Davenport College - Galax Yearbook (Lenoir, NC)

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of shid3ang curiosities. I knew at once that it was Margaret JJewell ' s But 1 had to excuse the had writing, because she had just recently bought a pair of nose glasses, and, of course, she couldn ' t help it. But if I couldn ' t read the writing, I could at least read between the lines. I saw there that Margaret had never regretted tliat she came to Davenport three years ago, even if she had never had a greater pleasure than that gained from springing all kinds of questions on the teachers, on all classes, and at the most unex- pected places. Her chief delight in her Senior work seemed to have been to debate psychological and ethical questions with the class, and even with Dr. Weaver. She failed to say how she always came out. The writer who followed JIargarot was Esther Brown. Of couise we always listen willingly to those who have had wide experi- ence — at least who have had time for it. Here is what she says : Do not think I am vain when I tell you that when I came to Davenport in 1904, everybody thought I was one of the faculty. I hesitated about telling them all Ijetter, because I really enjoyed it; but at last I had to give it up and take upon me the appearance — as much as I could — of a simple schoolgirl. After I once became used to it, it was all very easy; and this year I have had to associate with Ethel almost constantly in order to keep before my mind the fact that I belonged to an important part of Davenport — the Senior Class — else I might have given the impression to those not well acquainted with me that I was a Freshman. Of course Ethel followed Esther. This is what she said : You may judge how I started out with my work in my Sophomore year from the fact that the first day I came to school Miss Parker thought I was a visitor. I kept pulling, however; and by the time I was a Senior, I had enough energy to pull against the whole class and at last have my way. How I rejoiced when the class decided to get pins instead of rings 1 I don ' t know of anrthing else that I remember with more pleasure. When I came to the next, I was not greatly surprised to see that, instead of Helen Shell ' s clear, steady handwriting, the letters were all twisted and turned in every direction. I knew she had not fully recovered from the terrible shock she had received upon the announcement that the class would get pins. She and Ethel had gone through a long struggle. No wonder her writing was uot plain. Here, however, is what I managed to make out of it : If you want to know when I started to school at Davenport, you will have to search the old registers for not more than ten years back. I don ' t believe I could call up the date for you without a great deal of trouble. I have been studying here longer than most of the other members of the class, but I can assure you that I have never spent a more pleasant year than this last one. Why, when I think of all those formulas in Trigonometry and all that Horace and scanning in Virgil, I think — well, I wonder if there will ever be another one like it. I can just see Stella Owenby coming in, as if she intended to go all the way in one day, and bouncing up to the desk. There,

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History of Senior Class » S IT would not do for me to tnist my o m memory in calling up the wonderful events which constitute the history of the Class of 1906, I decided to give the experience of each girl as I found it recorded in a notebook left open on ray desk for that purpose. The first one was our President. At home lier name is Clyde Thomas, but here it is Coz. This is what she wrote: When I first came to Davenport, my one great amliition was to Ijccome an English teacher. I cast my lot with the Sophomores, among whom there were only five or six of our present class, and went to work thinking ' original thoughts ' and writing descriptions of ' my ideal sweetheart. ' I was working hard and advancing rapidly until one day when our English teacher gave the Sophomore papers to the Juniors and asked them to correct them. I won ' t burden you with an account of that gloomy time. T shall simply say that since then I have turned my attention to Latin — and ' Hun. ' I am galloping along at full speed and leaving all the oth- ers — except ' Hun. ' — out of sight. I could call up many interesting tilings that have happened here, but I must leave space on this page for ' Hun. ' Of course Hun. (her company name is Helen Allison) came next. There could be no room for any one else to come between. Her story runneth thus : I haven ' t room to write much ; but if you know the la.st two years of Clyde ' s experience here, you know- mine. I came to Davenport last year and entered the Junior Class, determined to get as much out of it as I could. I got ' Coz., ' and I am very well satisfied. I don ' t think I could manage any more very easily. Next came Annie Nolley, the youngest of the class. She says: There are a great many things that have happened since I entered Davenport as a Sophomore that I might record ; but I think the most important is my learning during the first two years that ' there is always room at the front, ' especially in the study hall. I owe Miss Parker many thanks for teaching me. I even advanced so far to the front one day as to take her place. On the next page there was some writing that looked very interesting- — I mean it would have been interesting to one who is fond 21

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after she puts down two or three ledgers and some other articles, she goes to work in her usual businesslike manner, and this is the result : I came to Davenport in 1903, and entered a class then known as the jealous enemy of the Juniors and the greatly-to-be- feared superior (in its own estimation) of the Freshmen, but now recognized as the friend of all classes, conditions, and sizes of girls who will render homage to it. We certainly thought when we were Juniors that we should deserve all the Senior honors or privileges that might be bestowed upon us, especially after that reception we gave the graduating class last year. Although there was no noticeable increase in our pompadours, yet we thought we had done something truly wonderful for so young a class. But that has all faded away into insignificance since we have found this year how much greater things we can do — how many e.xamina- tions we can stand and what good essays we can write on psychological subjects. Do you see how loyal Stella is to the class? She counts its history liers, and does not give an account of her individual experience. But you may know that she has taken an active part, especially in examinations. The next one was Dora Tuttle, who goes home every Saturday — whether to see mamma and papa or to get fresh inspiration for the new week, we do not know. She says: I have followed this class from Freshman to Senior, and I must say that the most delight- ful and pleasing events have been the class socials, which have always happened on Saturday night. The others have given such glowing accounts of them that I feel that I have not missed much — I mean that 1 have received the benefit from them through the rest of the class. Dora was foHowed by Henrietta Montgomery, the demure and dignified. She had to come from her home in town, and was a little late. Being naturally silent, and also out of breath from walking up the hill so hurriedly, she did not write much. She says : During all the time I have spent in school at Davenport I have found only one thing that I like better than studying, and that is sitting in the study hall during all those long periods in which I have no classes. So as 1 finished two or three of my Senior studies when I was a Junior, I have found this year very pleasant. Thus rnijs the history ' of our class as it now stands, but it must not close without a word in regard to another member of this year ' s class. On account of illness, Lucy Kankin had to return home and leave her studies. She was a good student, and was doing excellent work. Whatever may have been our record made here, or however little we may have done, we shall all go away with hearts full of love for Davenport and storing up tender memories of the many happy, busy days spent on this old college hill. It has been here that we have received the inspiration and training that will help us in the years to come. Edna Lee Holsolaw. 23