Enfield High School - Echo Yearbook (Enfield, CT)

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THE ENFIELD ECHO 13 operation, and Strength of Character. To carry on our journey successfully all of these characters had to be sought and brought to our aid to render their individual services. There were also characters more easy to become acquainted with, by some called Pleasure, Inattention, Failure, Idleness, who would lead one from the steep and rocky path of knowledge when one least expected them. Nevertheless, being in all nearly one hundred members strong we prepared to undertake the journey, having in our posses- sion the required badges of service secured from the numerous small castles through which our various members had traveled. On this morning we appeared before the gates and presented our badges, and were permitted to enter. The chief official of the castle whispered to us the password, “All goes if courage goes,” and we realized that to complete our journey of the castle we must be courageous. Before the entrance to the first room we met our guide, Mr. Bowman, with his assistants, Miss Storrs, Miss Barton, Miss Wright, Miss Mitchell, and Miss Turner. As we entered we were surprised to see that what lay before us was entirely new to us; the everyday world we had been living in was in the past forever. The small room into which we were ushered was lighted by a soft green light which seemed to sooth our excited spirits in search of the unknown, and we at once got down to work. When we entered this small, green room and left the outside world we could not entirely forget the great war in which our country was engaged. Therefore we strove eagerly to make our quota of War Savings Stamps and Liberty Bonds, purchased the highest of any in the other rooms of the castle, and there was great rejoicing when we received word that the war was over. When our rejoicings were brought under control by our guides we learned that one of our members had been taken from us. Although our class was so large that we did not as yet know every member intimately, the loss of our absent member was deeply felt by all. When intermission gave us a chance to rest and to talk over the wonderful experiences we had and the treasures which some had found in the small green room we were surprised to see how many beautiful emeralds had been collected. The intermission seemed very short, and we found that we were about to explore another room with a number of new guides. Mr. Bowman’s chief assistant was the new principal, Mr. Bryant, and Mr. Farrar was introduced as the instructor of the boys in athletics, and Miss Potter as the one who was to instruct us in the mysteries of the French language. This second room was larger than the first. We worked under red lights most of the time, for there were so many secluded pas- sageways, both on the main floor and in the balconies above that red guiding lights were needed at various points. We had indeed entered a dangerous room.

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XLhc Bnftelb JEcbo Published six times during the school year by the members of the Enfield Public High School. A Board of Directors chooses the staff of officers and decides all matters of vital importance to the paper. All material for publication passes through the hands of a Teachers’ Committee on publication. Contributions are earnestly solicited from all students and alumni of the school. Address all literary communications to the Editor; all other communications to the Business Manager. Subscriptions may be taken at any time; copies are mailed to all subscribers not attending the school. The price of subscription is eighty-five cents a year. Single numbers cost fifteen cents. Advertising rates are reasonable, and may be learned from the Business Manager. Entered as second-class matter February 21, 1917, at the Post Office at Thompson- ville, Conn., under the Act of March 3, 1879. VOL. X THOMPSONVILLE. CONN., JUNE 1922 NO. 6 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS By Howard W. Gourlie Parents and Friends: We welcome you. The children of yes- terday, the men and women of tomorrow, we have completed one stage of Life’s journey. The Class of ’22 is here tonight, about to begin the exercises which will sever its connection with its school. While such a time is well fitted for serious thought and reflec- tion, those moods are more appropriate to the solitude of one’s chamber. So let us cast dull care away, if just for tonight, when we raise the curtain of the past and push aside the veil of the future, for all the world to see. Four years of the intimacy of school life serve well to display a character to his schoolmates and tonight each is classified and labeled for your benefit. Bear with us, if any of them seem too ridiculous or too pitiable, for tonight relaxation has set in, and mirth holds sway. Individually and collectively, we extend to you our warmest welcome. CLASS HISTORY By Florence Brainard The class of 1922 began its journey through the “Castle of Knowledge” in Sept. 1918. Before we appeared at the entrance to this wonderful castle we heard many rumors of the great treasure stories hidden within the castle’s ivy-covered walls: treas- ure which would be the rich reward for those who diligently sought after it. Many of the treasures were said to be kept by mysterious characters, by some called Courage, Ambition, Perseverance, Co-

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14 THE ENFIELD ECHO At this time we held a class meeting and elected officers for the rest of our journey of exploration: president—Howard Gourlie, vice-president—Anna Willson, secretary—Alice Hamel, treasurer— Ernest Dewsbury. Many mysteries besides the French language were unfolded before our eyes by our guides, some being the stories of the ancient peoples of the earth, and even algebra, which to this day still remains a mystery to many of us. Miss Potter also initiated a number of us into dramatics, our first attempt at this being “Pina- fore.” Many found stones of dull colors and of rough shapes, which they thought of little value but which, when polished by the advice of our guides, were found to become brilliant red rubies. We also came upon an extraordinary find, a nugget of gold which we pol- ished and cut into a pin, having as the central figure a design of the lamp of knowledge. This model which we chose for our class pins and rings is to be the standard for all succeeding classes. The second intermission seemed even shorter than the first, and we waited anxiously for the guide to appear who would dis- close to us the hidden entrance to the third room. We were not kept waiting long for a door was suddenly opened before us re- vealing a large room, and our guide, Mr. Parkman, pressed the switches which flooded the many deep recesses of the great room with a blue light. The whole atmosphere of this room was one of reserve and dignity. In our journey through the castle so far we had become ac- quainted with many of the notable characters who kept the treas- ure. Some of them became our true and steadfast friends. Some of our number, however, spent too much time in the companion- ship of such characters as Pleasure and Failure and were lured from the path of knowledge. When assembled together preparatory to entering the third room we found that our total number had greatly decreased. By this time we were thoroughly acquainted with our fellow classmates and friendship had done much to help us by making us one great class working in unison. At this time we were called together by our president to choose our class colors. Red and white were decided upon and we displayed them by wearing arm bands and caps at the great athletic meet held soon afterwards. Our treasurer left us at this time to attend another castle, and we elected James Hayden to take his place. Many of our classmates found that some of the more reckless characters to be met with during our journey, of whom Pleasure was a great favorite, could be of great help to us if not depended upon to too great an extent. By gaining their confidence and guid- ance we were persuaded first into giving a Glee Club Concert, then to taking leading parts in “Captain Kidd Jr.” and finally to the great affair of the Junior Dance. So many important events took place about this time that we were forced to stop and rest. Our third