreshing ” But not much of this was allowed. The discipline at sea is very strict. As we neared the second point in our voyage, we found that to pass this we had to go through a very narrow strait. Upon observation we saw that our whole fleet was there to pass this point and then a calamity happened. The strait was commanded over by a very powerful landsman, and he would allow but one ship to pass. The powerful landsman must have been a seafaring man in his time, for his ways were most pirate-like. Just because the ships of our fleet suited his purpose he confiscated them. Some of our sailors were made “to walk the plank,” and others were kept to man the ships which had been seized. Our captains then held a conference and decided that another ship must be procured and all hands should sail further, on this. They bargained for one of the ships owned by the pirate-like landsman, and then rechristened it, calling it “Commerce. Then we continued cn our voyage and as we triumphantly and unitedly sailed through the narrow pass we, looking back, found it labeled “Sophomore Year.” A calm now set in and for three months we lay idle, but we were again 2n
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upon a wide ocean and when the wind came up we started onward. Though we had been only partly victorious we were in high spirits, and it was then we conceived the idea of having a celebration upon our united condition. We “danced in jig time, and had quite a big time,” not realizing and little caring that only a few boards separated us from the merciless sea. We called this event the “Junior Informal. We were experienced sailors by this time and did not get so visibly excited, though we did feel overjoyed, when the third point in our adventures was reached. We had much leeway here, and sailed lazily past. A few of our sailors asked to be set ashore, as they thought the land looked promising. They wanted a vacation and didn’t care to keep up the hard work to which our captain held us. This the third point was called “Junior Year Now we were on our last stretch, for it was decided that our voyage should be brought to a conclusion at the end of the fourth year. Our crew was now composed of “well-salted” sailors. All did their duty and for reward the captain allowed us many festivities. In this last year the waves were high and the storms were frequent. There was one particularly stormy time when we tried to decide whether we should have our Informal partly in the afternoon or wholly in the evening. Our sails had to be continually hauled down, (a)mended, remended, and again put in place, but the mast stood firm, notwithstanding that the sails were changed. We came in sight of port in the fifth month of the new year. With our spyglasses we could discern the highest buildings of the town. From these were seen white, parchment-like banners, coveted emblems—waving in the breeze and trying their best to float out to us. Their greeting was encouraging, and as we tacked back and forth in the wide harbor, there arose from our weather-beaten ship a hearty yell, “Rah, Rah, Rah, Commerce 1911.” CLARA PFISTER. Commerce 5?igf) Did you ever visit Commerce High? A mighty place of learning. When you find its value, by and by, For entrance you’ll be yearning. Our typists are the very best. The country can produce. And it may easily be guessed They’ll be of some good use. In rhetoric we’re mighty fine, With speeches and oration. In fact we're good in every line. That helps to build a nation. GALE RAYBON, 21 1912.
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