Paris District High School - Yearbook (Paris, Ontario Canada)

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK all you have a staff, supported by a Board of Education, which leaves no stone unturned for your welfare. The Literary Society of which we are all proud has the hearty support of your staff because they realize that in this institution you have an oppor- tunity to develop your talents along many lines of activity. P. H. S. has the unique honour of being the only High School among many collegiates in the debates of the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association. In this association your representatives have surpassed many from the larger col- legiates in debating and oratory. Your school has an academic record of which you may be proud and which it is your bounden duty to uphold. In athletics P. H. S. has often carried the honours off the field and all have realized that All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy. Yet these have not been stressed to the exclusion of the academic work. This is the heritage of which you have become heirs. May such a history of the past stimulate you to rise so that you may gain still greater heights of glory and honour both for your school and yourselves. VVe feel a sadness in being forcibly separated from such a heritage, a sadness which no one can quite appreciate who has not passed through our present experience. We owe much to this school and this staff as well as the staff which preceded you. Some of us have attended these class-rooms and walked the same halls for five years, others for less, yet all feel the same sadness in parting because we are severing a chain of associations which can never be quite the same now that school days are over All that we are and all that we shall ever be has to a large extent been determined by our High School days and if we fail we cannot lay the blame to another's door, and if we attain success or distinction in any of the chosen professions of life, we shall always acknowledge with gratitude the support which this school has given us. As a graduating class we leave these familiar halls and lose contact with many who are nobly filling our places. We lose our places and connections but the memory grows more precious and our affection for you and the school Will never pass away. We do not bid you a long last farewell for that would be too mournful, let it rather be the old, kindly affectionate parting, good- bye and good luck. Ellen A. Wishart Special Nlatriculation Prize, 1929 Donated by Mr. C. A. McCormick, Honorary President of the Paris High School Literary Society. BASIS OF AWARD: b 1. The award will be based on the results of the complete Junior Ma- triculation 112 papersl and Upper School English examinations. 2.. First-class proficiency on a paper shall count five points, second-class proficiency four points, third-class proficiency three points, and a credit two points. 3. The winner shall be the student of the fourth form who has the greatest number of points, provided that he has passed on at least twelve of the fourteen papers, mentioned above. If there is a tie, the winner shall be the one who makes the greater number of points on the Departmental examin- ation in 1929. If there is still a tie the prize will be divided. The prize will be presented at the Commencement Exercises to be held on the last Friday in November in 1929. 16

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK Valedictory Address Mr. Chairman, Members of the Staff, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen,- Your invitation to deliver the valedictory address of the graduating class of 1928, is an honour I fully appreciate, at the same time I realize the re- sponsibility which accompanies the honour. With such a responsibility as this honour entails, I like to feel that whatever ideas I express to-night, whatever praise I offer, whatever challenge I leave, may have the hearty support of my fellow graduates, because as valedictorian I feel it my duty to express not my own wishes only, but those which are held in common among my classmates. We all wish to leave a vital message to those who are left to fill our places, and we all wish to speak a word of appreciation to those who so successfully guided us through the intricate paths of knowledge to those awful June examinations. This scene to-night may seem conventional, but reallv it is no common- place occasion with us because it speaks of exercises and conclusions in life which will never die away. Each year a class graduates from this school and it may seem an ordinary procedure but each class in itself is distinct and quite original. Each class has its own distinct and original message which it wishes to express both to those who have guided its way and to those who have longed to reach its enviable place. When we started last September the halls were resonant with happy voices and bright with friendly smiles. Happy holiday memories were lost in the happier thought of renewed friendships to be continued for another year. Little did we think of what the future had in store for us either of work or play, pleasure or pain. We were soon engaged in what seemed irk- some duties, whose value can only be appreciated at a later date. VVe learned that our teachers were sympathetically hoping great things of us and with this inspiration, we progressed happily together until the days of reckoning came and we were weighed in the balance and the weighing I am happy to say, showed that most of us were not found wanting. But with that event we passed into the annals of the history of P. H. S. And yet it is not as though the connection were severed completely be- cause the friendships we have formed will live in our memory. Often we shall think of you, who are left to maintain our school's noble traditions. We shall think of the hours of sport we enjoyed together, the high hopes we had for our school, and our ever-changing plans for the future. We hope that our memory will not be our only means of comfort but that we may be blessed with actuality and often meet you face to face and have an old time chat. We have faith in you, we are expecting great things of you and may I suggest that without the power of concentration, without a firm determination to conquer, you will not attain success. And after all what is success in life? These are familiar words but their meaning is somewhat illusive and vague. May your idea of success in life be to do something distinctly virtuous and worthy of your heritage. May you be successful, stimulated by the thought that our interest in you never ceases. You are being given a chance to make a success in life. More and more we are coming to the time when only the well educated individual is being sought for and promoted. But it is not enough simply to be equipped with a knowledge of various subjects. One must also cultivate his mind so that he can grapple successfully with the practical problems that he has to attack. Knowledge and your ability to use it will be your great assets, and so in years of preparation do not neglect either. You have a school of which any town the size of Paris would be justly proud. You not only have this excellent building and equipment but above 15

