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

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PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK 13 VALEDICTORY Mr. Butcher, Teachers, Fellow Graduates and Friends: It would be difficult for the Graduating Class of 1940 to express our in- nermost thoughts and feelings to-night if we did not now experience very strongly the truth of the old familiar saying, absence makes the heart grow fonderf' Nearly tive months have passed since we left Paris High School, and to us it seems a very long time. Only those who have had the opportunity and privilege of attending this school and have graduated from it can appreciate the thrill and pleasure we feel at being back. With graduation confronting us, we realize how near and dear this school and all its associations have grown: treading the old familiar halls, seeing the bright faces of former associates, meeting our teachers again and exchanging a cheery word with our good friend Mr. Tate,-all these bring back many pleasant and enjoy- able memories. To-night is our Commencement, and we Graduates are gathered here to say farewell to each other, to our teachers and to our fellow students. This is the goal at which we aimed so many years ago. During these years at school we have enjoyed our High School studies. Through daily contact, either in work or in play, there has grown up among us as classmates a strong feeling of friendship and as time passes this will become more endur- ing. Day by day we learned to overcome our difficulties and learned to meet disappointments and successes alike, until finally the months and years slipped by and gradually we climbed the ladder. To-night we have reached that goal. Our High School Education was comprised not only of hard studies. The pleasures of our Literary Society and our Choir, along with the social and sports activities of this school have combined to make our stay a very plea- sant and memorable one. Even though we graduate from High School to- night we are impressed with the truth that High School graduation does not close the door on a finished education but merely opens the door to a broader education in this great world. As the Graduating Class of 1940, we wish to express our appreciation to our parents for giving us the privilege of a High School Education. To the Board of Education, who unselfishly devote their time in the interest of this school, and to the citizens of Paris who provide for its maintenance we wish to express our gratitude. To Mr. Butcher, our Principal, and to the assist-

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l2 PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK The Prophecy On a warm sultry day I hastened toward the gypsy's with an irresistible passion to know the secrets of the future. I entered the tent where the crys- tal was kept, and here is what I beheld. I saw Stanley Cruickshank receiving the position of Chairman of the Paris Town Council Welcoming Committee, a new and popular Society whose duty it is to greet all visitors arriving in Paris. A large crowd watching a ploughing match brings to my view George Smith and Lloyd Hamilton, two of the wealthiest farmers in Brant County, and known throughout the county as the bitterest enemies during a plough- ing match. Bill McKibbin is seated at the desk in his office with feet on top of the desk, gazing with pride at the new sign which has just been stretched across the main street. The sign reads: Wm McKibbin, Auto Accessories, all parts to all cars from 1914 to 1960. Another sign announces the rage of the year, the new hair dress intro- duced by Mary McKeen Pinkett, and done exclusively in her new Beauty Salon. And now I see a great military parade with Paul Anderson in the car leading the parade, Paul having risen to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the entire Canadian Army. Paul owes much of his success to a new super gun used exclusively by the Canadian Army and invented by Bentley Robson who has become Minister of Defence in the Canadian Government. I next see Gordon Campbell entering a Trans-Atlantic Clipper plane which he has been piloting for several years. Now there appears David Moss giving a hearty welcome to Lloyd Humphreys who has come to Paris for a few days. Lloyd has had a brilliant career on the baseball diamond and is now manager of a baseball team. Da- vid Moss is one of the leading citizens of Paris, being Scoutmaster of one of the finest divisions of Boy Scouts in Canada. James O'Neail, now Mayor of Paris, makes the presentation. Donna Cowan, after years of faithful service in the Red Cross, has re- turned to Paris to become matron of the Hospital. I see Kathryn Edgar doing the daily duties of a country housewife. There next appears Jack Muir, known as the successor of Walt Disney, and acclaimed throughout the world for his excellent comic strips. Agnes Maus is still teaching school in the little white school house near Ayr. The scene slowly faded, I gave the crystal back to the gypsy, and left the tent with a feeling of pride welling up within me because of the promis- ed success of this class. Lawrence E. Watts.

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14 PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK ant teachers we wish to express our sincere appreciation and thanks for their kindness and consideration to us all on every occasion. Their kindly inter- est soon made us feel at home here, and we felt we could go to them at all times with our difficulties. In the future we shall gratefully remember their efficient instruction and the fine spirit of cooperation such as exists between teacher and pupil in this school. But to-night we must part, and to my fellow-graduates I should like to say a last word. Paris High School will occupy a lasting place in our hearts. Here friendships were formed which have meant so much to us and our as- sociations at this school will never be forgotten. But to-night we leave Paris High School-each of us to pursue his own course. We realize now that school days are carefree days, and it is with very deep regret mingled with anticipation for the future that we say good-bye to them to-night. To the younger students we pass on the grand old traditions of this school and wish them every success in any undertaking whether as civilians on farm, in foundry or factory they provide the sinews of war or whether they serve country and Empire on land, or sea, or in the air. In saying good-bye we extend our best wishes for the continued success of this school in the future. In other and happier days graduates looked forward to the future with fond anticipation and glowing hopes. With us it is vastly different. We are liv- ing in strenuous times. The horrors of war haunt us daily. We know not what the future may bring forth. As the British Prime Minister said, long dark months of trial lie before us with constancy and valour our only shield. May we all be imbued with the same heroic and magnificent courage as he displays. Never in the world's long history have graduates stood on the threshold of life looking out upon a world so grim and threatening. The fear that our freedom, that our country is in danger of invasion, is of more mo- ment than the mere choice of a profession or gaining a livelihood. Let us face the future unflinchingly with heads high and chins up, doing faith- fully our daily tasks whether duty or danger calls us togfollow the arts of peace or the arts of war. The poet has said: We must be free or die who speak the tongue of England. Many students from this schoolalready have shown that they have the same high ideals. I'm sure the Graduates would like special attention drawn to them to-night. Our hearts are thrilled with patriotic pride when we hear or read the names of former fellow students who have joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, or the Royal Canadian Navy, or who have enlisted in the Cana- dian Divisions that now have the honour of protecting the island fortress of Britain, or who serve in the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force overseas, or who serve in the Red Cross to minister to the needs ofthe stricken civilians of the Old Land. As Graduates, we pay our grateful and loyal tribute to them. May their sacrifices and service for the democratic ideals of Liberty and Freedom, which we prize so highly, not be in vain, and may we all show the same courage and determination as they have shown so that we may con- tinue to live as free citizens, when this war is over, in this free land of Can- ada, which we all love so well. Donna M. Cowan.