Manlius High School - Mirror Devil Yearbook (Manlius, IL)

Page 19 text:

SENIOR HISTORY In the fall of 1936, twenty-nine students enrolled as Freshmen in M. H. S. Many of them were starry-eyed with awe and wonder. Others were gay, blitheful and happy. Many had never been in a high school and were very reticent toward the other students. But as a whole this group of young students was bent on gaining a wider scope of knowledge and was interested, primarily in gaining a higher education in order to be better prepared for later years. During our first year we were under the supervision of the Principal, Mr. Hake and associate teachers, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Peart, Miss Beyer, Miss Nelson and Miss Wulz. To introduce us to this new and very unfamiliar life, we were honored at an annual initiation party sponsored by the Sophomores. Although the initiation was new and difficult for some of the students everyone entered it with the spirit of good sportsmanship which has prevailed during the entire four years. During the first year we were sorry to lose four of our classmates—Gail and Gilbert Gish, Viola Ray and Margaret Pitts. But we were also fortunate in that we gained two new students—Viva Pierson and Ralph Jones. After a happy three months vacation we again returned to the school room. This time we were much more confident and assured. We found many new changes this year. Miss Mensendick, Miss Stalter, Mr. Curtis replaced Miss Wulz, Miss Beyer and Mr. Peart. Mrs. Hake and Miss Langford were also part-time teachers. Five of our classmates failed to return to continue their high school career. When we returned for our Junior year we really settled down to study in earnest. We found three new classmates awaiting us. At this time many important events of our school year began to take place. We gave a very successful play entitled, Easy Money.” In the early part of the year many of the Juniors attended a trial at Ottawa and later visited the state penitentiary at Joliet. A very exciting time was spent by all. One of the most important events in our Junior year was the Junior-Senior Banquet. We Juniors were hosts to the very cultured and dignified Seniors. We lavishly entertained them at the Hotel Kaskaskia in LaSalle. After the banquet we attended the movie, ' Love Affair.” We feel justly proud of this banquet as the Seniors, one by one, confessed that they had a wonderful time. Our last and beyond all doubt, the most important year of our high school life was our senior year. We gained Lauraetta Stoens and Jack Coleman, making our class the largest graduating class in the history of M. H. S. Although this year was our busiest year, we all agree that it was also our happiest. Dramatics, athletics, the annual, weekly school paper, literary contests, music and other activities claimed much of our extra-curricular time. On April 12, the seniors visited Bradley College in Peoria and many formed the opinion that they would enjoy college life. On May 3, we presented our senior play entitled Spring Fever,” a farce comedy in three acts. We were also entertained by the Juniors at La Salle at the annual Junior-Senior Banquet. During our last week of school we took our senior trip which was enjoyed greatly by all. Our four years of high school life have drawn to a close. We must admit that we have endured many hardships, trials, disappointments and many of our ambitions which we have always had have been shattered because we were not suited for some type of business. However, we must admit that we have had much joy and happiness during these four fleeting years and our only hope is that we may be admired by future generations as the class that lived a clean, wholesome and worthwhile high school life. May the students in years to come profit much from our experience.