Le Roy Central School - O At Kan Yearbook (Le Roy, NY)

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THE O-AT-KAN 1.912 continue in a given course in spite of discourngements. The practical meaning of Perseverance is, that quality which aids in producing a man who does not know defeat. The foundation of Perseverance is optimism. No man is persevering unless he is nn opto- mist. Did you ever see a pessimist, a man seeing nothing in the world worth living for, who pos- sessed the smallest particle of Perseverance? The man who lives his life in the passive voice: intent on what he can get rather than what he can do, will never accomplish anything. To the persevering man the great problems of life have no terrors. He is undaunted by the difficult tasks that arise in his path. because the future, veiled to the procrastinator, is opened to his eyes and he can see success waiting to crown his efforts. Review our history. Do you remember how persevering Columbus was? For fifteen years he battled with many hardships before he succeeded in obtaining aid for his plan to find a new route to the East Indes. Though he did not find the route he was desirous of, he accomplished something far greater. he discovered a new world. Turn to the time when those sturdy Pilgrims landed upon that stern and rock bound coast of New England. Why did they not turn their faces from the hardships that confronted them? Fortified by Perseverance they came to America to stay, and in the long. fierce struggle that ensued they were victorious. Note the many other early settlers and pioneers. men who fought for Amer'ica's liberty, the men who conquered the great West. These were the men who laid the foundation of America as it is to-day, stretching in stately grandeur from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Ninety per cent. of all our inventions can be traced to Perseverance. Cyrus Field met all sorts of opposition in his determination to lay the cable across the Atlantic, but after five unsuc- cessful attempts, he accomplished this remarkable feat. Samuel Morse toiled unfalteringly for Efteen years before he perfected the telegraph and caused the world to recognize its efficiency. The Wright brothers labored eight years on the theory of aeronautics before their efforts were crowned with success. Such men as these are the men who make the nation. They have come, seen and conquered, until now there is no element that is not under the control of Perseverance. What factor has brought the class of Nineteen-twelve before you tonight? Perseverance. Twelve years ago these members began their first steps in fundamental education. We mastered the alphabet, reading and writing. And through the long struggle, through the district, the the union and the high school every discouragement and obstacle has been overcome. Now we are before you, twenty-two strong, about to launch upon the stormy sea of life. Some of our number will take up their favored professions at once, others will enter higher institutions of leaming, but no matter what our calling in Life may be, we are fortified with that great gift--- Perseverance-and are bound to succeed, for: What is worth Success' name But carrying out a noble project to a noble end. did!! Class Poem Winifred Philleo On the shore beside a sunny brook just four short years ago, Where the waves could roar and leap and the sand looked white as snow, Where ripples washed their faces and the sun could warm their backs, Lay twenty-two little pebblesg still, as if set there in wax. Not a passerby noticed or gave them a glance as they lay on the shore, But simply walked over and past them and tho't of them no more: Such insigniicant pebbles as they could hardly expect To be the center of notice or even have show of respect. ' One day as a lover of nature, an elderly gentleman passed, He stooped, and smiled as he did it, while a handful of pebbles he grasped. Now at last those same little pebbles, respected and cherished were they, For he found in their midst a treasure, a pearl resplendant and gay.

