Lancaster High School - Mirage Yearbook (Lancaster, OH)

Page 20 text:

(Elaafi fetnnj (By Ruth Suzanne Busby.) In the world of pictures a new play is about to bo presented, a drama in four acts, one of youth and its romance of shadow and sunlight, of work and play, the history of the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Sixteen. And I. as interpreter, shall endeavor to place before you, in a realistic manner, most, the mere vivid of the scenes. PART ONE. It is September, the month, when vacation pleasures are ended and the thots of the young: people again turn toward school. Thepicture of a high school is flashed upon the screen, into which are hurrying groups of boys and girls some with dignified mien and earnest faces; others romping and boisterous; and many, frightened, curious to note, with scared expressions and hesitant manner, seemingly eager and yet reluctant to en- ter the great portals of learning. This latter group is welcomed with the usual affection shown by the upper classmen, and, at last, is assembled in one large rocm. Here their title is found to be Freshmen arid their number ninety-one. What an interesting ap- pearance they make with their annimated faces and shining eyes, frem which radiate the glow of ardeni ambitions and bright dreams of the future. What an inspiration to the teachers to have such ones to grind for four years toward the realization of their hopes! And what a fine spirit is infused into the school by their presence. The scene changes, and the teachers who play the leading role in the first act are introduced; Mr. Brashares, over whose desk the fates of all hang in the balance: Miss Curtiss, whose bright wit and humor make all the more enjoyable the declension of “puella” and the conjunction of •amo:” Mr. Thomas, who so patiently drills into the Knaheu and Madclien, the rudiments of the Teutonic language; Miss Hunt, the fair young teacher of English; Miss Strete. whose depth of mind and heart makes all love her; Professor Hawk, that genius of the lower regions, who strikes terror to the heart of the uninitiated, and last, but not least. Mr. Hickman, back of whose unassuming ap- pearance, has a knowledge of history and mathematics astounding to perceive. These are shown in their respective rooms, in which sit the awed and trembling Freshmen. But as time goes on. and one picture succeeds the other in the portrayal of the busy life of the school room, with its occasional troubles and laughable happenings, the youngsters are seen to gradually lose their self-ccnsciousness ana martyred air, and at last gain an admirable poise, from which nothing can shake them. They are begin- ning to realize that they have a right to exist and that the upper classmen are merely human beings, not as exalted as th' ey seemed at first sight. One important social event is depicted in this first act—the Freshmen reception to their parents. The high school is alight from top to bottom. Girls, in light dresses, flit from one room to the other, proudly showing their fathers and mothers where their study and recitation hours are spent. Boys, trying their best not to appear ill at ease and fail- ing miserably, stand around in inconspicuous corners, and wistfully gaze upon the gay assemblage. In the auditorium, a program of music and speaking is in progress. In the hall, the parents are being served with a delicious beverage. But soon the hour ar- rives for the Freshmen to be in bed. The parents, realizing this, take their departure, after expressing their delight in the evening’s entertainment. The uoor closes upon the last guest and the building is left deserted. (End of Part One.) (18)

Page 19 text:

Why can’t you have that spirit now? It would make it easier for me to crush you! Listen, you damned thief!!” cried Howard, as Tones began to beg for mercy. Howard was all fire now as he leaned forward in his chair, his eyes balls of fire, and his hands clasped thru the arms of the chair so that you could count every vein in them. ‘‘Little you thot that I was Howard Brown when I first came, and it gave me great pleasure to see how easy you were falling for my plans until your daughter came into my life. Then, God! I almost gave up, but to have done that would have broken a promise I made to a dying man. my father. Jones, he never lacked food nor shelter, for he was worth a million when he died, but you had him and with all his money he was nevei the same again. “Now Jones, it is your turn,” cried Howard, bending over Jones1 bended body with uplifted hands as if to strike. “There is no way out for you. You are a marked man! from now on, you cannot secure credit any place because I hold in terest in all the large houses you have been dealing with.” “I have notes with both your son’s and your name signed to them that will take the store, and ycur other debts will take ail the property you own, so you see Mr. Jones, you are in the same position you placed my father in. Now you could have tried in vain to beat that little man across the street but of no avail, for I was backing him and he could have sold at cost till you owed every man in this village.” Seeing that he had inflicted all the harm he could upon the man at the present time, he turned and left the office. Howard, on reaching home about noon found his wife had gone, and a note saying that he should go to her father’s for luncheon. He was thank- ful that he should not have to face the only one he loved. With a determination not to yield an inch he set about getting ready to leave that evening. The men on the bench in front cf the hotel saw him pass down the street in his large white car. and leave the village, but little did they realize that that would be the last they would ever see of Howard Prince as they knew him. FINIS. !•)

