Mason High School - Anchora Yearbook (Mason, MI)

Page 18 text:

Salutatory We welcome you tonight to our class day exercises, an event which means much to us for we shall in a few days be passing forth from Mason High School out into the world where we shall strike out for ourselves. The prospect rouses strange feelings within us as it does with every class that has to bid goodbye to the old school bell and cast loose moorings. Yet this is a wonderful time, just now, with such unlimited opportuni- ties, such a roseate expanse of landscape whose like has never before been seen, that we forget how sorry we are to leave behind our school life. What class from Mason High School ever came forth into such a world as the class of '19 shall. A world, which, though it is far from settled and out of danger, has by a great war, in which America played a very decisive part been made safe for democracy, in this time in which we are living, and in which auto- cracy and kings have been overthrown that the people may rule and Liberty be known over all the earth. A world where justice, right, and God prevailg and a sympathy and broadness of outlook, and a growth, and deeper and better living character- ize people. A nation and a world where patriotism has a new meaning and significance. A world where America is honored and looked to for help among all nations. In this live and wonderful world, in this time of progress there are opportunities without number for the man or woman with an education. It is the one who has the education who is going to take a vital part in the reconstruction. It is the one with an education who is fitted to help his country in an intelligent way, to have an active interest in the future of his country. To parents and to teachers, to Mason community we owe a debt beyond measure for the very creditable foundation of an education and for ideals we have gained. I hope we shall be worthy. BERNICE PARKER.

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Valedictory The achievement of high school aims is the genesis of later undertak- ings. The heights of the comparatively small successes which we have attained here only whets our mental appetite for greater issues and are but the foundations for the greater success which we hope to build in the future. Life is but a structure. The building of a life is begun in what high school signifies to us. We can best say farewell to these sacred corridors by following the teachings that our course has given us. As the founda- tion stones of the city skyscraper are hidden from the view of him who gazes upon its towering walls, so our many fundamental lessons will become unseen as life's structure is reared. They are there nevertheless. N o one can describe the partings of today g all that it means to us to separate from those with whom we have worked for so long. What makes the class of 1919 is pressed from the same mould as that which may be boasted of by other graduates. We have finished our course. Finished did I say? Rather we are just beginning. As we step out into life, doors are flung open to usg voca- tions beckon usg vast fields are fertile for the sowing and our chance to enter the struggle for success has come. When opportunity knocks we must answer and live up to what others expect of us, and we must not dis- appoint ourselves. We all have visions of what we are going to do after graduation and now it is our duty to materialize our dreams and: Welcome each rebuff That turns earth's smoothness rough, Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go! Be our joys three parts pain! Strive, and hold cheap the strainj Learn, nor account the pangg dare, never grudge the throe. ETHEL BALDWIN.

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History of the Class of 1919 An old lady sat in a large armed chair with two little children on her lap, before the fireplace, in which was a crackling fire. The wind whistled outside and the snow was falling fast. The room was dark, all but for the light from the flames of the fire. She had been questioning the children as to what they had learned that day. Finally, the children were put to sleep by her stories and questions, and she too fell into a slumber and dreamed of when she was a small child, of her own school days. Two little girls, Esther Greve and Marjorie Dean, stood in a large square room filled with little low tables and little bright red chairs, and lots of other girls and boys who were gazing bashfully at one another. The teacher took them by the hand and told them, how they would have one of the bright red chairs to sit in and they would soon know all the other little girls and boys. So the two little girls started in school and were the beginning of the Class of 1919. These days soon passed by. Years came which were harder and full of study. The class which the little girls had belonged to now came to be the eighth grade. This year became more important to the class as it had officers and parties, and also knew that in 1919 it was to pass out as graduated students. This happy year soon passed and the Class of 1919, entered upon the most trying time of all, the Freshman year in high school with several new members. They had to endure the remarks of the higher grades. But they soon became more acquainted and enjoyed several parties, one of which was a marshmallow roast and others of like nature. Soon the Freshman year, happy in spite of being annoyed and conflicts with other classes passed by and took the position of Sophomores. This year, the class was joined by two new members, Gwendolyn Cushman and Ray Phillips and also lost some. It was that year which was pleasantly spent at the M. E. church and was more enjoyed, especially, being on the Honor Roll. The class were happy to know that the next year they were to enter a new building. In the Sophomore year sleigh ride parties were very popular even when most of the load were made to push the sleigh and also to be joined by the Juniors. A feed was given to the faculty in the same year. As weeks passed away and school opened again, the class found them- selves Juniors, with two new members, Melita Kaiser and Marion Curtis, ready to sit in the large auditorium as upper classmen, and ready to settle