Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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distinguished citizens, calling themselves 'fSeniors, could surpass her, and Ninta Foura soon saw, to her own satisfaction at least, that they could not. As soon as the snow melted away she bethought herself to go botanizing. Equipped with the well remembered tin box and its worn leather strap, she started on her pilgrimage. She walked, and walked, yet found no Howers, at last, having wandered over many wet and weary miles, returned, exhausted, and next day received a U goose eggli for her pains. It Her experience in chemistry she seldom refers to, but on concluding this study she might sum up the results something after this fashion: Acids not good for the complexion, alkalies are bad for the eyes, chlorine gas and sulphureted hydrogen are very effective, experimental chemistry is not good for the clothing. VVhen eleven years of her life had passed, and in everything she had undertaken she had excelled, in a most prosperous condition she entered upon the twelfth and last year of her maidenly existence. She was now known as a Senior.'7 The summit had been reached. Theidays of this year were to be more busy and efllorescent than ever before, she was looked up to with awe, 4' And still they gazed, , ii And still their wonder grew, That one small head Could carry all she knew. Though her position appeared to her to be of great importance, she did not overrate it, nor was anyone ever more capable of maintaining it with dignity and decorum. She dedicated the evening of the third Friday of every month to the review of some author. Not that this was necessary for the development of .her own literary attainments, but she thought it best to set a good example for the succeeding Seniors. After thoughtful and careful consideration she decided to try the philosophy of Oliver Wendell Holmes, to laugh with Rudyard Kipling, that Anglo-Indian, to glance at Count Tolstoi, and his work of reform among the Russian peasants, through George William Curtis to visit New York society, to consider the attempted reforms of Victor Hugo, to enter the lives of some of the ancients with Lord Lytton, then to study F. Marion Crawfordis 3

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, Her figure was erect and the poise of her head was queenly, and yet on the day that she first entered the assembly room of the Temple of Learning, vulgarly termed the Lansing High School, with all the higher class men sitting or standing back so as to make room for her, she knew many of the eyes following he-r were unappreciative, and not all of the smiles were complimentary, and in fact she heard some remarks about HFreshmen not conducive to self- esteem. But she consoled herself with the reflection that her true worth was as yet unknown and the day would soon come when her brilliantattainments would command respect. T Here Ninta Foura first tasted the bitter cup of human selfishness. She discovered that the higher class men had neither time nor inclination to recognize' or appreciate merit not their own. Ninta Foura was thoroughly American. Her admiration Xfor her' country was even greater than her .esteem for herself. 'In order that this sentiment might be kept con- stantly before those to succeed her, she erected monuments to perpetuate the memory of her country's martyred presidents, Lincoln and Garfield. , A At last the time came for her to show the higher class men what she could do. On March 27th, 1893, a great' multitude filled the assembly room. A platform had been erected, which with its surroundings was draped with her favorite color, cardinal. There was a pause, and then a hush in the undertone which had filled the room, as she stepped forth and astonished them with her learning in Greek, Latin and German. Some, it is true, did not enjoy this display of learning, but that was not the fault of Ninta Foura. i D Previous to this, scholars had assembled from neighboring lands to display their accumu- lation of knowledge. Among other things they held a debate with Ninta Foura. They did very well, but they first made an error in assuming such a tremendous undertaking. The victory of N inta Foura was overwhelming, and the multitude cheered l Then came the invi- tation to contest with them on their -own ground, which was accepted. Ninta Foura, and the other class men, were beautifully received. She returned from this contest with colors flying and head held high. Then there were the orations and declamations of Ninta F oura for the edification of the other class men. They certainly -had never been equalled before, and it is doubtful if those

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pictures of Roman life 5 and last, take a look at the dreamy life studies of Ike Marvel. The study of these authors resulted in the production of many masterful reviews, the publication of which would have secured immortal fame for Ninta Foura. to Ninta Foura that it would be most As this last year came toward its close, it seemed suitable to have her photograph taken to give to her friends. She had that most excellent face of herls photographed in thirty different poses. This was not that she was vain, but that she fully appreciated herself and, thought it Was for the good of her fellow citizens that they see such complete mental development in as many different lights as possible. She as an intellectual being, is a success, and is now about to leave this Temple of Learn- 7 ing and take part in the practical duties of the World,--to surprise it with her marvelous achievements. Whether she Will fail or succeed in this last attempt remains for our sagacious class prophet to forecast and time to prove. it r RUTH JESSIE SHANK. . w X x ,,5,,hy f 4 M , Wag ' 4 ':3-'- Zz!