Johnson St Paris High School - Parisian Yearbook (Saint Paris, OH)

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the following evening the long looked for, anxiously awaited Commencement exercises took place at the Union Opera House. Out of all the events of our Senior year I’m sure this stands out in our memory more clearly than the rest. The Opera House was filled with the largest audience that had ever assembled to witness the Commencement exercises. The old stage looked its best that mem- orable night. A beautiful stage setting had been accomplished by profusely covering all surfaces with green branches. While our class flower the old fashioned wild rose, was used to splendid advan- tage, completing our color scheme of rose and green. As the curtain slowly rose the gaze of the audience fell upon our ten Seniors namely, the Misses Lucille Pence, Gladys Tomlin, Ruth McMorran, Olive Kizer, Thelma Kite, Kathleen Kite and Messrs. Allen Taylor, Harold Lewis, Raymond Apple and Laurel Gibbs, and our three faithful teach- ers, Superintendent Clifton Coleman, Corena Jackman and Ruth Maxwell. John Kite, President of the Board of Education, J. C. Neer, County Superintendent, and the speaker of the evening, Mr. John Davison director of the Normal Department of Ohio Northern University of Ada. Mr. Kite then presented our Diplomas and Superintendent Neer awarded the class honors to Miss Olive Kizer, and after a selection by the Arion Quartet, the memorable evening came to an end. Since that evening which now is nothing but a memory, five long years have elapsed and time has wrought many changes. Today those six girl graduates and four gallant young men that sat before the footlights as Seniors, are now scattered out in the world playing a part in that drama called life. Two of the girls have chosen for themselves careers. Miss Lucille Pence is now a graduate nurse from Grant Hospital and is practicing her chosen profession in the city of Columbus, and Miss Ruth McMorran will also finish her training course at Grant Hospital in July. The rest of the young ladies of the class were captured by King Cupid with his darts, and today they are members of the Ancient and Honorable Order of housekeepers. Mr. Apple is today one of our most reliable and busi- ness like young groeerymen. Mr. Allen Taylor is now stationed at Thomasville, Ga. in the state highway department. Mr. Harold Lewis is now completing a course at Ohio State University and Mr. Laurel Gibbs is located in Columbus with a railroad position and hopes to finish his course at Ohio State University next year. Thus we see our class of 1916 is a class worthy to be proud of and though our school days are now past, we hope the lessons we have learned will be perfected as we journey along life’s pathway. —Kathleen Brown. The Class of ’20 LL High Schools are divided into four classes. All these classes differ from each other in size, customs and wisdom. In our High School the Freshmen and Sophomore classes are separated from one another, being in separate rooms; a hall separates them from the Study Hall, which is inhabited by Juniors and Seniors. In the school year of ’19 and ’20 the Seniors were the wisest because they were farthest re- moved from the state of Freshmanism and those early stages which tend to contaminate the mind, and they were nearest to the Alumni who are beyond graduation and to whom they were constantly looking upward. Among this Senior Class there were found many noble personages, in fact the entire class had a noble tendency, as most Senior Classes do have. Class spirit persuaded the class to go forth in its leadership since all its members excelled in valor, to acquire the supremacy of the whole High School. 34

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our young lives, about to enter that vast unknown, mysterious realm called High School. But after we had once entered upon that preparatory stage to rehearse for the great play of life in which we were soon to play a part, how quickly those four short years glided by on the wings of time. Each spring after we had suffered through the final examinations, we would bid the old school house on the hill farewell for three short months. And then with a “Hip Hurrah” we would turn to enjoy our well earned vacation. Then each autumn just as the leaves were commencing to turn gold and crimson, we were awakened by the echoes of the old school bell and reminded once more of our duty. As we look back upon those glorious days of the past, is it any wonder we treasure the memory of our school days among our dearest possessions? Will we ever forget those friendships that were formed in S. P. H. S.? For of all the glorious pictures that hang on memory’s wall, There is one, a band of school mates, That seemeth best of all. Will we ever forget those excursions to the woods for spring flowers? The Halloween masquer- ades, the rivalry between the literary societies, those glorious Senior receptions, those never-to-be- forgotten class meetings, and those inevitable school love affairs? Can we ever forget those wild and thrilling basket ball games played in the Union Opera House, when we all sat on the stage and rooted ourselves hoarse when our home team came out victorious? (and it always did.) Yes, those were the best days, Skies were never bluer, Friends were never truer, There was never less of sorrow, more of joy and song. Than we found along our pathway as we trudged along, In those happy days, our school days, The best days of all. But time passed bringing with it many changes, and those short years filled with trials and troubles, and lots of good times mixed in came to an end and we were now to face the last and biggest event of our High School career. All of our necessary work was completed and we had reached our goal. We’ll never forget the feeling we experienced as we turned from the old familiar school rooms for the last time, closed the doors behind us, and marched down the dusty stairs that were worn with our footprints, and stepped out into the dear old school yard that had been ours since childhood. As our last year drew nearer to an end there were many things to be done and planned for. And today as I look back over our record I’m sure our class of 1916 will always be remembered for two things. For we were the first class to present a memorial to the school, thus we established a new cus- tom with a worthy motive. During our last school week we purchased an elegant oak roll top desk and placed it in the Superintendent’s office. Then too, it was at the close of our Senior year, that the old Alumni organization was revived. All credit is due to our Superintendent (Mr. Coleman’s) effort and interest. For he worked faith- fully and in formulating and carrying out the initial plans of the organization. On Tuesday evening of May 23d, the new organization held their first banquet in the Masonic Hall. It was a glorious evening, and one hundred and seventeen members were seated at the long tables. On Sunday evening, May 14th, the Methodist Church was filled to overflowing for it was then our Baccalaureate sermon took place. Reverend Mathews delivered the address “The line of Great- est Resistance is the Line of Righteous Triumph.” On the evening of May 18th, our Senior class reception was held at the Masonic Hall; and on 33

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Induced by these persuasions they determined to provide such things as were necessary, not only to do this, but to establish peace and friendship with the other classes. They reckoned that one basket ball season would be sufficient for them to execute their designs. It was the law that to be on the basket ball team, a person should have a good academic standing and should be an expert player. At the time appointed for the try out the majority of the men chosen for the team were from class ’20. After the choosing of the team, these men went forth to do that which they had resolved on, namely to go forth and win every game. When they thought that they were at length prepared for this undertaking, having been coached by Professor Turner, they began to meet teams from various places. There were in all many games, in which this team was victorious. And thus it hap- pened that it became feared by all its opponents. Meanwhile the remainder of the class, who did not figure on the basket ball team, did much for the class along other lines and also supported the team in whatever manner they could. At the close of the basket ball season, there was left one way, namely a class play, by which, on account of its talents, the class could pass on to greater glory. As it could not of itself give this play without a director, it gave to Miss Mary Newton the supervision of the play. She, therefore, undertook the affair and arranged that they should give a Shakespearian play, somewhat modernized. Attacking this and rendering it with incredible stage fright, the class made another step toward the close of its High School Career. Thus in June, whether by chance, or by the design of the immortal gods, that part of the High School which was called the class of ’20 enjoyed a single honor to graduate in the new Johnson- Saint Paris school building. Their first great battles fought, the members of the class moved on into the greater struggles of life. They are now eagerly pursuing these paths. Some have already made a success in the business world, others have not only done this, but have also taken a hand in matrimonial affairs; still others have taken part in the perpetual wars of the higher institutions of learning. —Martha Taylor.