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THE oA r KAN 1912 Class History Edna Albee HOULD I attempt the entire history of the Class of 1912 a volume could scarcely contain it- You have surely read numerous accounts of the exploits of this class, for many and success- ful have its ventures been. It was on the 24th of April, 1911, that we first came into prom- inence, when we organized as Juniors with the following oliicers: President, Fred Walkley, Vice President, Vera Rogersg Secretary, Winifred Philleog Treasurer, McKie Donnan. Purple and white were chosen as class colors and the Fleur de Leis as class flower. Our first stunt was the placing of a dummy representing a Senior, in a tree in front of the new H. S. The Seniors allowed it to remain till noon when one of their number removed it. From this time on the class was busy planning for the Junior Prom which was held in the gym- nasium April 28 and pronounced by all a success socially and financially. On May 8th the class, at the request of Mr. Whittaker, signed a treaty with the Seniors and as a symbol of friendly feel- ing the classes met and hung their banners together. Our next problem was the choosing of one- of our number to deliver the Junior reply. Louis Bauer was selected because of his oratorical ability and convincing qualities. The last evening in May the class enjoyed a ride to the home of the President, Mr. Walkley, where we were delightfully entertained. Later the rival classes and members ofthe faculty accepted the invitation of Mr. Artman and his sister to spend the evening at their home. After the examinations, Commencement week with its gaities followed. On class night we attended in a body and did our best to make the program interesting. Friday evening the banquet which our class gave to the class of 1911, was an event of sadness as well as pleasure. It was the last meeting of the classes with our beloved friend and leader, Professor Whittaker, and two of our esteemed teachers, Miss MacRostie and Mr. Frost. The latter, as toast- master, by his genial smile and humor did much to make the occasion more enjoyable. Satur- day we were entertained by the Seniors at a picnic at Horseshoe Lake. This ended our Junior year. We organized as Seniors Feb. 7th., 1912 with 24 members and the following ofhcers: Pres- ident, Vera Rogersg Vice President, Franklin Bundy, Secretary, Agnes Woosterg Treasurer, Fred Walkley. The same colors were retained but the flower was changed to the White Rose. March lst the class and guests enjoyed a sleighride to Batavia where skating was the enter- tainment ofthe evening. Previous to this the Juniors had selected as their motto We lead, others follow, but instead of leading us on this night they followed, and before the evening was over arrived at the rink. March 23rd a meeting was called at which time the editors of the year book, The O-at-kan, were elected, and sales were held at various times for the purpose of raising money to help. The motto, We Finish, to begin, was adopted. May 3rd the Senior play, The Freshman, was given to a well filled house and it was pronounced a great sucess. Two of our most enjoyable spreads were, one held at Buttermilk Falls and another held at midnight in the new high school, the first ever enjoyed there. June Sth, the Junior class, as a reward for their treatment of our class, were invited to a joint spread at the home of Mr. Artman, one of our members. And so I might continue. By this brief outline one would think that the Class of 1912 had done nothing but have a good time but this is not true. Several completed their high school course in January. Others gained sufficient laurels to warrant their victory in june. One evi- dence of the ability of the class and of the hard work done by it, is the year book, The O-at-kan, the first ever published in the history of the school. -ia'-fill' Class ration B. Franklin Bu ndy' F the various elements that make for a good man there are none 'of more importance than Perseverance. Webster defines Perseverance as the act of persevering, persistence as anything undertaken, continued pursuit or prosecution of any businessgor enterprise begun. The word Perseverance traces its origin to the Latin word Perseverp, which meansjto

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f . e THE O-AT-KAN 1912 As he saw that, another was glistening, but they both slipped out of his hand, And the tide came in with a roaring and washed them down the strand- And never had anyone seen them, the gems that were hidden therein, And he no more than knew it when they passed on down the stream. There were other gems among them, but they were m0deSt, Sedafe, V And never pushed forward to show all their beauty and splendor innate. And some were only brown pebbles with scarcely the trace of a glow, But they found their place in the stream and followed, faithful but slow. And they found the sea a large one with room enough for all To go their own desired way, or the way of the water's call. But for four short years they traveled down a channel side by side, Sharing each other's vexations through whirlpools, rapids or tideS- The last two years of their journey they seemed more united as one, The channel grew narrow and harder, their trifling years were gone. Each little pebble was laboring to first reach the ocean main, Tho' there in the vast expanse of sea they might seek each other in vain. And so have we like the pebbles, gone down the stream as one, And when we reach the ocean and begin for ourselves alone, We may .forget our comrades, with whom we cheered and sang In the high school days of long ago, when the halls with laughter rang. Tho' we leave the stream for the ocean, tho' the ocean be broad and wide, Still let us remember our schoolday friends, in spite of the winds and the tide. We're just beginning the great life work that each of us has to do, May we in all the years to come to our,Alma Mater be true. fiiffiii Extracts from Commencement Parts Salutatory Address Ellen Hill - Let us go back to the days of Ancient Greece, to the city of Delphi. Today are gathered within its walls the greatest musicians of all Greece, to contest for the prize to be awarded the most accomplished competitor. The great master comes forth and holds his audience enrap- tured by notes pure and sweet, notes almost divine. Another and another gifted musician sways the assembled group by the magic of his music until only the last, a poor, obscure competitor, makes his way forward. How can he gain the prize among so many masters? He holds his hearers spellbound. The divine harmony ceases. A string has broken. The audience waits in breathless suspense. Softly and gently a note sweeter, purer, clearer than all the rest fills in the broken harmony. A cricket, charmed by the mystic music, has filled in the missing note. Ah! how many missing notes, how many broken harmonies in lives are supplied by simpler things than the chirp of a cricket. How many men and women have needed but a suggestion to move them to great deeds. Friends, to-night is our Feast of Appolo. To it we bid you each and all a hearty welcome. We have striven to do our best to produce unbroken harmony, but it rests with you to supply the missing notes with your sympathy, and help us make our feast one great harmonious song of success. A The Wizard of the 20th Century Louis E. Bauer Edison's seven hundred patents have not been gained without years of labor. In this way he has spent his life, aiding humanity to a grander civilization. Today we should honor hirn,e0t