Gloucester High School - Flicker Yearbook (Gloucester, MA)

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place about them, for several of our members had important ideas of their own artistic ability. Besides we usually held the meetings at one-thirty, when hunger lent its madness to the excitement, and frequently drove us home before we had arrived at any definite con- clusions. Yet, whatever our attempts, they were well rewarded, as we made an amount at the Fair second only to the high and mighty Seniors. The next event for us was Regimental Field Day. Dong had we anticipated this great day, and great was the excitement among our humble ranks. Some of our girls actually dared risk themselves on the streets of Lynn, where several of their flags met with disastrous results. Quickly following came Battalion Field Day, when we won the Junior medal. Then came the closing day when we should part for the vacation. We had certainly lived up to our name for we were declared the freshest Freshmen yet. But we considered this very complimentary — for did we ever do anything by halves ? SopHomore Year. How grand we felt on our return the next fall to be referred to as Scjphoniores — it had such a delightful sound and made one feel so important. We took care of the Freshmen in fine style until they could stand on their own feet, and then after carefully consigning them to Miss Howe’s tender hands, we proceeded on our busy way. Class politics took up our attention for a time, and we established officers, a constitution, and committees in endless variety. After we had selected our class colors, red and gold, and had bought pins, we considered ourselves capable of anything. As Sophomores we formed the precedent of holding the best socials in the school ; whether it was that we held them at Harmony Hall or because certain Seniors were always present, we cannot tell. But once alas! — the ice-cream disappeared — apparently it melted, but at all events some of us went home hungry. Yet in spite of our frivolity we took up the practical side of life, and second periods often saw us mixing dough and sweeping rooms under the careful su])ervision of Mr. Parsons. Even the boys adapted themselves to this culinary branch of study with surprising energy, and “Jimmie” hatched up a most delicious chicken-pie, while the girls tried in vain to tempt our instructor’s appetite with all sorts of cakes and candies. i8

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History of Class ' 05 On the sixth of September, 1901, at the opening of the new school year, a great flock of helpless, young students, generally known as “Freshmen,” or by the still more uncomplimentary “Kids,” thronged into that mysterious building, the High School. Countless eyes seemed turned upon us, and we were welcomed by loud applause which did not relieve our trembling hearts as you might imagine That flock, though ’tis hard to believe, was destined to become famous as the Class of ’05 ; moreover we were honored in another direction, namely that we were accompanied by a new teacher who has ever remained a member of tliat favored class. However, as the Fates had willed, we soon entered upon our destiny with unequaled zeal and vigor. Gradually we learned the difference between Algebra and Latin, and by careful study of the backs of our blocks we at length — mirabile dictu — mastered the schedule ! How fine we felt walking home from school, the proud possessors of straps and bags filled with as many books as we could lay hands on. So we went on during the first term, gaining new points every day and learning our lessons faithfully (?) although it was against our principles to plug. We soon learned that school-life was not all study by any means. We wonder if Iva still remembers the “ first rule in multiplication,” and if certain other members have at last succeeded in mastering those problems, so simple and yet so perplex- ing. Those of us who took Latin, after trying in vain to speak it fluently, gave it up as a bad job, for it did not rattle off as “ glibly on the tongue ” as it might. As for class meetings, one could scarcely say ours lacked spirit, and after our first one presided over by Mr. B., we felt fully compe- tent to conduct them ourselves. Our first real discussion was con- cerning the F ' air colors, and many an eager and heated debate took 17

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“ Its an ill wind that blows no one any j ood,” — thus goes the old saying and just so it seemed to us, when the coal supply gave out just at Fair time and brought us an unexpected vacation. Ah, those happy days when idleness was in fashion, and school work took a back seat ! That blissful Fair week when we could be abed mornings and dream of good times at night ! The three weeks ended all too soon, and reluctantly we took up our busy life again only to find how good it felt to be really working. A very interesting affair took place along the middle of the year, that is, the initiation of ten of our boys into the deep and awful mysteries of the Phi Mu Theta Society, under the direction of the Seniors ; also the great and memorable banquet held at the Point, where, we understand, such eloquence prevailed as was only equalled by a secoiifl appearance of one of the participants a few weeks ago, when he spoke in defence of Charles Sumner. With spring came Prize Speaking and Composition Writing, from which we modestly retired with one prize. The Battalion F ' ield Day came soon, with the Sergeants’ Party in the evening, and shortly after. Regimental Field Day at Chelsea. Soon after wc closed the remarkable career of our .Sophomore year, wiser fools than when we had begun. Junior Year. At last we were really Juniors and changed our dwelling for one more befitting our rank, farther up the hall, and here we became quite grand with a Sophomore janitor as the crowning glory of the new establishment. Moreover, we began to take pride in our orderly files led by Miss Allen, especially as our corridor was very dark and to hold one’s way successfully against the surging crowd was quite a feat. And now our work began in dead earnest. No more idle stud) periods for us with those dread college exams, looming up in the distance ; no more vain frivolity ; we had now reached a place of so much importance in the world that we felt strangely humble. We said good-bye to gymnastics this year, and our athletic girls, parting from their beloved “ gym,” established a system of walks and aesthetic dancing. On Mondays, clad in sweaters and short skirts, they ‘‘did Gloucester,” and on Fridays they daintily ‘‘ skipped the light fantastic toe.” After a time hockey at Stage Fort took the place of these sports, and then you may be sure, the Juniors were in it. 19