Kouts High School - Kostang Yearbook (Kouts, IN)

Page 24 text:

22 HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL School was prominent. The town had an energetic, hustling air about it, the children about the streets appeared clean and well-kept, a little park had been laid out and promised to become a beautiful spot. I questioned the agent at the depot and found that the Guardian Angel of the town was Nora Denton. After leaving school she had set herself to the difficult task of reforming Malden and she had succeeded admirably. She had established the V. W. C. A. and was the means of establishing the Y. M. C. A. associations there. She was training the literary taste of the people and had a public library well under way. And the many lessons of agriculture which she had absorbed under tlie careful guidance of our former Professor had not gone for naught. A number of the citizens were rapidly acquiring fortunes by the intense farming which they practiced in their hack yards. In thinking over the old classmates with whom I had so strangely been brought in contact during the last few days, 1 wondered if ever again we would all he together, if the various lives we were leading could ever be thrown aside for even so short a time as to allow us to be our old natural selves for a few hours—and I found myself longing to step into the shabby little office of the old K. H. S. and find there ten boys and girls ready to “pitch into me” for being late for class meeting. GEORGE E. JONES, ’ll. “CURLOLOGY.” Such an artistic face, Of lines “up to wisdom.” All curls have their place, Make young and old handsome. Our Prof, has his share; Each curl has its place, As they cluster and fluster ’Round our noble man’s face. His meaning is well, He can’t help the crooks, That adds to your pleasure As you feast on his looks. But the reason is plain, How could he be surly With such beautiful hair, So soft and so curlv. CHAS. HANDLEY, ’ll.

Page 23 text:

HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 21 matics, had published an Algebra and Geometry, so bad the great pleas- ure of teaching bis own text-books. He was at that time working on a treatise on Trigonometry which he hoped to publish soon. Fearing that I, who had done nothing but hoard money, was unworthy to ad- dress this man who had put bis time to such good use, I left Boston without acquainting Professor Handley of my presence there. Within a short time 1 arrived in Chicago which I had last visited on a flying business trip. Feeling travel-stained and in need of atten- tion as to my personal appearance I entered a tonsorial parlor. After the “knight of the razor” hail done bis work I seated myself at a small table to have inv hands attended. A lady who appeared not more than twenty-eight years of age, wearing an immense amount of jewelry and indulging in the pleasant exercise of chewing gum, presided at this table. She was very skillful at her work, and 1 could scarcely conceal my admiration for her deft movements. In a chance glance which hap- pened to light upon the numerous pins, lockets, etc., which the lady wore, I happened to notice an inconspicuous little silver pin bearing the inscription “K. H. S. ’ll.” 1 scanned her face more closely trying to place this youthful looking person in the members of that class who must now be matrons or spinsters of questionable age. My sister’s youth)ill appearance 1 bad easily ascribed to the trick of her profession, but the lady before me was a puzzle. 1 detected that she was also trying to scrutinize my features. Almost simultaneously we recognized each other. Lucie Biggart was now a “beauty doctor”; had been for years and her youthful appearance and beauty was due to her own arts. )t course our conversation turned to the old days at the K. H. S. and we exchanged hits of news concerning our class. 1 told her of having seen Arthur, Charles, Fannie, Martha and Eunice in the East and Lucie in- formed me that Otto HotTerth, our orator of whom we were so proud, was one of the most famous lawyers in the middle-west; bad graduated from a law school after leaving the K. II. S. and step by step lie had worked himself up to bis present position. I inquired for our old friend, Levi Ktibbe. and learned that he bad for years studied voice culture un- der the best masters at home and abroad and at the present time was singing Grand Opera in a large opera house in Chicago. Grace Gay, the youngest member of the class, had devoted her life to the study of music and was at that time giving piano lessons and teaching elocution in a university in Berlin. Though impatient to set foot in my home town I was siezed with a sudden whim and decided to ride out to Malden on the C. R. M. Alighting from the train there on a bright, sunshiny morning, I was astonished at the appearance of the once shabby little town. Xew buildings bad been erected, among which a prosperous looking High

Page 25 text:

HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 23 HISTORY OF THE KOUTS HIGH SCHOOL. INASMUCH as this is the first attempt in the history of the Kouts High School to put out an annual, we deemed it fitting to give as accurately as possible the past history, showing its growth from a two years’ course to the highest rank of High School—that of a commissioned. The first class to graduate from a two years’ course completed their work in 1901. From 1902 until 1906 the course consisted of three years’ satisfactory work. In 1907 the term was lengthened to a four years’ course, hut the school was placed on the certified list. This year also saw the acqui- sition of two more teachers in the High School faculty, namely: prin- cipal, and music and drawing instructor. This same year Mr. Wright began his career here among the Kouts people as superintendent of the school, being the successor of Professor Shull. Miss Viant also, who remained with us three years as instructor in music and drawing, her place this year being filled by Miss Felton. Until 1907 there had been but one instructor in the High School, but this year as the school was growing so rapidly, a second was needed. The first principal was Miss Leech, the second Miss Atkins and the third Miss Tofte, who has remained with us two years. In the spring of 1910 the school received its commission, of which it may justly be proud. Thus the class of 1910 consisting of but two members, Clara Young and Arthur LaCount, were the first to receive their diplomas from a commissioned school. The class of 1911 is the largest in the history of the school and of course we are proud to be members of this class, yet in our fullness of heart we sincerely hope for the growth and the advancement of dear old K. H. S. as long as time endures. ARTHUR ANDERSON, ’ll.