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

Page 27 text:

JUNIOR RESPONSE Hass of ’ 27 , in behalf of the c lass of ’ 2 «S, 1 wish to thank you for the kind advice you have so bounteously bestowed upon us. You have, indeed, made our pathway pleasanter by finding for us. through you own experience all the quagmire and ruts of ill-judgment. In fact you have, by retracing your own steps, outlined for 11s a fairly well defined detour of wisdom which leads around the deluding Highway of Folly. For this, again, we thank you. Seniors, if it were not for the realization of your incapacity in appraising our true worth, we would laugh at the valuation you have placed upon us, but since you have been so sincere in believing that our success is due to your direction we will refrain from that relaxation at present. I presume it is this same blind ! elief that has lead so many of your class members to take subjects the second time so that they might be with us to supervise our class activities. You were right when you said that the contemplation of your conduct as regards minor infractions of school laws such as tradiness, lack of attendance, and bluffing in recitations has placed 11s beyond the need of caution. Indeed, if we were to follow in your foot- steps, we would be far beyond the caution zone: we would be ready for four-wheel brakes. We realize that confidence in ourselves is a virtue, but we also realize that over confidence is 1 vice. We would not want to play that careless, over confident game and when the final whistle proclaims us losers, look ’round about us in order to find some- one upon whom to place the blame. Rather, we would play that hard fought game of uncertainty and come out victor! It is kind of you to advise us how to bear ourselves in time of victory and of defeat, but do you not know that people are l est taught by example? You challenge us to play fairly and honorably! Seniors, that is already the foundation of our success ! Your advice was well meant but ill-timed. You charge 11s with l eing inferior to you in our participation in school activities, (’an you not see that such a charge is false? In athletics we have a whole constella- tion of stars who already shine as brightly as yours and who have still another year in which to gain brilliance. In both boy’s glee club and girl’s glee club, we have a good class representation. We admit that we have but one member in the orchestra, but do you not remember that the Etrueian Army numbered ninety thousand while Horatius stood alone at the bridge. As a final thrust you beg us not to lower the standards you have set. That were impossible. Have you forgotten so soon that our class average exceeded yours by a margin of more than five points? It was due to this superior average of ours, not yours, that the school average was raised this year. So you see. Seniors, we are not so weak and entirely void of the talents you have deemed 11s short on. Rather in the exaggeration of your own abilities you were blind to our merits, but since we have so kindly pointed them out to you, you are without a doubt proud to place your falling mantle upon such capable shoulders. Tonight marks the culmination of your high school efforts. You have now reached the goal for which you have striven these four years. Such a realization has meant perseverance as well as many sacrifices. You have a right to ! e proud of your accomplishment, so upon this, your Class Night, we congratulate you. — L. M. R. Her face is fair, her heart is true. — Cleta Long. 23

Page 26 text:

- N IX 0 N I A Z1 SENIOR CHARGE As we, the Class of 1927, approach the consummation ami fruition of our efforts, our proud sense of achievement Is tempered by a concern for the welfare of those less happily endowed Juniors, whose destiny it is to continue their progress along the way which we have passed, deprived of the wise council and generous assistance upon which they have learned unfailingly to rely. Scarcely oftener than once in its history does it fall to the lot of any school to enroll in its membership a class so favored of the Gods, and it is your fortune that such a class is your contemporary. You have been fortunate in the privilege of i»eerless association, and unfortunate in the inevitable realization of your inability to measure up to the standard that is ours. It is fitting at this time to acquaint you with the fact that throughout your course you have been the unconscious recipients of the beneficent supervision of the Senoir Glass, wherefore many of your projects which seemed to you to eventuate happily merely by chance in reality did so as a result of our wise direction. Not only have we tried to direct your activities into pleasant and profitable channels and tried to help you avoid disagreeable and unprofitable experiences, but we have striven to fit you for our falling mantle. If we have in some part succeeded it is because of our superior ability rather than the quality of the material with which we had to work. As you are aliout to assume the dignity of seniors, we feel that the contemplation of our conduct and the unconscious emulation of our virtues has placet! yo u beyond the need of caution as regards minor infractions of school conduct, such as tardiness, lack of attendance, and bluffing in recitations. We are concerned rather with a desire that you may cultivate those qualities which art 1 necessary to assure your fitness for the future in your exalted station. Confidence in yourselves will gradually supplant the sense of inferiority which you have naturally felt in our presence, and as the memory or our superiority gradually fades you will manifest a wholesome interest in competitive activities, and enjoy your share or triumphs. In that event the recollection of our modest bearing in the time of victory will enable you to conduct yourselves credibly, and to bear tolerantly the petu- lance which too often mars the attitude of a loser. Above all else you should cultivate a spirit of unselfishness and of fair play. We would not have you fail to aspire to leadership, but we would have you realize that such aspirations are not peculiar to you alone, and that there is no success which is not honorably won. Compete in all things fairly and honorably, remembering that actual victory lies more in how you have played than in that you have won. We cannot bequeath to you the part that we have had in orchestra, glee club and basketball, for our participation in all these activities has been outstanding; hut we urge you to utilize to the greatest extent possible all your available talent am! to give of your l est that the present high standard in activities may not lie lowered. M. R., - ' 27.” Give him rime and he ll do it. — Don Liseuby. 22

