Grants Pass High School - Toka Yearbook (Grants Pass, OR)

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and Iasi, but by no means least, a plentiful supply of red pepper lavishly distributed over everything in sight. It finally developed that two members of the Freshmen class, ably assisted by a Sophomore had wrought this havoc. Needless to say justice was at once administered. During this year one of the Freshmen girls covered the entire class with glory. She became a member of the High School debating team, which proved to be the champion of the state. The beginning of their Sophomore year found us established in our new building. The Sophomore girls seemed to take a great interest in cooking while the boys did very well at Manual Training. Either the new building had a good effect on them or else these new studies furnished an outlet for their activities, for this year they did nothing extraordinary and were, on the whole, well behaved. They did, however, establish one pleasing custom this year. Instead of hazing the Freshmen, they entertained them in the gymnasium. I his inovation, you may know, was well received by the faculty. During their Junior year the class of 1914 developed a decided athletic tendency. Four of the five members of the boys basketball team were members of this class. How 1 wish they had taken the same interest in their studies, as in basketball. Far too often their names were on the 'roll of honor at the reading table. In the spring, with the aid of a physical director, we attempted a track meet in which the Junior boys held by far the majority of points. “The girls were also lucky that year, for they succeeded in carrying off the championship in indoor baseball, (played outside). “There are a few things 1 have never been able to understand about this class. One of them is their unnatural desire for pennants. For a while it seemed absolutely impossible for certain members of this class to look upon a pennant without an uncontrollable desire to possess it. It was with great difficulty that the faculty were able to make the class pennants seem undesirable to their young eyes. “The class of 1914 have been the leaders in fostering interclass good will. One of their most important efforts in this direction was the four course, progressive dinner with which they entertained the Senior class last year. I, myself, to my everlasting sorrow was not permitted to attend, but according to the various reports I have heard, it was an event never before equalled in school history. We members of the faculty were not at all surprised that this affair partook of the nature of a dinner, for the '14 class has always shown a fondness for eats.” The reception at which the class entertained the rest of the school this past fall was as much of a success as these things usually are. Their next important undertaking was such a startling inovation that it is still a topic of conversation. The Seniors, with the assistance of a few members of other classes staged a cir- 28

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Class History By HELEN HAIR 'y HF.RE have been several explanations for the recent cyclone which mo- lested nothing except Mr. Turnbull’s desk at High School. 1 his was carried out the front door and over the school grounds, scattering valuable papers all the way. The most plausible of these explanations is that the wind wandered from its customary haunts in Missouri, following the advent of Mr. Hull into our pleasant little valley. The Historian of the class of 1914 with rare good fortune picked up some of the loose leaves which had fallen from our principal's desk. These proved to be a report to Mr. Hull of the history of the Senior class. Here was a fine chance “to see ourselves as others see us. so these pages were carefully saved to be read to you. Surely no one can claim that this report is biased and unduly egotistical. The report follows: “In accordance with your expressed wish that I prepare a history of the different classes in High School in order that you might become more familiar with them. I wish to submit the following, which is, as far as I know, the true and complete history of the class of 1914. “Of their early history there is little to tell. Seven members of the class have been together since the third grade and a number of others joined these in the fourth and fifth grades. “In 1910 when this class took the eighth grade examinations, every member passed them without a condition. This was the first time any such record had been made and naturally we expected great things of them upon their entrance into High School the next fall. Very likely the examinations were easier that year than usual. “They entered High School seventy meek and frightened little Freshmen. The first time they attracted much notice was when they tried to impeach their president after two weeks of his administration. This attempt proved unsuccessful. much to the joy of the upper classmen. Their next startling move was to give a Freshman party and actually succeeded in frustrating any attempts at invasion in spite of the fact that they lost half of their refreshments. “Unfortunately these Freshmen did not remain meek and timid and we teachers had no little trouble with them. They insisted in writing notes, and the faculty felt constrained to end their misbehavior. We had. I am sorry to say, some difficulty in accomplishing this. Just when we thought we had the class impressed with our authority, we arrived at school one morning to find the books out of the desks in the assembly room; the windows painted red and red paint well distributed over the floors; 27

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cus, the like of which was never before seen in Grants Pass. Truth compels me to state that this idea did not meet with the approval of the entire faculty, yet before the event was over we felt proud of their various accomplishments and their executive ability. They have broken the monotony of the school year by various picnics to Fruitdale and entertainments in town, some of which have been shared with the Juniors. “Altho the fact that they were not allowed to have a Tokathruout the year was a great disappointment to them, they have redoubled their energies to make the Annual the best ever produced, and, as in all things else, they have succeeded. “Their class play The Hoodoo made a decided hit and has developed unexpected genius along this line in several members of the class. Class Day also contained many surprises, for there were several new inovations that added greatly to the pleasure of the day. In rereading this report I find that I have rather neglected their intellectual achievements. They are a class a little above the average, as students, and are capable of great things. They are, as a whole, independent thinkers. Whether this is a virtue, I am a little inclined to doubt, for in certain classes they have nearly driven their teacher to distraction with their novel and unique ideas. They will learn only by experiment and will accept only the most positive of proof. Yet, on the whole, they are twenty-four bright, entertaining, and too often mischievous pupils, most of whom, I expect will make their mark in the world. ?????? Class Prophecy By DORA BIRCHARD J J H well, and this is the anniversary! I can scarcely believe that ten years ago tonight, 1 was back there in Grants Pass, saying farewell to that dear old High, and to the other members of the 14 class. And here I am in the Orient, the wife of a Hindu sorcerer, and what my husband hasn’t taught me about magic, really isn't worth the knowing. 1 can tell past, present and future, by merely looking through this magic ball of crystal. What shall it be tonight? The past is over and gone. Let the future bring what it will, tonight I will see the present. 1 will behold my old friends of the Class of 1914, and see where they are, and what they are doing. (Making passes with the hands and peering through the crystal ball.) Don Belding, our class president! 1 might have known he would come first. Why, he is not so very far from here, just over in China, a missionary to the poor benighted heathen. 1 wonder if he still says in stentorian tones: “Will this meeting please come to order? 29