Lincoln High School - Lincolnian Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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29 THE LINCOLN IAN Forgiveness for a jest unskillful done. Like a ' great cloud shrouding the potent sun, So the old master’s visage clouds with wrath ; Woe be to him who cross’d that monarch’s path ! Fast does the rod descend, wild cries of pain Are heard above the shuffle and the din; The master’s wrath is broken like a storm, The frightened swains are now full safe from harm, Old David’s adage has been fulfilled well, Many a back burns like the fires of hell ! Now, take a peep into the master’s room, Where many a rural swain has met his doom. It is a grotesque place, though cleanly kept — • ’Twas by the pedagogue most thoroughly swept On yesterday after his wards were gone And the worthy was left to muse alone. An ancient organ in one corner stands, ’Tis played upon by all the rural hands; The home-made seats, backless, uncouth and hard, Contain the cream of all the village hoard; The master, skilled in pranks of idle minds, Is watching for the smallest bit of signs. Siyly he glances o’er his brass-rimmed glass To catch some stealthy movement ere it pass. Hear yon gaunt youth reading of Caesar’s fall Stumbling and falling o’er assertions tall; Hear the commanding voice, the master’s hands Pound the old desk till it rocks where it stands. Hear the low snicker of some stripling bold Unable to restrain a laughing soul; See the go.od master look the culprit down, See the wrong-doer’s nerve sink to the ground ; The threatening rod is lifted toward the sky, And thank Jehovah, it remains on high! The humming of those studying with full minds Impress the master as trustworthy signs. Oft have I felt the weight of that large hand, Oft have I trembled ’neath the piercing scan Of the all-potent master, whose stern rule Was tyranny within the little school. —MELVIN TOLSON. VOCATIONAL TRAINING GAS ENGINE DEPARTMENT. Many of the great universities of the United States which heretofore have lain stress solely upon higher education, are now freely introducing special courses of instruction both vocational and non-voca- tional. There is great need of specialized courses which lead to occupations outside of law, medicine and theology, thereby providing the masses a better opportunity for a wider usefulness to themselves and others. This .fact has been well recognized by the school authorities of Lincoln High School, and is being brought into practical ac- count in its departments of applied sciences and manual arts. The course is one of two years. The work begins in the blacksmith shop, where the student learns the classes and kinds of materials that should be used in different parts of machinery, and how to forge them. Machine shop work follows. Here the student is taught how to finish materials for machinery and do finish work. Then we begin with gas engine machinery. All the parts are learned with their functions, the assembling of the parts or the setting up of the engine, great care being taken with the ignition system. On the completion of the course the stu- dent is able to be first aid man, thus en- abling him to execute a practical knowl- edge of machinery.

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28 THE LINCOLNIAN RETROSPECTION T When the wild winds swept from the ster- ile north, Pouring all of their long-held violence forth, ’Tis there that I can have my soul’s de- light Musing before I go to bed at night. Thinking of days and times in the past Before my hair was whitened by the blast Of many winters ; and my soul was free As any wand’ring wind on land or sea, As free as any being of the air, Living on high where all is of the fair. The bright red flames, which make one feel so good, Burn bright and brighter, calling for more wood ; The gloomy shadows flicker on the walls, The broken branch against the gable falls, E’er rousing one from out his reverie As a strong wind rouses a placid sea; The dozing cat becomes more still and then I feel lonely and more lonely within. Fain would I lift me from this humble strand And view again a land that was my land In the fair days of the long, long ago, Ah, if I might in retrospection show The glories and the beauties of that shore, Which lies within the shadowy days of yore. I soon become a little boy again Wand’ring o’er vale and hill. In the small glen Playing the parts of warriors gone long since Into a clime to gain their recompense. Battling against the enemy with huge swords Fashioned from father’s brandnew fenc- ing boards ; Nor giving o’er, when night pursuing day, Makes it so dark no light is left for play; Striving to win the field at any cost, Until my mother, thinking I am lost, Comes with wild cries pf direful punish- ment, Then the combatting forces break — con- tent. Each disappearing in the shades of night, I’m left alone to face my awful doom; Bracing myself, but bent by the full might Of mother’s potent hand, I’m guarded home. Brought home to suffer agony — brought home To be shut in a dark imp-haunte,d room, Which fills my soul with preternatural fears, Which cause my eyes to inundate with tears. O if I might escape this chamber bare! O how I feel the rising of each hair ! You demons, wafting them adown the air, Drive me into the shadows of despair ! And now I see the demon known as Death, Descending to bereave me .of my breath; And now I see the devil with his host, Ascending from the regions of the lost. 0 ruler of the clime of Gloominess, Canst thou list to the moanings of the soul? Why dost thou stand thy heart o’ercome with bliss, While I sink into regions bleak and cold? 1 start out of my chair, my hair on ends, Haunted by the wild spectre of my sins ; And find my hand too near the angry stove, Which tells me in its sign language to move. The dozing cat awakened by my cry, Stretching himself, lets out a lifeless sigh; Seeing his master in a fit of pain, He looks askant and falls asleep again. There stands the little school house on the hill, Hard by bubbles a limpid mountain rill; O’er-shadowing stream and hut a giant oak Spreads its huge branches, while a ver- dant cloak Of deepest green arrays the mighty king And timid song birds light thereon to sing. The sylvan logs, plastered with yellow clay, Bake in the rays of the great prince of day ; The regal master stands within the door Cudgel in hand, while rustic swains im- plore

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f V 30 THE LINCOLNIAN BOYS AT WORK ON OUR NEW 7 SHOP OPPORTUNITY FOR INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The industrial training which is being introduced in our high schools is a great advantage to boys and girls for two rea- sons : First, many like industrial subjects better than literary subjects, and they will remain in school longer if these subjects are taught to them. Second, many boys and girls have to leave school early and would get better positions and better wages if they knew some trade. For these two reasons our school board has started the construction of a number of buildings for vocational training in our high schools, just as has been done in other parts of the city. One of the most recent interest is ma- sonry, which deals with cement work, brick laying and motar mixing. Five weeks ago thirty boys under the instruction of Mr. Galliard, began this course of masonry. During the first few days we received in- struction how to mix mortar, how to build a flue, to start a wall, and how to bring up a corner. At the beginning of the third week we started on our building, which is 51 feet front and 49 feet deep, and has five walls. The wall on the north is 49 feet long and 23 feet high and 12 inches wide; number of bricks, 15,866. The wall on the east is 49 feet deep, 23 feet high, 12 inches wide; number of bricks, 5,455. The number of bricks in these walls is 54,638, of which there are two kinds — common and vitri- fied brick. The vitrified brick cost $20 a thousand and the common $10 a thousand. It cost $15 a thousand to lay vitrified and $6 a thousand to lay the common brick. The opportunity for the boys to do this work will not only save the taxpayers of the city, but also give us a chance to get an education in a trade that will enable us to make good wages when we have fin- ished. THEODORE RICKETTS. SEWING DEPARTMENT. Owing to the large number of girls this year there are two teachers for the sew- ing department — Miss Hingston and Miss Baker. With two teachers so willing to assist the students in any way possible,