Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

Page 5 text:

THE JUNIOR YEAR BOOK Page Number 5 AT MOMENCE ON THE KANKAKEE. BY MABEL GROVES Long, long ago—so long it seems A memory from the realm of dreams One summer day I sauntered down Into a charming little town; I walked along a river’s brink, And watched a thirsty robin drink, And said, “I think I’ll stay and see What this town has in store for me, This Momence, on the Kankakee.” Long years I tarried, till I knew The little city through and through, And then, upon one luckless day Constrained was I to go away From all I’d held so close and dear, To try another atmosphere; And stranger eyes looked up at me And “0,” I sighed, “again to be At Momence, on the Kankakee.” And as the years go sweeping on, Full many a time I think upon The dear old days, so full of joy, And many a face of girl or boy Comes back to me o’er memory’s path, And sometimes, when a ringing laugh Chimes out where other youngsters be I think, “My, how that sounds to me Like Momence, on the Kankakee.” Sometimes, in classic college halls Or on the campus, where foot-ball’s The topic oftenest in the lead, In twinkling eyes a tale that oft In days gone by, made tempers soft, And know each power can only be In eyes that first the daylight see In Momence, on the Kankakee. So when a lad with serious air Writes me that he’s the “Editair” And says he’s sure that it would look About the thing for “oftr Year Book” If I should write a bit of Verse Says I, “We’ll try; You can’t do worse Than yOu have done.” So here you see What some call verse, inscribed by me, To Momence, on the Kankakee.” M. Cr.

Page 4 text:

Page Number 4 Death, the unconquerable enemy of the race,alone could conquer the spirit of Ezra Porter. During his short life his ideals were high, and he succeeded in ac¬ complishing many of his desires, and was well educated ' for the profession of teaching. His example was one worthy of emulation, and his life was that of a true? Christian. As a teacher he was devoted to his work and his influence on the students was for good in every re¬ spect. As in the case of Lloyd Crosby we may re-echo the question, “Oh, Why? Oh, Why?” And still receive no answer. But when this little span of life is past and and we meet beyond the river, then shall we understand. THE JUNIOR YEAR BOOK DEATH OF A. S. VAIL. The death of Mr. A. S. Vail deserves a notice in the columns of the Year Book. He was the oldest man in the county, his age being almost a century. He was born in Canada, May 9, 1811, and in 1812 moved with parents to Vermont,! where he grew to manhood, and in 1836 came West and settled first at Beebe’s Grove, then in Will county. He was one of the first set¬ tlers in Momenee, and hunted the Avild deer and turkey on the present site of Momenee Mr. Vail made his home in this vicinity the most of his life. He Avas Justice of the Peace for many years. His long life Avas due to his regular habits, and the fact he kept his mind working. His motto was: “Don’t Avor- ry. ” Mr. Vail went South last fall, hoping to escape an attack of illness that he had suffered for two or three AA T inters, but such was not the case, for he took sick and died at Mobile, Ala., February 17, 1910. The remains Avere brought to Momenee for burial and the funeral was conducted by Rev. T. C. Eglin, Burial took place at Momenee cemetery. Mr. Vail Avas not only the old¬ est citizen, but the oldest Odd Fellow in the state. He is survived by his faithful Avife, Mrs. Lucia Vail, and; one son, H. E. Vail, of Momenee.

Page 6 text:

Page Number 6 MR. WINANS’ LETTER Pupils of the Momence High School: Are yod going to school because your parents compel you to do so, or because you want to get a diploma, or just to say that you have “graduated?” If so, you must be having a miserable time of it. Or are you going because it offers you a more complete life now and grounds you for the greater possibilities of the future? Are you struggling along day after day with an eye sin¬ gle to securing a passing grade, or do you see in this high school life a struggle in which victories are to be won? When after hard study you have solved some difficulty, is your greatest pleasure in the grade you will get next day in the class, or in the joy of having surmounted an obstacle? Oh, there is this or that or the other thing you don’t “like” about it. So? Do you suppose that any successful person in life finds everything to his liking? In school you will “like’’the study that you can recite well. Sheer hard effort will make you master of a subject. See the point.? It don’t make so much difference what you intend to do. Anything that you learn thoroly and become master of will be .“play” for you both in school and after life. Some of you are so brilliant that you do not need to do all the work, so you may as well do a little less now and have a good time as you piass along; you can do this work or read that book, later on after school is out, or when you need it in connection with real work later on. .Are you sure you can? T am afraid that you can never do it. Today is the best opportunity you will ever have for doing completely and effectively, the work you have on hand now. If you are faithful in the performance of your present duty, tomorrow will take care of itself Sincerely, B. A. WINANS. THE JUNIOR YEAR BOOK CLASS POEM FOR 1910. “There’s so much bad in the best of us,” That may be so, but we’ll not mention The bad, we’ll only call attention To what is best in the best of us And surely the best, as knoAV all men, Can only be found in the class of 1910. Of beauty and grace we have the best; Of genius and knowledge and all the rest And ever, when shall arise the need, Of people, mighty in word and deed, And all else fail, the nation then, Will look to the class of 1910. After our years of preparation They call on us to save the nation Will look to us to save the state From the wrath of man and clutch of fate And they’ll never call vainly when They call on the class of 1910. As such is the case, we accept the trust And will keep it bright and free from rust Our wonderful talents, that future ages May read, writ large, on history 1 s pages The glorious deeds of women and men, Wrought by the class of 1910. When this old world is all set right, And everything is perfect quite And here below is no more work for us Above we’ll hear a joyful chorus, From St Peter and all the angels when They welcome the class of 1910. Percival Dennis.