Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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Class History BY ETHEL CONNOR PACKER: “The class in history will now recite. Turn! Rise! ilL Pass!” (Class assembles, composed of Eva Klingenberg, Marion Spencer, Harry Cobb and AVill Bouck.) Teacher: “Books closed. We will review this morning, beginning with the first chapter. You remember when the future Class of 1910 com- pleted their work in Central, they felt that they had accomplished won- ders. Fifteen members out of a class of nineteen entered High School. Not many days after they had enrolled, they found out how little they really did know. Early in the year, by uniting with the class preceding them in February, they organized as the Freshman class, consisting of thirty-one members. The large number of parties which they had dur- ing the year shortened the time for all. so that they were hardly prepared for examinations when they came, but nearly all succeeded in receiving sufficient credits for a Sophomore. “Mr. Cobb, who is a Sophomore?” Air. Cobb: “A Sophomore is one who has received three credits.” Teacher: “Now, Miss Spencer, you may tell us of the chief events which took place during your sophomore year.” Miss Spencer: “The first day of the second chapter of our High School life saw us studiously at work in the lower session room, under the care of our much respected teacher. Miss Stellberger. We were much busier this year than formerly, as you all know that there is a difference between translating Caesar and learning such declensions as: hic, haec, hoc. At the beginning of this year Mr. Bemis, our superintendent, who had long been here, left us to accept another position while Air. Daley came to take his place, a man of whom we were all proud. In the latter part of this year we were all saddened by the death of two of our teach- ers, Miss Taylor and Miss Stellberger. respected and loved by all who knew them.” Teacher: “That is right. Air. Bouck, you may give an account of the marshmallow roast. ” Air. Bouck: “In the fall our class met at the home of Airs. Vander- Ileyden. where we were entertained by a former member of our class, Ella Cutler. The earlier part of the evening was spent on the lawn, where we built large bonfires of leaves and roasted marshmallows over the coals. Later, we went into the house, where we enjoyed games and dancing. Light refreshments were served and we returned home after spending a very pleasant evening.”

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worthy of noto would have resulted. Likewise with us. If our prepara- tion these twelve years we have been in school has been of the best our future life will run accordingly. If it has not been what it should be, then our life will have to suffer the penalty. No one accomplishes anything worth while these days without pre- paration. Even the detested book agent spends weeks in study, before going into the field. He must learn his pre-canvass, canvass proper art- icles to fit different types of people, and a closing speech to bind tin order, if he gets it or a polite fire of words, on a retreat, if he is rejected. The history of literature is full of instances of the untiring and relentless energy which have been used in preparing certain great works. Pres- cott, for instance, spent fifteen years in reading and in preliminary work on his South American histories and Motley spent thirty years in tin; preparation of his history of the Dutch. And so. if we are going to ex- perience the deepest meaning of that word success we must make our preparation just as thorough and just as far reaching as possible. The future is before us. We are to be the people of tomorrow, and if age is to bear the same relation to the present age that the present age bears to the past, we have a great task on our hands. It therefor remains for us to create out of ourselves greater men and women than yesterday produced. People who will wince at nothing, but who with our ex-Presi- dent Roosevelt, will wield the big stick till there is trembling even in the seats of the mighty. And now as we leave the last year’s dwelling for the new we greet you again, dear friends, and sincerely hope that this hour for which we have striven so long shall not be in vain, and that we have your best wish- es for our ultimate success.

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Teacher: “Miss Klingenberg, you may give a synopsis of the third chapter.” Miss Klingenberg: “We began our Junior year under a new superin- tendent, Mr. Lister. Several new methods were introduced, many of which have worked well. One of the main things which kept us busy was to ‘make money.’ One of the ways in which we did this was to serve, dinner to the teachers attending the Teachers’ Institute, which was held in the High School. In June we decided to entertain the departing Sen- iors with a banquet instead of the usual reception; this was appreciated by Mr. Vosper at least.” Teacher: “All right. Mr. Cobb, you may tell us about the banquet.” Mr. Cobb: “On June 23 of last year, the Juniors. Seniors and Facul- ty of the High School assembled in the K. of P. hall which was tastefully decorated in the High School colors, blue and white. About six thirty the guests took their places. “The Misses Green and Fraser catered and did every thing up brown. Professor Lister acted as toastmaster of the evening and with the aid of Elvert Davis and the student toasters, kept the people in a continual up- roar. Mr. and Mrs. Thane Benedict served us with several fine vocal selections. Some of the toasts were considered pretty hard to digest and a number were even swallowed whole. “Mr. Davis, in closing, rendered the sermon, ‘Old Mother Hub- hard,’ which caused amusement for all. A social time was enjoyed, after which the company departed to their homes.” Teacher: “Yes. What can you tell us of the Senior year. Mr. Bouck?” Mr. Bouck: “As we entered school last fall, we were confronted by this statement on one of the side boards, ‘The Senior knows and knows that he knows,’ but many times I think that the teachers, especially Mr. Flewelling, has had good cause to doubt this. This spring the Seniors, with the assistance of other High School pupils, under the direction of Miss Sexton and Mr. Birdsall, put on the play, ‘Just out of College,’ with great success. This year everything has gone well, the pupils and teach- ers have worked more together and we have enjoyed the work much more. Many of our former members have left to enter other schools, so that out of our beginning class of thirty-one, we now have but eighteen.” Teacher: “All right, now we will repeat the preamble in unison.” The Class: “We, the members of the Class of 1910, in order to form a more perfect union, establish peace with the Juniors, insure good feel- ing toward all and leave pleasant memories and best wishes to posterity, do ordain and establish this history for the Class of 1910.” Teacher: “For our next lesson we will practice what we have studied so far. Class excused.”