Page 28 text:

CLASS WILL We, the Seniors of Nixon, in the County of DeWitt, and State of Illinois, spinsters and Kents, in perfect health and memory, (praise Ik ) do make and ordain this our last will and testament in manner and form following : this is to say. First — We bequeath to the Freshmen our brilliant example which will lead them to glory! Then we also leave them our motto, “Work whether you win or not, and you will meet with success.” Secondly — To the Sophomores we leave the privilege of moving to the west side of the assembly, as we know that you’re tired of sitting there so far from the Seniors. Thirdly — To the Juniors we leave our dignity ami respect, and good t ehavior that we have been so proud of, the last four years. Fourthly — We wish to express our sincere thanks of gratitude to the teachers who have done their noble duty. Fifthly — We leave our personal characteristics to those who will appreciate them most. The first of these being : Rerneice Bebie’s ability as yell leader, her sudden outbursts of laughter which she leaves to Harold Rainey. Please, don ' t be so bashful next year, Harold ! Second — Wayne Meredith gives his athletic talent and his ability to keep a steady girl to James Raker. I)o your stuff. James. Third — Eileen Fleming bequeaths her amicable disposition to Howard Baker, and her charming manners to Clarence Perkins. Fourth — Russell Fullenwider leaves his privilege of talking out loud, his habit of snoozing on Monday morning, and his argumentative ways to Wilmothe Crowe. You won’t need to go to bed now, Wilmothe! Fifth — Walter Dressier bequeaths his knowledge and good behavior to Melvin Long. To Harriet Rosenmn he leaves his splendid record as Class President. Sixth — Jessie Raker wills her idea of time well si ent by writing letters at noon, to Rernice Olson; her sudden outbursts of sneezing to Inez Roberts. Seventh — Thelma Glenn wills her loyalty to her friends to Esther Baker to use with those she comes in contact. Her good nature she leaves to Pauline Goken. Eighth — Charlotte Barclay leaves her everyready smiles to Vernelle Olson, and her many blushes to Martha Turner. Ninth — Laura Barclay bequeaths her extraordinary athletic talent to Dorothy Hiter. You will become a fine player, Dorothy! Tenth — Carol Adams wills her pretty eyes to Muriel Long, and her fastidiousness in dress to Irene Marsh. Eleventh — Grace Goken gives her ability as speed fiend to Lester Glenn. “Get out the Chrysler, Lester.” And her ease in company to Irene Peacock. Twelfth— Willard Gift leaves his sleek and well trained pompadour, also his stacomb to Donald Lisenby. You will certainly be a sheik. Donald! Thirteenth — Pearl Long bequeaths her winning personality and her masculine popularity to Bonnie Ayers. Fourteenth— Mossie Rich leaves her quick and clever replies to Frank Black; her curly hair she leaves to Celesta Hiter. Don’t let it get out of curl. Celesta. Fifteenth — Irene Smith leaves her bashfulness and quiet ways to Helen Shinne- man. Her ability to get her lessons she leaves to Loren Richardson. Sixteenth— Kenneth Thurber wills his winning smiles to Lera Martin, and his talent Some think the world was made for fun and frolic. So do I.— Lawrence Meredith. 24