Goshen Central High School - Yearbook (Goshen, NY)

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THE PIONEER g J UNIOR SECTION Class Roll. E. HAROLD PARKER, . . . President EVERET VINCENT, . . Vice-President REYNOLDS FARLEY, . Sec’y and Treas. MAY CARR JANE COLEMAN HERMENE KATTMANN ALICE LEWIS MARY McCORMACK BERTHA SCHOONMAKER MATTIE SUTHERLAND JOHN WELSH Motto—Don’t do to-day what we can put off until j to-morrow. Class Flower—Buttercup. The Green and the Gold. 'Tis ever sweetly ringing, the name We hold so dear, Our voices take the old refrain, and Echo far and near. With fondest mem’ries wreathing May we, like those of old, All love and praise and honor Bring to the Green and the Gold. M. C. S. TO. Reply to the Charge. Dear Seniors: It is with much regret that we feel time approaching when the most beloved class of ’OS shall leave us. We know the responsibility left upon us is very great, but we will do our best to bear it. The advice of the Seniors is well intended. Like sensible people we take it good naturedly, because we know that even the '09s are not too old too learn. When we begin our senior year, it will be our determination to keep up and if possi ble to raise the high standard of the school, as the classes of former years have endeavored to do. We believe that we shall succeed in this, as we have the mistakes of the '09 class to profit by. I certainly extend my sympathy to your beloved president It must be hard to preside over a class where if he favors one he must “ slight” the other. But great praise is due him if he can control such a large class, for they say three is a crowd,” and I guess that’s about right, for the Senior Class requires considerable room, even if its number is small. But, putting aside all nonsense, we, the Juniors, wish the members of the graduating class the best of success in whatever work you may undertake after leaving the high school. E. H. P. The Webster Debating Society. 3F there is one thing to which a young man should give special attention in the high school it is the study of parlimentary law. Any young man may be called upon to preside at a meeting of some kind or other. If he is acquainted with the rules of order he can do this with ease, and also bring honor upon himself. Another thing is the ability to express his opinion upon a subject in a clear and concise manner. In whatever line of work a man follows he is sure to find the training obtained in debating very useful to him sometime. He is benefited not only by hearing the opinions and ideas of other speakers, but he also obtains the power and ability of expressing himself before them. The Webster Debating Society was organized in the high school for the purpose of developing these faculties. It held many successful meetings during the school year among its own members and also with the Warwick school. The team representing the Webster Debating Society showed much skill in preparing its debates with the Warwick team, and also considerable ability in delivering them. The society has quite a large membership and it is hoped that it will remain an important feature of the high school. E. H. P.. TO.

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4 THE PIONEER lating is dangerous. We further advise the Treasurer that the smiles of the gentle sex are not to be trifled with. To Hermene Kattmann we would say, ‘ Beware of crabs and other animals with long legs and arms.” To Mary McCormack, we do leave the advice that “Hearts” is a dangerous game to play, although we know it’s lots of fun. To John Welsh, we do bequeath a volume of the International Cyclopedia in which he may find full particulars concerning the McCormack ( Reaper and Binder). To Alice Lewis, we would say that although Park(er)s are very pleasant, exams, are important. To Bertha Schoonmaker, in view of another dry summer, we do leave a large Well(s). To May Carr, we would give the advice that it is not good form to argue with the teacher when reprimanded for talking, also ribbon for a new b(eau)ow. We would say to Jane D. Coleman, surr.amed “The Short,” that she must beware of the lentils of the doorways of life. To little Mattie Sutherland, who, though she is mentioned last, is, as we all know, by no means the least, we would say, that a good understanding is something which everyone will envy her for. To the class as a whole we give a generous portion of our bounteous knowledge of which this whole column shows that we have a great abundance, but with the understanding that it is passed on to each succeeding Junior class forever. Senior Class of 1909. In witness whereof, we, the undersigned do hereby affix our names, on this eighth day of June, nineteen hundred nine. George Washington Jackson, Washington, D. C. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Rome, N Y. A. C. W.. ’09. While E. H. P. is away this summer he must not get reckless and forget the laws of the (Bor)land. The Debates of the Debating Club. 'JjJNDER this rather alliterative title I can say H but little, for although our ambitions were great and we would willingly have debated with anybody in the country our field was small and our oratorical efforts were confined to two debates with the same school—Warwick. The first debate took place in Warwick and was on the subject of imposing educational qualifications for the admission of immigrants to this country. Goshen won the debate, our team composed of Wallace, Seely and Wyker being on the side opposed to establishing an educational qualification for immigrants. After the debate the Warwickites entertained the Goshenites with music, dancing, charades games and refreshments. The affair was very enjoyable and everyone started home in the best of spirits. The ride home however, was chilly and unfortunately the horses were compelled to go at a very slow gait. Some people with memories may be able to read between the lines just here. The debate at Goshen was on the subject of labor unions. Warwick had the side favoring labor organizations and Goshen with the same team as in Warwick had the side opposed to them. The chairman of the debate was Lewis Merritt, ’06, and the judges suggested that the honors of the evening belonged to him on account of his very able speech at the beginning of the debate. However, it was decided that Goshen had won and with Miss Mitchell as general manager we proceeded to try to give Warwick as good a time as the Warwick people had given us. A. O. W.. '08. A True Story. A kindergarten teacher in New York City, was once telling her children a story in which she used the word, “cream.” The children did not know the meaning of this word, and the teacher proceeded to explain as follows: “ Now children, suppose we should put some nice, rich milk away over night. What would be all over the top in the morning ?” The unanimous answer was Cockroaches.”

