McKinley High School - Nugget Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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Page Sixteen What ls Hhead? Let us reflect a few moments on what the future may hold for us. We are about to end an important phase of our lives, one which we shall probably look back upon as the happiest of all. Forgotten will be the trials and tribulations, only the pleasant memories will remain. The future beckons us with promising prospects, and we gladly heed the call. College is in store for some of us, the beginning of life's work for others. All of us view the future with confidence, for who does not think that he goes forth to conquer the world? No matter what we undertake, there will be discouragement as well as triumph, for life is always a challenge-more so now than ever before. Let us aim high, but at the same time, let us realize that we may not achieve everything for which we hope. Let us remember, too, that we are just part of a universe in which everyone has a share. Open minds capable of getting the other felloW's point of view, willingness to co-operate and listen to authority, the ability to lead but still to take second place if necessary, courage to take the blame when we are wrong, and hard, hard Work-all of these will help us meet the future as we should. Whatever we do, let us go forth with courage, knowing that we have in our favor youth and at least a beginning of the background expressed by our motto, Knowledge is power. MARGARET MOECKEL.

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Hcademic Caps and Gowns Oration Delivered at Graduation by MURRAY OLSEN The graduating class of lanuary, 1935, is the first to wear academic caps and gowns. We are, as it were, inaugurating a custom which we hope will produce a democratic feeling among students, discouraging the comparisons that arise when too much emphasis is placed upon dress. Perhaps the classes to follow will also wear caps and gowns, perhaps they will not, but be that as it may, this class will go down on record as the first from McKinley High School to wear academic robes. All countries of the East and West which boast an ancient civilization have some sort of official robes. The tendency in modern times has been to multiply, rather than to diminish, their number. The custom of wearing these robes originated far back in history and is thought to be of ecclesiastical origin. A gown was worn as an official costume on occasions of particular solemnity. As early as the end of the fourteenth century peers seem to have worn some kind of robe of honor for their inaugural ceremony. An illumination on the charter of Kings College, Cambridge, represents the peers in 1446 wearing gowns, mantles and hoods of scarlet. The statutes of certain colleges required of their scholars a tonsure and a habit suitable to a clerk. College and university students in those days were considered as clerks. These students, or clerks, were required to wear long black gowns. About the time of Queen Elizabeth square caps began to appear. These caps are sometimes called four-corner caps or black caps. They first appeared in judicial dress. The judges of the courts used to wear caps when they were about to pronounce sentence upon a man. Somehow these caps became associated with colleges. The University of Paris was first to adopt them. Thereafter the custom spread, and by 1520 square caps were in general use as an integral part of academic dress. ln the United States the custom of wearing official robes is not so old. Iohn Iay, first Chief Iustice of the Supreme Court, set the fashion by sitting in the LL.D. gown. Since that time the custom has grown enormously. ln 1893 an intercollegiate commission drafted a uniform code for academic caps, gowns and hoods, which has since been accepted by some seven hundred colleges and universities in the United States. From what l have said I hope you understand the practical and historic significance of this universal custom of wearing special gowns at graduation. Since we consider our graduation a solemn and dignified affair, we wish to appear in solemn and dignified dress. We of the graduating class of Ianuary, 1935, are proud to be the first to introduce this appropriate custom at McKinley High School. Page Eighteen