Herkimer High School - Ye Green Quill Yearbook (Herkimer, NY)

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Lzfemiu re ORIGIN OF BOOKS One of the greatest sources of present day knowledge is books. From books we are made acquainted with the works of centuries ago. A great scientist, philosopher, or poet makes a discovery which is of interest to all mankind. By speech he is able to carry his message to a few thousand but, by the wonder of modern printing, his message is doubled and redoubled in tfhe millions of copies of books. It is not only carried around the world for the people of today but it lives for the betterment of coming genera- tions. Indeed, books have become a great item in the lives of the people. John Milton, one of the world's most noted poets says, as good, almost, kill a man as kill a. good book. Therefore, I think it will be very interesting to study the origin and history of our books. Man's earliest records were chisled on stone or other durable material. The Babylonians pressed characters on soft clay and then baked them in squares. Public laws were engraved on stone, or on plates of ivory, bronze or lead. These plates were then hinged in book form. Small wooden tablets, covered with Wax were used to keep private notes on. These were written on with a pointed stylus. A little later a great discovery was made by the Egyptians when it was found that a sort of paper could be made from the stem of the papy- rus reed. This became very popular on account of its cheapness and smoothness. The common form of book when papyrus was used was a roll or volumen from which our word volume is derived. The papyrus was written upon one side only and then rolled on a stick as many of our scfhool maps and charts are today. In bookmaking establishments, the book was dictated to a number of slaves who made one copy each. At the time of the Roman Empire, many libraries and book stores existed. However. these long rolls were very incon- venient and thin parchment came to take their place. The sheets of parchment were cut in rectangles and bound together at one side with thongs. All through the Middle Ages, the only books were those made by the monks in the monas- teries. The lettering was very beautiful and the first word of each page was written in different colored ink of very bright hues. These were called illuminated manuscripts. In the elventh century, paper made from the pulp of linen rags found its way into Europe from the East. This was used for some time after printing was instituted for it'was very cheap and easily used in the printing press. The first book printed from movable type is supposed to be the Mazarin Bible. Books soon became smaller in size and very elaborate. Some times a title of a book would occupy an entire page. As book-making ad- vanced so also did the demand for books ad- vance. In later years. more efforts were spent upon the appearance of a book than formerly had been spent. Beautiful illustrations were made. Besides the body of a modern book, there is a title-page giving the title, the name of the author, the publishing company and the date of the issue. There is a preface stating the plan and purpose of the book, a table of contents. and, if it is a volume of any size, an index. Today we are not only able to have books printed for educational purposes but also books for pleasure. Children are now able to amuse themselves by means of the different story and picture books. The books are printed in all languages and are circulated throughout all nations. The value of books has grown with the proc- ess of book-making. Books are, in truth, a blessing. We are very fortunate to be living in the present age, when books may be pur- chased at low prices, rather than to have lived in the days when books were only the luxuries of the wealthy. In part this cheapening of price is due to the invention of such machines as the linotype and monotype, but in even larger part. it is owing to the modern printing presses and less costly paper as well as the CContinued on Page 315

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THE GREEN QUILL 19 Won't we graduates often wonder if John is the famous lawyer as he hoped to be? Is Mary still fond of that particularly favored boy friend with Whom she used to dominate the corridors? But our greatest anxiety will be whether the basketball and football teams have retained that splendid, clean name of honor for Herki- mer High School. Some of us will go one place, some another but still thereis that bond of union and friends'hip promoted by being members of the class of 1926. Thus, we urge you-be loyal to your school, support and encourage your teams, respect and uphold your Alma Mater-and then, in later years look back with unaltered pleasure and satisaction in knowing that you individually did your share in making Herkimer High School what it is well known to be. Long live our Alma Mater! ' -Evelyn Thomas '26, OBJECT OF THE GREEN QUILL Our object is to be of paramount service, to so conduct our educational activities that all may know that ours is a service of sincerity, to put before the public the direct work of the stu- dents in and along the lines of literary, athletics, exchanges, editorials, and bits of humor con- tributed with the earnest cooperation of each student. It brings forth to the minds of the people and faculty the works of educational value that have been enacted during that per- iod of time. The name Green Quil1 as we all know, is familiar to every student within its marbled walls, it being composed with the earnest co- operative system in contribution by the stu- dents and members of the faculty. 'Dhus it is we are able to put forth a magazine well worthy to be presented to the public in proud recognition of the school it represents. We, too, like the great philosophers and famed edu- cational leaders, have dreams of leadership in this vast fleld of educational values, but we re- gret deeply to say that many look upon them as bubbles in the air that soon fade and die. But, bear in mind, education is the foundation of modern development in the art of contrast be- tween past and present generation. Education tends to develop the mind and body in- the proper ways of determining the conscience and brain power to do the right thing at the right time. Many have found life too hard and have given up the struggle to be dragged to the level of the degraded, merely by not heeding the warn- ing word from their elders and guardians who have urged them to the utmost but to no avail. Manifest education plus steadfast ambition equals that coveted prize we so desire in this wide world, Success in Life. -Eugene Yelle '28. APPRECIATION The Green Quill Editorial Staff appreciates the great assistance rendered to them by Miss Milvo and ther typewriting classes in typing the material of the Quill for the press. -V. C. T. a

