Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

Page 12 text:

IO SENIOR YEAR BOOK. A SOPHOMORE’S DESCRIPTION OP THE SENIOR CLASS. As I looked at the Senior Class, I was amazed at their great beauty. They are only twelve in number and it is astonishing what grace and agility are combined in their small number. At the back of the room near the window, sat the star member of the class. He is noted for his great beauty, when he holds his hand over his nose, when it is partially concealed. He is very industrious, and was busily studying a book. Phoebe Nelson held her head down on her desk so that we could see little Joseph. In front of her is Ezra Porter, he is quite good-looking, when he can keep his eyes off Grace Seaman, because when I looked at him he was looking cross-eyed at her. Maysie Kious sits in front of the President’s seat. She is very industrious and was noticable because she had no beaming smile on her face. She had on a dark dress with .a blue yoke and had her hair done up on top of her head. In front of her sits Lizzie Cleary. She had on a green dress and had her hair hanging down her b ick. She was laughing as were all of the class but two. Laura Dennis sits in front of her. She had on a blue dress with a white yoke. She was gazing at our class and possibly she wondered what we were doing. Blanche Freeman was studying her lesson so as to make a good impression on us I suppose, or set us a good example. She had on a brown dress, and had her hair stuck on the back of her head with a small gilt ring. Jennie Cleary seemed to be studying, but I doubt if she was, you can never tell anything about that class anyway. Anna Hanson was behind her and she was talking to Stella Vane. She had on a green dress with with green velvet trimming. One could tell nothing about Stella Vane’s face, because she was smiling from one ear to the other. If she could only get her lips together she might be as nice as Laura Gibson, who sits behind her. Laura had on a plaid dress with green velvet trimming on it. Last, but not least, is little Grace Seaman. She was afraid we would see her blushing because Ezra was looking cross-eyed at her, so she held her hand on her head and pretended studying her lesson. Taken as a whole the class seems to be an extremely studious one.

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SENIOR YEAR BOOK. 9 MOMBNCB HIGH SCHOOL. The organization of the High School department of the Momence Union Is was completed by Prof. G. H. White in 1875 and a three years English ' . as follows, was adopted. FIRST YEAR. Mathematics, Language, U. S. History, Physical Geography, Ancient H »‘ory, Algebra, Essays and Elocution. SECOND YEAR. Latin, Caesar and Cicero, Roman History, Physical Geography, Geometry, -bra. Botany, Zoology, Grecian History, Essays and Elocution. THIRD YEAR. Latin, Cicero and Virgil, Trigonometry, Physiology, Astronomy, Surveying, ogy, Ornithology, Essays and Elocution. There was also a Latin and Scientific course, and a course in modern lan es. besides instruction in music, book-keeping and telegraphy. The enrollment of 1875-77 was 85, nearly half being tuition pupils. June 1, 1877, the first class, consisting of seven young ladies and one young . .. was graduated, the exercises being held in the First Baptist Church, which - filled to over flowing. The young ladies, neatly attired in white dresses, mended and laundried, . the young man, attired in a homespun suit, previously sponged and pressed : r the occasion, were the proudest graduates ever sent out from the school-— • r nd. not because they had set the pace for commencement costumes, but, that y had achieved the definite purpose in view. Following Mr. White’s resignation in the spring of ’77, the change of Su- rinteudents from year to year, so broke into the work, that nomore classes were . luated until ’82 and ’83, under Prof. R. A. Beebe’s superintendency. After Mr. Beebe’s resignation, frequent changes again interrupted the work . . ’ no more graduations occurred until ’92, under Prof. H. P. Little’s superin¬ tendency. With the exception of the year of ’97, when the course was changed to four rs, a class has been graduated each year. The total number of graduates to the present date is ninety-nine. Nine jperintendents have served during this time. in the earlier history the course of study was complicated and the method •f discipline monarchial. The present course of study is practical and the ■rhod of discipline democratic, showing that our High School is keeping pace with the demands of the times. Each member of the school to-day stands as a - presentative citizen, recognizing the fact that with him rests the knowledge nd the power to do the right, and that he is Expected to do it.

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SENIOR YEAR BOOK i SEOTOE PEOGEAM. 1 n Nov. 29, 1901, the senior class gave a miscellaneous program. Of :-e, it goes without saying, that each number on the program was well given. The principal feature was a farce, by William Dean Howells, entitled: “The Garroters.” The Following is the Cast of Characters. MR. ROBERTS, MRS. ROBERTS WILLIS CAMPBELL, MR. BEMIS, . DR. BEMIS, MRS. DR. BEMIS, AUNT MARY, JOSEPH GIBEAULT ESTELLA VANE EZRA PORTER . .PROFESSOR LITTLE MR. BONN LAURA GIBSON ANNA HANSON The Miscellaneous Program was as Follows: CHORUS, ADDRESS OF WELCOME, VOCAL DUET, THANKSGIVING STORY,-. ORATION, QUARTET ESSAY, RECITATION, VOCAL SOLO, READING, INSTRUMENTAL DUET, CLASS h— LAURA GIBSON 5 BLANCHE FREEMAN t LAURA GIBSON LAURA DENNIS PHOEBE NELSON LAURA GIBSON,. BLANCHE FREEMAN, GRACE SEAMAN ESTELLA VANE ..ELIZABETH CLEARY MAYSIE KIOUS ESTELLA VANE JENNIE CLEARY GRACE SEAMAN ESTELLA VANE Everybody seemed highly pleased and the seniors were grateful for the pat- nage they received. Mr. Gibeault played the part of Mr. Roberts as it should be played. Re¬ marks were made by some of the young ladies, “how cute he is.” It was lucky - at Mrs. Roberts wasn’t around. People talk of women losing their heads but n sometimes occurs that men lose their heads as well as women. Mr. Roberts as as incapable of self-control as Mrs. Roberts, and when the husband loses bis head, how can the wife be expected to keep hers? The part of Mr. Willis Campbell just suited Mr. Porter. Indeed, he seemed K tie the prince of prevaricators. Poor old Mr. Bemis! He certainly “had troubles of his own!” People al¬ ways know that when Mr. Little takes part in any kind of a Farce Comedy, or what not, it is always full of spirit and always goes off well. By the way the oor man sewed his coat, the ladies could say, “How little a man knows about -ewing.” Dr. Bemis, who tried to play the spy on Mr. Willis, found the “tables turned” after awhile but the young doctor bore it bravely and was to be congrat- nh ted. His wife, seemed to be “a giddy young thing,” but just the same, if the people were to investigate, they would surely find that she did a great deal help her husband out of his difficulties. Last, but not least, comes Aunt Mary and although she was somewhat of a •rank, her patience seemed to be severely tried by silly Mrs. Roberts. She play - her part well and looked after her niece and nephew as all good aunties should.