Enfield High School - Echo Yearbook (Enfield, CT)

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The Enfield Echo 23 you will have to reform your ways or you will run into a great deal of trouble. You must conduct yourselves like the nice little Sopho- mores that you will soon be. Next year’s Juniors and Seniors, you now see what a trouble- some Sophomore class you will have to handle and I greatly fear that you will need training for this task; therefore, if you find your- selves hard pressed, call upon us and we will be glad to advise you in handling the situation. Another thing you future Juniors and Seniors will have to attend to is your marks. These have shown a decided fall since the adoption of the two session plan. We Seniors naturally expected this because we knew it would take quite awhile for your undevel- oped brains to adjust themselves, but now that you have had a year’s experience in which to make progress in your marks, they should improve. But remember, you will have to do some hard studying to even approach those of the class of ’33, your highly intelligent predecessors. Now a little advice for all you undergraduates: The only re- quirement necessary in order to maintain the highest standards of wisdom, culture, and refinement is to follow the examples which have been set before you by this year’s graduating class. I believe if you children govern your tendency toward childishness and play- fulness you can hope to approach, at least to a certain extent, our high standards. Furthermore, in sincerity, I wish to say that we, the class of 1933, have enjoyed our four years in Enfield High and thank you undergraduates for your support and cooperation with us. We wish you the best of success in your future work. RESPONSE FOR UNDERGRADUATES (By Allyn Gourlie, ’34) Honorable teachers, fellow undergraduates, and most conceited Seniors: It is with the utmost pleasure that I stand before you this evening in order to console you in your leavetaking as well as to defend the undergraduates from some of the most unjust and absurd remarks and accusations which have ever passed from the mouth of man. In the few words which I am going to say tonight, I shall endeavor to lift you from the depths of boredom into which you must have been thrown by the speech previous to mine. No doubt you will agree with me that it was one of the most boring speeches ever to be given from this memorable platform.

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22 The Enfield Echo ADVICE TO UNDERGRADUATES (By Henry Osborn) Now that the time has come for the class of 1933, with drooped shoulders and tear dimmed eyes, to bid farewell to these dear old walls and halls of Alma Mater, our hearts are broken and we have a great fear, because we must leave all these sacred things to you careless, unintelligent, inexperienced undergraduates. Our heads are bowed indeed with grief as we think of what will happen when we take away our guiding hands and leave this school to the de- structive talent with which you apparently seem to be endowed. But even the least intelligent have some comprehension, and so I have been delegated by the class of 1933 to give you a few words of advice. If you do not comprehend, we will understand why; but at least listen. Therefore; Juniors and next year’s Seniors, when you have the Chemistry Experiment in which you make Hydrogen Sulfide (that gas with the odor of rotten eggs) don’t be stingy with it but allow all you possibly can to escape into the room. The odor that drifted through the halls and rooms this year was not up to standard. Then too, when you have reached the high estate of Seniors and have the honor of occupying Room 26, don’t cross off or in any way deface the initials or names already ingraved upon the desks. Add yours. Do not be afraid to do this. The teachers will say nothing to you as they realize that this is a privilege sacred to Sen- iors only. If any person other than a Senior should muster up enough courage to attempt to scratch his initials on the desks in Room 26, he should be very severely punished. Girls of the Junior class, please keep up that good old Beauty Parlor Custom in which the Senior girls indulge in powdering their faces and fixing their hair behind the lifted desk covers in Room 26. Sophomores and the near future Juniors, I wish to thank you for the deference you have shown us at all times. It indicates that you know a really remarkable and superior class when you see it. I advise you to show just a little bit of respect to the Juniors, next year’s Seniors, although I know it will be very hard to respect an ordinary class after being led by a super class, in fact the best class that so far has been graduated from Enfield High. Now for you untrained and uninitiated Freshmen who have been living in a fool’s paradise. Your class was simply distressing. You were so noisy, boisterous, and hilarious that we Seniors couldn’t lower our dignity enough to associate with you. Hence it was de- cided to have two sessions and to put you little “Fresh’es” by your- selves. As a result of this treatment you have become worse instead of better. You have been moving about the halls of Enfield High as if you owned them. Now Freshmen, and next year’s Sophomores,

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24 The Enfield Echo Now, to proceed with the main topic of the evening, namely, defending the undergraduates from some of the atrocious state- ments in my predecessor's speech. In the opening paragraph my Senior friend made remarks about the destructive talent with which the Juniors seem to be endowed. Now, frankly, friends, can you think of anything more destructive and more useless than carving initials on desks? He readily admits that the present Seniors have done just this. More- over, he asks us to do the same if we wish. Can you imagine such an intelligent group of students, as those who make up the Junior class, defacing property in such a manner? I am sure that I can- not. In another statement he spoke of the deference of the Soph- omores toward all Seniors. Oh, vain Seniors, do not tell me that you are as ignorant as this statement leads me to believe you are, that you regarded this attitude as one of deference. Let me at once make it plain to you just what this attitude, whose conclusion you have so stupidly derived, really was. They were merely trying to hide their astonishment of how such a class with so little ingenuity had ever reached the Senior year. My predecessor has also told you of the falling of the marks of the Junior and Sophomore classes. You will notice that he has not mentioned the Senior marks at this point. Well, 1 can’t say that I blame him much. I doubt whether I should have done so had I been in his place if the length of the Senior doubtful list enters into the account. But, take heart, Seniors, we will readily admit that you have been the model class of Enfield High this year. Do you know the meaning of model? The dictionary defines it as a small imitation of the real thing; this definition fits your class admirably. Now, in closing, may I speak in a more serious tone? I am sure that all undergraduates wish to express their thanks for the cooperation which you have given to them in all enterprises. We accept your advice in good spirit and will try to correct what few outstanding faults are present. We, as undergraduates, extend to you our best wishes of success in all future ventures in which you are participants.