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK Honour Bound Joe Harris? Say which of you fellows is Joe Harris? A tall, muscular lad in spikes and running regalia, separated himself from a dozen similarly clad figures and dashed forward to meet the messenger. I'm Joe Harris! VVhat do you want? Here's a telegram for you, was the curt reply, f'Sign this, and the boy thrust forward simultaneously. a book, pencil and yellow envelope. VVith feverish haste Joe dashed off his name and tearing open the envelope read: Return home at once. Father killed. Mother. Joe's lips quivered slightly and a mist filled his eyes. All the joy and fellowship he had enjoyed during his five years at Glencoe Preparatory Schooln seemed to fade in his mind and in their stead loomed a dark and dismal future. His father dead! It seemed incredible for only a week ago . . . . All ready, Harris, you must win your last event-the school's honour . . . VVhy, what's the matter, lad? You're white as a sheetln Joe hastily thrust the message into his sweater pocket and then gulped out a low Nothing O'Brien, the coach, although he knew that something was wrong, did not press the boy to a disclosure but instead he placed his hand on his shoulder with a cheerful: All right, son, get in there and do your best , and he strode away. The young athlete stood perfectly still, his mind revolving what the coach had said to him. Finally he pulled himself together and a look of grim determination came into his eyes. He must win! The honour, ah, how that word was drumming in his ears now! The School's honour was at stake. He would fight to win and then . . . The six o'clock special roared into Glencoe City station and slowly slacken- ed down with a hissing grinding sound of applied brakes. Joe Harris, carrying only a small valise, ascended the carriage steps, made his way into a partly occupied coach and sat down. His face looked drawn and fatigued. The train started and he glanced at his wrist-watch. Five minutes past six! By half- past eight he would be home and tears came into his eyes at the thought, he, who but an hour ago had been carried off the school campus on the shoulders of a lusty, carefree, cheerful mob of admirers! Vainly trying to conceal his grief from the other passengers, he turned to the window and watched the miles roll by. A tap on the shoulder brought him around face to face with the conductor. Ticket, please, he asked patiently and Joe produced his pass from his pocket. Precisely two hours later, our hero alighted from the train to the plat- form of the dimly lighted station of Jacksonville. Here he hired the only conveyance and soon he was rattling homewards. Immediately the car stop- ped, Joe hastily paid the driver and, half running, half stumbling, he mounted the veranda steps. His mother met him in the parlour and, without a word, he enfolded her passionately in his arms, his pent-up sorrow breaking all bounds. The time has shifted two weeks in advance of this last episode. Joe Harris is one of the many freshmen patiently waiting for an interview with the head of Marsden University. After a long wait his turn comes and he is ushered into the president's office. Williani Wallace VVorthington, plus several degrees, wheeled around in his swivel chair and beckoned the youth to take a seat opposite him. Joe com- plied instantly although he felt somewhat fidgety. The head opened the con- versation with, Joseph James Harris. Have I you aright'? Yes, sir! was the prompt response. You wish to take up civil engineering I see. Yes, sir. Well, it's an extremely difficult course but by diligent studying you'll succeed. I find your certificates and recommendations excellent and I sincerely hope you will cherish every hour spent in this institute. And now, since my 17