Danville High School - Medley Yearbook (Danville, IL)

Page 8 text:

G P. RANDLE Superintendent of Schools Our Superintendent Reforms cluster about one man. How much we admire his energy and address! How much more we admire him; or rather, respect and affection are added to admiration, when his endeavors are prompted by high conception of duty and conscientious purpose! Improvements and reforms in the Danville Schools are the handiwork of Mr. Randle. He is the conscientious worker and he has our respect and affection. He came to us experienced and enthusiastic. What he has achieved surpasses our expectations, high as they were. He has a firm hold on our hearts. We feel when he talks to us that he has our interest absolutely at heart; we feel that lie is devoting his life to his work. Those who know him intimately realize this even more. We all will leave him with regret and pride: regret at parting from so noble and true a friend, pride in his work for us and for our community. And as the years, one by one, drop their ever deepening shadow over the past, let us think of him as he spoke to us in the assembly that morning. It is not for ourselves, we who are old and gray, it is not for ourselves that we wage this war. What does it matter to our white heads if there is a Kaiser? No, it is for you that the war is waged, that you may enjoy the opportunities we have enjoyed.” Page Four

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... FOREWORD .. . feel that some ol us have enjoyed many things, which have heeu denied to others. It is fer the common enjoyment that we record them here. We feel that the hurry ol events has deprived them ol the sweetness, which retrospection gives. That we may all enjoy the pleasure ol that backward glance, we record them here. CJ We have striven to give you a Medley which excells those ol past years and which will he a standard worthy ol emulation in the iuture. A general increase in the cost ol materials with no corresponding increase in the price ol the hook have conspired to make the task more dihicult than in lonner years. We submit our work fer your judgment. Page Three

Page 9 text:

Danville High School So you think I should be retired, do you? Well, these are swift-moving days! How would you like to come into being, be made over, be tinkered at, and repaired, and readjusted, and overshadowed, and annexed to, continually, and then be doomed to the scrap heap, all within thirty short trips around the sun? Pretty fast living, isn’t it? In June, thirty years ago, when some of our noted townspeople graduated with high-sounding orations in the opera house, there was no vestige of me,—unless a hope such as you express for my successor, could be called one. The lot where I stand was a tree-covered pasture adjoining the old Washington building, where the high school occupied the third story. The Seniors of that year, having little room inside, used to sit under the trees here, reviewing for their examinations. But soon afterwards workmen appeared, and my walls, extending along Seminary Street as at present, and along Pine and Gilbert Streets as far as Miss Hawkins’ room, Room 6, proudly rose to show Danville what a modern high school should be. But alas! Danville, and the high school bacillus, increased more rapidly than the imagination of my projectors had grasped, for in a few years I was found all too confining for my purpose. Again workmen came, though school was going on, and sawed and hammered, planed and plumbed, until I had attained my present ample proportions, as they thought. For a few years I sufficed, but surely a growing western city is hard to satisfy! For haven’t I been torn asunder year by year trying to keep pace with your demands? And make no mistake. While you of 1918 are insisting that I go, do not forget my years of loyal service and the many historic scenes I’ve helped to make. Great things have here been “thought of, resolved upon, and done,” and year by year I’ve housed and provided education for the flower of our youth who have gone their various ways with my image and my lessons imprinted on their hearts. They come and go, and come and go, a ceaseless tide like time’s, and it has been my privilege to be their rallying place for high resolves and earnest purposes. From my walls they go to all the paths of life, informed, invigorated, inspired to do their best. From time to time one comes again to tell us how he fares and how best to serve. Have you not heard words of ringing patriotism and loyalty to home, and town, and country, here this year? And have you not thrilled to see our cherished flag of service to human liberty that shows a star for each of us now fighting for the cause? That banner is but our color-bearer, for each of us at home is just as determined, just as earnest in doing loyal service where we stand. I say “our” for are not the Danville High School students mine as I am theirs, theirs to the uttermost, theirs to the last. So I hope you’ll not retire me without at least a kindly thought.