Page 21 text:

PART TWO. The scene is again the same, the high-school, but the actors are considerably dimin- ished in number. Many familiar faces are missing and there are but few to fill their places. Put determining to make up in quality what is lacking in quantity, the class makes study a specialty. The beaming face of an other instructor is introduced to the class, that of Miss David- son, the beloved teacher of history, ancient and modern. In the Gymnasium of the high school, a strange tight is seen for the first time. The girls arc receiving gymnastic instruction from a fair faced teacher. Miss Chubb. This is a new course but destined to be of much value in health and physical development. This act is marked by one festal occasion, tlm class picnic to Buckeye lake, at the end of the school year. Before as Jie the blue, unruffled waters of the Lake. On its shores the boys and girls engage in various sports. Suddenly, the picture changes and they are discovered seated on the ground about a feast “fit for the gods.” By their joy- ful countenances, truly this seems to be the big feature of the day. Full of fun and frolic, the scenes of the day proceed, until at last, the shadows lengthen and the evening approaches. The rays ot the setting sun illuminate a glowing pathway upon the shim- mering surface of the lake and far off, near the horizon, the blue of sky and water seems merged into one. With regretful farewells the class start on their homeward journey, its members loathe to part, even for the few short months of summer vacation. (End of Part Two.) PART THREE. And now comes the act. fraught with many new scenes and faces. New situations arise, new roles are created and in the words of Sherlock Holmes, “the plot thickens.” Again, the Class of nineteen sixteen is assembled, this time joined by some not tal- ented enough to stay in their original cast, and others seeking a more renowned field for the development of their remarkable talents.. They have assumed the name of Juniors and Walter Pfe.ffer is chosen as the lead- ing man, the president. The organization of the class is accomplished and each one pledges undying loyalty and faithful support under the colors of emerald and gold. Once more, familiar faces arc gone, this time among the teachers of the school. The jolly principal, Mr. Brashares has sought the hills of Hocking county, and this difficult roie has been undertaken by Herr Professor Thomas; Miss Hunt, true to her name, has sought and found another high school and from behind her desk, smiles the face of the delightful new teacher. Miss Maxwell; Mr. Prugh. whom the sights of a big city have lured away is supplanted by one of nervous temperament, and ready blushes, Mr. Mc- Candlish; the Hawk has grown tired of his prey and in his place there has come a Elood, as mighty as the one of the preceding spring, but not nearly so disastrous. Two wel- come new-comers are Miss Aten, excellent in elocution and literature, and Mr. Drinkle. the boyish leader of the “back-to-the-farm” movement in the high school. At this time is also introduced to the class the well-versed English teacher. Miss Perfect, in whose rocm must all “obstreporous” actions be “eliminated.” And so under these capable directors, the scenes of the school recitations and study run smoothly and present an interesting insight into the daily life of the school. Soon anpears the first social undertaking, the Junioi Hallowe’en Fair. The scene is laid in the Gymnasium of the high school and what a brilliant picture it makes. Occu- pying a prominent position is the new banner of the class in colors of gTecn and gold. Around the walls are the different booths or tents; in which are seen visions of fairy- (19)