Nixon Township High School - Nixonia Yearbook (Weldon, IL)

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TUB NIX0N1A young music teacher isn't Gladys Hunt. She is giving both vocal ami instrumental lessons to her pupils. They all seem to he very interested in their work. Now, the vision is gradually disappearing from sight. All those who are connected with her professionally in the New England Conservatory at Boston declare her one of the greatest teachers in the East. I know we all wish her as great a success as she made during her high school days with her bright and sunny disposition. The vision has clouded again but the scene is in a large courtroom. Each of the lawyers is trying to prove his side in a murder case. I wonder who the young man is, that is trying to defend the boy who is accused of murder. Charles Adams, I do believe. The jury looks pleased with his remarks and the audience are applauding him wildly. The jury has left the courtroom in order to decide the case. Listen, the jury has returned and the audience is very still in order to hear the decision. It is “not guilty.” The vision is growing fainter and fainter, .lust think of Charles Adams being a lawyer. He is the last person on earth that I would think of being one. Well, I wish him great success in his work. Aly goodness! the vision has faded entirely away and nothing can be seen. Oh, dear me, I have learned of each of my classmates and not a thing about myself. Each of the class has started out to do something worth while, and here I am still at Weldon, apparently doing nothing. It is terrible to think of my former classmates, being such noted men and women while I am living a useless life. Oh! here it is. It says—it says:—that I am going to be an “Unclaimed blessing with many lovers and die single.” Velda I. Hunt ’10. SALUTATORY Parents, Teachers, and Friends: Tonight is the last opportunity that we. the class of 1910, shall have to appear before you as a class of the Nixon Township High School. Since entering this High School four years ago, we have come to the realization of our efforts and desires. We are assembled here tonight to recall to you and to ourselves the experience and endeavors of those four years. It is an occasion to which we have looked forward as one of great importance. Without it our high school career would be incomplete. To me has been given the privilege of telling you how glad we are to see you. In behalf of the Board of Education, the Faculty, and the Senior (Mass, I welcome you to our class-night program in which we will appear for the last time as students of the Nixon Township High School. We realize that our character has been greatly effected by our association 14

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THE XI X () XI A “CLASS PROPHECY ” It is now the year of 1935. .lust think sixteen years since I graduated from dear old Nixon Township High School. I find myself in tin- great metropolis of the United States. I see on my l ight and left skyscrapers, magnifi cent homes, elegant drives and great things for the eye to gaze upon. I find myself on the East Side mingling with masses of people who make up the large population of this great city. Ah! I see Ahead of me a dingy old build ing. I wonder what it can be? It says upon the large placard: “Swami Yivahandra, A Celebrated Hindu Magician.” Wishing to learn about my classmates of 1919, I believe that I will step inside. As I enter the door, I notice that the room is rather dark, but a small table with a huge glass bowl can be distinguished very plainly. Then as I walk over towards the table and look into the bowl, I try to concentrate my gaze upon it, but at first I find it very difficult to see anything. The vision which instantly appears is a large theatre. It is thronged with people, who are very excited over the entertainment. I wonder who the great actress is, for she looks like some one whom I know. Well, well, if it isn’t my obi friend Beatrice Bales standing on the stage bowing to the applause of her audience, with her arms full of roses. Oh, my ! the vision is fading away. Who would ever think of my obi school-mate, Beatrice, making an actress of herself? This is rather strange for in our school days she thought she would be a school teacher. I wonder what has happened that caused her to change her mind. Perhaps as a teacher, she had her pupils put on a number of plays. Probably in this way, she, herself, became infatuated with that kind of work and decided to become a member of some theatrical company. Ah! the vision has darkened and now the scene is at some large University, in a big laboratory. It is rather amusing to watch the great professors of electricity with their large rubber aprons, mixing different chemicals together. Their assistants are running here and there getting different materials for it seems as though the chemicals which they are mixing together are very explosive, when the electric wire is applied. Well! if this isn't the large Columbia University of New York. One of those professors looks familiar. I wonder who he could be. I wish that he would turn around so that I could see his face more plainly. Well if it isn’t Bay Olson. The vision has grown fainter until hardly anything can be distinguished. Who would ever have thought of Bay being a noted professor in some University? He surely obtained his start in Nixon Township High School under the splendid direction of Professor Goodwill. Again the vision disappears but the scene is in a musical studio. I wonder where this studio is? Oh, there is a pennant in the room which says the “New England Conservatory” at Boston. People are coming into the office continually waiting for their turn to take a lesson. Dear me! it the 13

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THE NIXOMA in this school. We have been taught prudence, foresight, ami responsibility— those qualities most essential in any undertaking. Our minds have been greatly broadened by the painstaking efforts of the Faculty and our own individual initiative. As we leave this high school and go forth in the world some will go to college and some will not. But no matter what our occupation or undertaking may be, we shall always have our motto “Be Square” before us in our endeavors to uplift humanity. We realize that no one can make the future for us; but it can be greatly altered by circumstances. No matter whether these circumstances be good or bad we will always function so as to be a credit to our high school and a pride in the hearts of our friends. In our future work, great difficulties will confront us; but we are so strongly shielded by the learning attained from old X. T. II. S. that we will overcome all difficulties ami ultimately attain victory. Soon you will listen to our last speaker and then only once more will you see us as a Senior Class. After that we will be only a memory in this community and we will give our place to others who shall follow. Friends, I now introduce to you the Class of 1919 in their class-night program. They have won the regard of merit. They have overcome great difficulties. Barents, Teachers, and Friends, again I heartily welcome you to this class-night program and I hope vou mav regard this evening as well spent. Kay W. Olson ’19. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS This week of graduation exercises marks the last appearance of the Class of ’19 and this, our class-night will be called our final assembly before we become the Alumni of Nixon Township High School. We have been looking forward to this event for four years. To each of us it has a deep ami melancholy significance, for it means that our activities as members of our high school are drawing to a close. Never again will we, the Class of ’19, take part in programs or other activities in the assembly room which has become so familiar to us. Many have the opinion that the sole purpose of the class night program is for the graduation class to tell to the public their intentions of conquering the world. But it is a mistaken idea, for the true purpose is to place before the public the graduating class for its approval or disapproval, whichever the case may be and also to give a history of the class and to give examples of their respective merits. Traditionally the exercises are not finished until we say the Class of ’19 has never been excelled in abilities. During the four year’s which have passed so quickly from us, we have met with many experiences which will never again be ours. In accordance with the new experiences in life’s school, we are poorly prepared. Some of us may go to a higher institution of learning than that from which we are soon to bid farewell, while others will venture forth, upon life’s broad battlefield inspired by prudence ami determination. We shall not, however, depreciate our victories or cynically speak of our utter inabilities. We can truthfully say to our Alma Mater whom we leave behind, that we have a great deal indeed to be grateful for, ami little to regret, by the past lour yeans’ experience in dear id V T. H. s. in looking ever our past activities,as students of the high school it is not difficult to see that we have made 15