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

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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

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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

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iii Physics Laboratory to Max Goken. Be sure you understand it thoroughly, Max! Seventeenth — Margaret Railsbaek wills her slim and graceful figure to Ethel Turner; her mental ability she bequeaths to Raymond Miller. Eighteenth — Kenneth Smith leaves his eager desire for a higher knowledge and education to Leland Coffman, and his musical talent to Lawrence Meredith. All the rest of the properties not yet disposed of, we give to N. T. H. S. for their special use and benefit. Any pupil who sees fit to use the knowledge and startling information given to the seniors, may do so. As our said administrator, we appoint Professor Shaw. In witness whereof, we, the class of 27, set our hand and seal, this twenty-third day of March. 1927. (Seal) Class of 1927. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Class of 27 as their last well and testament in the presence of the class, 1 do hereby set my hand and seal to this document, this twenty-third day of March, 1927. (Signed) Laura Barclay. — — CLASS PROPHECY So you want to see my graduation suit, child, now that you are having your own made. Well, there couldn ' t be a better time than this afternoon to spend up here in the attic looking at it, I reckon, for it ' s just fifty years ago tonight since 1 was graduated in it ! School used to be out earlier than it is nowdays. How you do take me back to that June with your talk of graduation frills and finery! Fifty years may seem a long time to you, child, but it seems only yesterday that I was trying to make up my mind between a light and dark suit. So you remember me telling you 1 was graduated from your school and now you want me to tell you all about my class mates while we look at my graduation suit. Ah. the old days! Child, you have your new fangled methods in school and haven’t any of the old ways but I declare you aren’t any happier than we were. You have your modern improvements and advantages so you claim, but land, child, we’d never dreamed of them so we didn’t miss them, but took comfort in telling ourselves how much better off we were than the school children of fifty years ago. There, I finally got the key to turn. It’s been — I don’t know how many years since I have had this old trunk oj en. It was my grandfather’s, so I reckon the lock’s got a right to be cranky if it wants to. My, but it’s dusty, child. My knees lmther me so much of late years. I don’t get up to the attic to keep things as tidy as I did when I was younger. I reckon my knees are like this lock and my grammar — kind of rusty from age and disuse. Here’s the gloves I wore to the Baccalaureate. Ah. that inspiring sermon Rev. Kidd preached that Sunday night ! I can hear his voice yet — though I have forgotten his words long since. Those are the socks I wore with my graduation suit. Feel them, child ! You can’t buy silk socks any more. The silk socks you get now-adays arc so flimsy— -nothing like they used to make in the twenties and twice the price. I see you are getting impatient to come to the suit, well I don’t blame you. What’s and old man’s garrulity besides a graduation suit. I do declare if the sight of that suit doesn’t make my eyes wet. I haven’t had this suit on for years and years. Here, child. If freckles were dollars, he’d be a millionaire. — Dale Pitcher. 25