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

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK Valedictory Mr. Chairman, Students of Paris High School, Ladies and Ggntlemeng Once again we have the pleasure of the graduating class, when I say Students cf Paris High School, instead of, Fellow-students. During the-. past few years this expression has often been on our lips, and we were proud of the fact that we were members of this splendid school. This an- nual event, however, is a landmark, a sign-post on one of the corners of the hghway of life, and tonight the graduating class turns that corner. We can hardly say we experience a feeling of regret because this was the goal we aimed at when we entered these halls for the first time, yet the very- wcrd 'last' strikes a sensitive chord in our hearts, and so it is that we har- bour this rather indefinable feeling as we gather here to-night to say good- bye. As we look back over the past, we recall the first day we made our Way to the school on the hill, with much uneasiness and trembling. A new class was embarking upon the quest of higher education, a very new class in the eyes of the second year students. That first year, the first part at least, was something of a mystery. We lived in a foggy haze, seemingly not able to- gain the true perspective of things. We gazed in silent wonder at the migh- ty fifth-formersg and the possibility of acquiring that high and majestic po- sition seemed very remote. As the years went by, the leaves seemed to fall off the calendar with increasing rapidity, until at last the months slipped by like telephone poles when viewed from a fast-moving train. Finally, the thought that we would have to leave our High School suddenly confronted. us. It was then we realized, as we had never realized before, how near and.. dear to us the school and all its associations had grown. As we stood on the steps before we left last summer, there came float- ing back to us many treasured memories of our sojourn here. We vividly remember the Field Days, the Burford-Paris-Simcoe Field Meets,the literary meetings, our at-homes and school dances, the basketball games, and the de- termined searches for the baker at recess. Do you wonder that we stopped and thought for a moment before we went on? And so it is with every class, in fact with us all in every walk of life. We are wont to take so much for granted that it is not until these treasures have flown that we realize what we have lost. We are so apt to gain the at- titude that The world owes me a living, that we miss much of the enjoy- ment of living. It is to try to overcome this attitude in some measure at least, that we wish to mention to you students, who will inhabit these halls, some of the opportunities and privileges that you enjoy. In so doing we will at the same time express our appreciation of these benefits, which, we frankly admit, we accepted as a matter of course while here, but since we: no longer have them, we recognize their true value. Q You owe a great deal to the Board of Education which you have, and. to the citizens of Paris who support it. They are always interested in your welfare, and their continued interest during the rather trying situation of the last few years is to be commended. Perhaps in no way is their interest more strikingly shown than in their selection of the teaching staff. Here you enjoy a great deal of personal direction both in and out of class periods: this is one of the major differences between High School and College. Then, too, you have your various societies. The Literary Society is an organization to which you should all give your heartiest support. I have no doubt that many of you feel, at times, that work in this society is ratlier irksome and is to be avoidedg however, I assure you that the excellent advantage, which its training affords in after life, makes it well worth your 'whilez In addition, there are your athletic functions backed by your Athletic Societies. In this sphere, however, your success this year, and in previous years, shows that Y ou are striving to maintain the reputation that athletes of this school have 19 . I 1

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK 'cation and to the citizens who supported the school through very trying times. He expressed their Qll3l,llLllCl6 to the staff whose competent instruc- tion and personal contact meant so much to them. With deep feeling he spoke of the friendships made at Paris High School, friendships that would never wither nor be forgotten, but that would be more deeply cherished, fever-enduring as the years passed. The three choruses given by the First Form Singing Class were greatly appreciated and much credit is due their director Mr. G. A. Smale, A.T.C.M. From the Village Steeple Pealing with its orchestral accompaniment was very effectively rendered, The orchestra, also under Mr. Smale's direction, is to be complimented on its fine selections. We are pleased indeed that these pupils gave of their time and talent to make our Cornroenccment a Success. The closing number of the program, and to many the highlight, of the evening was the presentation of t'My Lord in Livery by members of the Fifth Form, ably assisted by Alfred Gibbons of First Form in the role of a little page. The other characters were: Sybil Amberley-Elleene Munroeg Laura-Helen Wilking Rose-Elsie Blackg Spiggott, the butler-Edgar Nashg Hopkins, the footman-Emory K.nillg Lord Thirlmere-Alex Barron. The clever interpretation of each role gave to the play its full Mid-Victorian flavour. The old English home the quaint pretty costumes of the girls, the gorgeous livery of page and footman carried us back in spirit to the year 1850. The spirited acting and graceful dancing of the minuet won the hear- ty applause of the audience. Miss Ramsay is to be highly praised for her success in directing this play which was one of the best ever presented at Paris High School. On Monday evening the Post Commencement Concert delighted an equally large audience when the play and musical numbers were repeated. Hazel Folsetter favoured us with a very witty reading Towser must be chained to-night. Norman Seip rendered two violin solos in his usual ac- ceptable manner. Helen H. McKenzie, B.A. Ol .18

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK maintained in the past-and are still maintaining in the present. There is one other circumstance which we perhaps fail to recognize more than any other, ln a smaller school such as this, more freedom and privilege is granted than. is permissable in the large collegiates, where necessity enforces restrictions. Here you become more or less one big family, each helping the other. Let me take this opportunity, now to say thanks, on behalf of the graduating class of year '34, to all those who are responsible in any way for these con- ditions which we have enjoyed so much. Paris High School will occupy a permanent place, a permanent position in the hearts of us all for reasons other than the academic knowledge gain-A ed here. For many of us it is the only connecting link of our lives. Most of us never saw one another before the opening day of school one September morning, some five or six years ago. Since then we have worked together, in study and in play, up the ladder of high school life. During this period we have come to know each other very intimately, and many close and en- during friendships have been formed. Friends, Paris High School may van- ish, the latin verbs and the binomial theorem learned here, may be entirely' forgotten, but the friendships formed here will live on. Already we are widely separated, scarcely any two of us following the same path, but there is present, always, this connective influence. As the years roll by, we will become more widely separated, but unlike so many things of life which wither with the years, these bonds of friendship will become more cherished and more enduring. , Thus it is we leave. It is true that this is our farewell, yet We cherish the thought, tonight, that we have a school and friends to which We hope to return many times in the future. But now we have reached the summit. Be- d r hi h school career is written in indelible ink across our page of hin us ou g , life. Before us our roadway stretches away into the future, but before we ' h h 1 w love so well. start on that Journey, we take one more look at t e sc Ngorra le A. MCGHL ,...i..i-l. Our Autumn Leaves Ne'er before such a wealth of leaves, Such reddish-crimson, golds and browns, Have I beheld in years gone by, Or ever shall before I dieg Leaves of every kind and hue, All rustling in the .Autumn dew- The leaves, in spring, so fresh and green, To this old world new joy did bring, Made spirits light, and sad hearts gay, A source of pleasure every d'ayg But ch! the leaves of the dying year, As for me, are the ones most dear. The leaves of our blest Maple tree, Red-stained, yellow, gold and bronze, A hood of colour bright do throw O'er the hills and valleys low. No, the leaves of the Waning year Are not the cause to shed a tear. Leafy boughs of this Northern clime, , Ere their greens turn to flaming reds, Must stand the trials of wind and rain, The storms and gales, but not in vain, For no life ever showed a gain That had no sorrow, sadness, pain. The leaves of Autumn are the best Of all the whole year throu' For they, when death is nigh, display The page of life in bright array. Ah yes! the leaves of the dying year As for me, are the ones most dear. 0 Ruth Gilbert 2