Comstock High School - Corral Yearbook (Comstock, MI)

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 OWLETTE + ■i VALEDICTORY Elizabeth Hartman Tonight we are gathered together at the final meeting of the class of nineteen hundred and thirty-three. It is a meeting of joy and pride on the part of parents and friends; a meeting of joy and pride mingled with little pangs of sadness on our parts. These have been twelve happy, busy years and we are sorry to leave them behind. I wish to consider with you the continuance of learning. Suppose we took an average boy of fourteen, who had just finished the eighth grade, into the northern part of Canada, away from all means of communication. He is to stay with an old woodsman, who lives by hunting and trapping. In this section of the country he has only two choices, to learn and live or not to learn and perish. It is true there would not be much to learn, simply the duties necessary for life and the lessons learned from Mother Nature. Day by day the boy’s store of knowl- edge would increase for no one can live without learning. Many things are learned merely through unconscious observation. Inside of a year this average boy would have acquired suffi- cient ability to enable him to take care of himself in the wilds. Soon we, like the boy, will be forced to earn and provide for ourselves. As long as it is impossible to live and not learn we should use every opportunity to learn to advantage. Rather than just learning what we must to get along, why not acquire all possible knowledge. We are facing a situation such as no graduating class has ever faced. There has never been a time in the history of this country when we have been in greater need of intelligence and wisdom in our leaders. We are living in a rapidly changing world. During the past decade many changes, political, social, and economic, have occurred. The World War was fought to make the world safe for democracy and apparently it was made safe but today democracy is not in authority throughout the world. Mussolini of Italy has raised himself in the likeness of Napoleon and Hitler is fast climbing the same ladder. In many European countries democracy has given way to dictatorships. Even in England, its fortress, and in democratic France, democracy is standing trial today. Self-interested men instead of patriots, politicians instead of statesmen, jingoists instead of wise men are for the most part determin- ing the policies of our nation. Although there are many problems challenging America she still believes in the soundness of her institutions, the home, church, and schools. She still be- lieves in democracy. Among the greater problems facing us is World Peace. Peace confer- ences, disarmament conferences, have been held; an international Peace Pact was drafted and adopted; but in spite of all these actions for peace and in spite of the war to end war the fundamental causes of war remain with us. Greed, self-interest and hatred are still human faults. Nationalism, imperialism, and militarism are still powerful factors in world affairs. Italian Fascism, Russian Bolshevism, and German Naziism are outgrowths of the war and any one of these may at any time precipitate us into another conflict more terrible than the last. We are in need of wise leadership to save us from disaster and the nation is looking to youth in its need. And so we must prepare ourselves, so that our deeds as leaders will bring triumph to democracy. A year from now our class will be widely separated. Some will be carrying on, some will be employed, and others will be idle. Where will you be? What will you be doing? Fellow classmates, that is the question which confronts each of us tonight. The answer is up to each of us. It is my hope that each of you will go out tonight with the determination and resolution that your community will be a better place for your living there. But remember success is not to be measured by wealth alone. Work for happiness and success is certain. Remember that there is a God who watches over everyone and that at your meeting with him it is not whether you have won or lost that counts but the way you have played the game. The class of ’33 bids you farewell. We hope that when you hear of us in the future, your will hear that we have followed Where Honor Leads.” •f 1933 12

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•f OWLETTE + PHYLLIS WEDDON “ 'Tis quality—not quantity that counts” Debate (1) Operetta (1, 2, 3) Basketball (1) HELEN AMES “Her smiles are worth two-bits apiece for reason of their rareness” Comstock (1, 4 ) Galesburg (2, 3) Sailor Maids (4) MARY GRACE FORSTER Cheerful, dependable, athletic—interested in et’eryone and everything Operetta (1, 4) The Man in the Green Shirt (4) Tennis (2, 3, 4) Basketball (2, 3, 4) JOHN CARPENTER “Speech is great, silence is greater Vice.-Pres. Hi Y (3) ; Pres. Hi Y (4) Vice.-Pres. C. C Club (4) Football (3, 4) ; Basketball (3, 4) Baseball (3, 4) A Family Disturbance (3) The Man in the Green Shirt (4) LESTER HEATH “My memory is the thing forget with” Basketball (1, 2, 3. 4) Baseball (1. 2. 3) FLOYD ROWLAND “Why an ambition f I admire my present state” 1933 11

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 + OWLETTE + f 19 JUNIORS 34 I4rout Row—Irene Smith, Vera Ennis, Eleanor Jeffers, Lucille Anderson, Lillian Rice, Gladys Huizenga, Margaret Hughes, Virginia Willett, Harriet Botsford, Ruth VanMeter. Second Row-—Arba White, Chris Wenkc, Wayne Roe, Dorothy Anderson, Frances VanMeter, Doris Burke, Margaret Thomas, Effie DeHaan, Raymond House. Third Row—Robert Newell, Phillip Miller, Marvin Bushouse, Catherine Hunt, Grace Boven, Mary Vernay, Artie Gazdag. Toft Roto—Thomas Hall, Curtis Dunlap, Donald Hartman, Harley Cook, Arthur Newell. CLASS HISTORY One eventful September morn some three years ago, forty-four plucky moderns scorning the prosaic auto boarded forty-four very vivid green planes and hesitantly but valiantly took off for a difficult journey through high school. Their squadron leaders for the first year were: President, Don Hartman; Vice President, Phil Miller, and Secretary-Treasurer, Arba White. After the Freshmen reception the Frosh settled down to getting the hang of the school. We got it and were well represented in athletics and other school activities. When the next September brought the second lap of our tremendously hard and interesting journey, w? elected the following pilots: President, Bob Newell; Vice President, Phil Miller, and Secretary-Treasurer, Virginia Willett. By this time we were completely familiar with our surroundings and were especially well represented in debate and athletics. We entered upon the third lap of our flight happily and confidently with these pilots: President, Hattie Botsford; Vice President, Virginia Willett; Secretary, Frances VanMeter, and Treasurer, Effie DeHaan. We were represented on the Owl staff by Preston Patnoude, Tom Hall, and Arba White, and in debate by Harley Cook, Don Hartman, and Mary Vernay. We had twelve members on athletic teams. Our Junior play was very successful and as a result we’re looking forward to the Junior- Senior banquet which is to be held at Maple Hills Country Club on May 26. During our three years we have lost but five members. Nine students have joined us as we soar higher and higher above the petty difficulties that loomed so huge at first. 1933+ 13