Hastings High School - Saxon Yearbook (Hastings, MI)

Page 17 text:

Our Honor Students First—Mildred Ketcham—Valedictory...................................Class average 96.178 Second—Arnell Wolf—Salutatory................................... “ “ 96.08 Third—Keith Chidester—Class Oration............................. “ “ 95.941 Fourth—Gardner Chidester—Class Will............................. “ “ 95.218 Fifth—Lena Wagner—Class Motto................................... “ 95.000 Sixth—Crystal Freeman—Class History............................. “ “ 94.757 Seventh—Doreen Potter—Class Prophecy............................ “ “ 94.538 Ever since the far-away days of long ago, a charm, we are told has always lingered about the number seven. A symbol of completeness as this number has been, fitting is it that seven should be the number of our students, whose honor it is to wear the laurels of scholarship from our school. “But who are these victors?” You ask. In response comes the reply, “They are but seven of that countless throng, our young Americans,” upon whom the greatest nation this old world of ours has ever produced is even now, in all the pride of its strength, dependent for the maintenance and furthering of its future.” Judged by human standards they are the winners in this first real challenge that the world has offered them, their high school life. Not that they possess so much of wisdom, do we thus honor these seven, since for them the mazy pathways, of learning are as yet all but untrod, but because, doing what men have ever done, we accord praise and distinction to these winners in the contest. As the schoolrooms shall soon say “Good-bye” to these, our school champions of 1916, and as their joyous, eager, earnest faces, with those of their classmates, touched with the flush of dawn, turn towards the light of a fuller day with its toil and its burdens, kindly memories and kindlier wishes shall ever follow them, yes, earnest prayers, that a Heavenly Father's blessings may reach this world in even fuller measure, through the as yet, unused channels of their lives.

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 Class colors—Maroon and White. 12 CLASS YELL Eo triumphe Eo triumphe Haben swaben Kluwes got em Hoop to Chuck de snell devere De boom de rah de Milopah Henneke honneke whack de whick Scotty I lube Curt and Snick Joe and Stub Grace and Chub Bel de bora, bora de bel Scoop and Clary and Arnell Con slom i de bah— Seniors rah!

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 Glass History I he Class of l'B6 is a living example of the fact that a modest beginning often makes a brilliant ending. Although we were in numbers the largest class to enter the Hastings High we displayed in our freshmen year very little of the ability and originality for which we have come to be distinguished. In fact in our first year we were so completely wrapped with the cloak of innocency and verdance that even the usual freshmen party was omitted. And no wonder! For with the first year Latin under Miss Allison, and Mr. Hinckley leading some of us through the intricate masses of Algebra with his famous tests as frequent climaxes, all social pleasures were necessarily put in the background. We were known as a class of High Brows” for by using X as the unknown number we were able to figure out within a few years the time when Hastings would have a new school house. In our freshmen year we demonstrated to the sophomores that we were not lacking in bravery for in the annual Tug of War our sturdy boys easily drew their narrow-chested opponents across the raging waters of the Thorn- apple. Satisfied with this demonstration of our powers we again resumed our intellectual pursuits. This year the declamatory prizes were won by two of our members Arnell Wolfe and Marguerite Hall. As sophomores we regained confidence in our ability to play the social game and so we gave our first party. And with what wrangles and disputes! The party was given in the Masonic Hall which was very prettily decorated in our class colors, maroon and white. Many clever games were played and much fun resulted. It was at this time that Mrs. Henkes aroused so much interest in the de- clamatory and oratorical contests and many were the sophomores who determined to test their declamatory powers. The unusual talent of our members was proven when three sophomores Keith Chidester, Aimee Henkes and Marguerite Hall carried off first, second and third honors respectively. The district contest was held in Hastings that year and on the same evening we had our first annual banquet, held in the basement of the Methodist church. The sophomores were represented by Dorothy Cook. As Juniors we planned to have a party early in the year in order to become better acquainted. It was a pleasant affair held at the Masonic Temple, our faculty members Miss Andrus and Mr. Hogers giving fine assistance. Who can ever forget the weighty arguments advanced by the participants in the mock debate, “Shall we be Allowed to Exercise our Bovin Tendencies in school ?” For their superior argumentative powers on the affirmative side, Charles Todd and Blanche Brock were presented with a box of candv.