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THE GREEN QUILL 21 CLASS HISTORY In September, 1922 ,the halls of the High School were filled with a crowd of Freshmen, the class of 1926. After we had become accustomed to our classes and teachers, we began to lose our timidity and to look about us. We found that, in -spite of Uhe good will of our teachers, Fresh- men were not allowed to do much in the way of activities, but were expected to stand aside and let the Juniors and Seniors cover them- selves with glory. We longed to be Sopho- mores, for then we thought, we would be given an opportunity to become active. V At last we became Sophomores in 1923. We organized and elected our oflicers: President, Helen Hydon, Vice President, Eleanor Lewis: Secretary, Helen Harris, and Treasurer, Gor- ton Youngs. As our Class Advisor, we chose Miss Whitney. We started out to become ac- tive but we found that our studies became more diflicult. More and mor-e time was given to them, until, at last, the year of 1924 rolled around. Now we were Juniors, free to do as we wished. We elected new officers choosing: President, Helen Harris, Vice President, Fred- erick Shepherd: Secretary, V-erlie Tuttle, and Treasurer, William Pratt. We lost no time in starting our activities and on December sixth, we held a dance. The dance was a success and was set down as one of the achievements of tfhe class. At this time, too, we found ourselves eligible for membership in the Dramatic Club which had been organized the preceding year. Many Juniors joined and Verlie Tuttle, a class member, was chosen as vice-president. It was time for our class to enter the dramatic fieldg hence we presented two one-act plays, The Weasel and The Maker of Dreams. These plays marked our first success in dramatics. The members of the cast did splendidly and our class was proud of them. We were also active in both girls' and boys' basketball. In 1925, a Junior, Frederick Shepherd, won second prize in the Local Prize Speaking Contest. In June after Commencement, the Juniors gave a ban- quet for Seniors at the Business and Profes- sional Women's Club. 'Dhis banquet marked for us the closing of our Junior year. In the ninth month of the year 1925, we re- turned to High School, full-fledged Seniors. At last, we had reached the highest peak of our ambition, Uhe Senior Class. We organized for the last time electing as our oflicers: Presi- Youngs: Vice President, Anna dent, Gorton Radaskiewicz, Secretary, Madge Willoughbyg and Treasurer, Evelyn Thomas. We also chose a wise and learned advisor, Miss Cook. Honor was bestowed on our class as several of our members became members of the Green Quill Staff. Verlie Tuttle was elected Editor-in- Chiefg Gorton Youngs, business manager, Helen Harris, Society Editorg and Harwood Butts, Art Editor. However, members of the class of 1926 had contributed to the columns of The Quill before they assumed the leader- slh-ip of the paper. Again we felt the call of the footlights and produced a three-act comedy Am I Intruding? Earlier in the year, also, a little play, The Courtship of Miles Standish was given by the Seniors for the entertainment of the students of the school. Tlhe French III students presented Le Pauvre Sylvie under the able direction of Miss Foley. The local Prize Speaking Contest was held in April. A member of the Senior Class, Dorothea Ecker- -son, was awarded first prize, thus representing us in the County Contest. Lillian Ellis, enter- ing the literary field for the Seniors, won hon- orable mention on the essay The Life of Lin- coln. The time is nearing when we shall no longer be Seniors. It is due to the splendid aid and training of the faculty that we have come safely through these four years of High School. Graduation will be a joy and yet a.sorrow to us as we are leaving our Alma Mater. -Ruth Bachelder '26. Where Our 'Seniors lntend to Go After Being Graduated From Old H. H. S. Bachelder, Ruth .... Cortland Normal Eckerson, Dorothy .... ..... C ortland Normal Ellis, Lillian ........ Syracuse University English, Eleanor ............ Buffalo Normal Goldsmith, Adelayde ......... New York City Hane, James ......... Post Graduate H. H. S. Harris, Helen .......... Alsbany State Normal Harter, Kenneth .......................... . . . . . . . .Northwestern University at Chicago Henry, O'Rilla, ......... Ilion Business School Kiefer, Lillian .... Albany Memorial Hospital Kimm, Frances ............. Potsdam Normal Mead, Lois ...... ........... K euka College Pierce, William ........ Syracuse University Pratt, William ...... Post Graduate H. H. S. Radaskiewicz, Anna Utica Business School Scialdo, Joseph University of Pennsylvania Smith, Gladys ............... Buialo Normal Sokoloski, Walter . .. Herkimer National Bank Thomas, Evelyn .................. California Tompkins, Gladys ........................ ....... . . . . . .. Utica Conservatory of Music Tuttle, Verlie ............... Potsdam- Normal