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6 THE PIONEER The Minisink Prize Essays. The Goshen High School is fortunate in having such good friends as the Minisink Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This year they doubled their kindness and offered two five dollar prizes instead of one. The subject was “The Hudson River. On Friday afternoon, February 26th, the prizes were awarded to the Misses Mary McCormack and Margaretta Farley During the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Campbell Hall, made an interesting address. The following are the essays: THE HUDSON RIVER AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION. AS I sat one day on a bank of the Hudson, idly watching the gliding waters, I grew very sleepy and leaned my head against the trunk of a large tree there, intending to take a nap. Just as I was nodding, however, I became conscious of someone’s speaking. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was the rippling old river itself. I had long wished to learn as much as possible of the history of the Hudson, but I had found very few who could satisfy my curiosity to any great extent, but now I thought my wish might be fulfilled. So, “ Tell me the story of your life» you Hudson,” I cried. “ Many, many hours have I whiled away on your banks, idly dreaming of your past, and prophesying great things for your future.” After a bit of gentle roaring he answered me : “ The story of my life is far too long and too dull to interest you, my youthful listener, but there may be, perhaps, some period of which you care especially to hear ? ” “The Hudson River at the time of the Revolution!” I cried, “that will be most interesting.” Upon that he murmured his consent, and proceeded to tell in a very clever way, this part of his life’s history, which I will try to tell you. Less interesting, I know, but still, perhaps, acceptable. At the beginning of the war, Congress, realizing the importance of the Hudson, gave orders for its fortification. It realized that the struggle for the river would be a long and bitter one, for to hold the narrow belt which lies between the waters of Lake George and the navigable waters of the Hudson was to hold the gateway of the north. New York was given the most attention at first, because, in addition to the control of the interior which the possession of the place assured, the city had become the largest storehouse of military supplies within American limits, and was the commercial center of the country. If the English succeeded in taking the region about the Hudson, the capture would be a masterstroke for them, since New England and Virginia, the two chief centers of the Rebellion, would then be separated, and the success of | perhaps the entire English campaign would be assured. For this end the war in the Empire State was begun. Twenty-five thousand English troops under Lord Howe were landed on Staten Island. Eighteen thousand Americans j were guarding the exposed water front of New York. On I the Hudson there were garrisons at Forts Washington and , Lee, and at Paulus Hook. From across the East River the : Heights of Brooklyn commanded New York just as Dorchester Heights had commanded Boston. Late in the summer. General Howe sent most of his men 1 under Clinton to Long Island, w'here they prepared to attack the American position. Another division of the same army was sent under Grant to menace the right of the Patriot side, while Von Heisler was to cannonade their center. Surrounded this way the American army was at a great disadvantage The English plans had been well made and proved very successful. The battle of Long Island was a great victory for the British. A retreat of the patriot army was soon begun. Brooklyn Heights had been taken, and therefore New York had become untenable for the Americans. Its evacuation followed a short time after the battle of Long Island. It was about this time, too, the capture of Nathan Hale occurred. He was a graduate of Yale College, a gentleman by birth, and promised to become just that sort of man most needed by America at that time. He entered the English lines as a spy and was captured, brutally treated and almost immediately hung. This was one of the many incidents which embittered the popular feeling against the English. After the evacuation of New York, Washington determined to move across Harlem on to the mainland, leaving for the control of the Hudson a strong garrison in Fort Washington which Greene considered impregnable. This was done, although with great hesitancy on the part of the commander-in-chief, and a fortified camp was established extending thirteen miles along the Bronx River to the village of White Plains. Here the two armies met again with forces about equal. No decisive ending was arrived at, and after several attacks the English retreated towards Dobb’s Ferry, then moved south. By this movement the American council of war was entirely misled, being convinced that the invaders were to cross the river and then march northward. Accordingly a body of troopers was sent over the river to reconnoitre and four thousand men were stationed at Peekskill to guard the Highlands, so as to present, if possible, the junction of Howe’s army w’ith that of Carleton’s from the north. Washington, himself, was at the entrance of the Highlands, that grand defile of the Hudson, the object of so much precaution and solicitude. A fort was erected opposite West Point and has since been considered the key of the Highlands. After Ft. Montgomery and Ft. Constitution were completed he entrusted Heath with the command of the Highland passes and encamped him at Peekskill, their portal. Then what was left of the main army followed to the west shore, thence into New Jersey. But all these fortifications availed nothing, for the sad