Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SOCIETY—“TO BE OR NOT TO BE” Charter Members—A. F. Trams, L. W. Kelso, ft. W. Kemp, J. K. Moffett, C. A. E. Johnson. Additional Members—V. E. Dudman, C. G. Stearns, C. A. Lang worthy. Our high school society, “To Be or Not to Be” is not a mechanically planned organization. It is rather the convention of a group of congenial spirits,—with a comman ideal in mind, with similar natural inclinations, and with a common love of literature. We arrived at the conclusion that it would be to our advantage to spend an evening of each week together, laying aside the strife and contention of ordinary school life, in the furtherance of our ideal, in couimon study and discussion, and in whole-souled enjoyment. We orgainzed in 1907, four of the student body of the class’ 09, and one instructor. The name “To Be, or Not to Be” suggested itself in a study of Shakespeare. Our club has ever met with the sanction and approval and often the co-operation of the faculty, one or more of whom have always been enrolled as members. The purpose of our circle is implied, rather than prescribed— consider its name. We have aspired to and attained greater freedom of thought and expression, and wider ranged of appreciation. You may never again hear of “To Be, or Not to Be,” but rest assured, that to us, it means and will mean much. It has given us an insight into life. It is one of the frail cords, so frequently severed, which connects our High School with our daily life and our career hereafter. We feel this. We realize it now, and, as we are leaving Alma Mater, our circle is dissolved, but the quotation, “To Be, or Not to Be”, the aspiration ' To Be” and the dark alternative “Not to Be,” together with memories of our High School Circle, is graven deep in our hearts, and unites us in a bond of meaningful fellowship. —E. J. Leon W. Kelso Leon W. Kelso, has always had his home at Paxton. His course through school has been regular, his high school training, Latin-Science. Mr. Kelso has taken a great part in athletics, has played four years on the H. S. football team and five on the base ball team, four of which he has pitched. He has represented his society (Athenaeum) in the oration and debate, also in literary parts at their entertainments. He has been for two years class editor of the Reflector, and is now treasurer of the society. His immediate future is undecided. John Karl Moffett John Karl Moffett was born and raised in Paxton. With the exception of three years, he has pursued the course of study at the Paxton schools, having taken a mixed high school course He was the first president of the Senior Class, has been interested in athletics, and has three years on the foot ball team to his credit. He is now president of the Athenaeum society, which he has represented in the debate and oration in the annual contests. He is the present business manager of the Reflector. In the fall he will enter the University of Illinois to study law. Carl G. Stearns Carl G. Stearns, the youngest member of our class,—only 1G years of age—was born at Danville, 111. He has lived and attended school at Hart-shoin, Ind. Terr., at Milford, at Champaign, and at Rankin, Illinois, where he graduated from a 3-years’ course in 1908. He has been one year here to complete his course—Lat in-Science. He is a Platonean -and has taken part in their programs and represented them in debate. He has been general editor of the Reflector and is on the base ball team. Next year he will take Literature and Arts at the U. of I. C. A. Edwin Johnson Edwin Johnson has always lived at his present home on the West

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11 THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR having represented her society in Declamation at the last contest. She has also taken a prominent part in some of the programs given by her society. She graduates with forty-eight credits, and will teach next year. Ruth Kjellstrand Ruth Pauline Kjellstrand has always lived and attended school at Paxton. From the first grade her course has been regular, with language and science in the high school. She is a prominent member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and belongs to the Luther League. She also belongs to the T. F. T.’s. At present her intention is to continue her studies next year. Merrie Mills Merrie States Mills was born in Lamar, Mo. When very young she moved to Cornell, 111., and from there to Paxton, where she entered the high school as a Freshman. She has pursued the Latin-German course and graduates with the full number of credits. She is a prominent Platonian and has represented her society in many of its plays and in the annual contest of 1909. She is a member of the S. A. S. Merrie intends to enter a school in Chicago preparatory to teaching kindgergarten. Ella Mrgan Margaret Ella Morgan spent her early years on a farm east of Loda. and attended the Loda Public School. She moved to Paxton in 1905 and entered P. H. S. as a Freshman. She has faithfully and successfully pursued a Latin-German course and will graduate with the full number of credits. She is a member of the S. A. S., is a Platonian, and has taken part in programs rendered by that society. She has been for two years exchange editor of the Reflector. Her immediate future is undecided. Cl eta Moffett Cleta May Moffett was born on a farm southeast of town. She has taken her entire course in the Paxton schools In high school she has pursued a Latin-German course. She is a member of the United Presbyterian church and is a teacher in the Sunday school. At present she intends to teach. Frances Swanson Frances Lorinda Swanson was born in Champaign county. She acquired her early education at a country school west of Paxton, and entered the fourth grade here. She bas completed a Latin-German course. She is a pianist of ability and has represented her society, the Platonian. in that capacity in the annual contest of 1908. She is a member of the T. F. T„ the P. H. S. Orchestra, and the Musical club. She intends to take advantage of her natural capability in the musical line, perfect herself in her chosen branch. Clare Moffett Clare Alvin Moffett was born on a farm three miles southeast of town, but has spent nearly his wiiole l fe in this city. His course through our school has been regular. He has completed an English-Scientific course; and, having carried mechanical drawig, he graduates with 1 £ credits more than the maximum number required. He will probably teach a country school next year. Essie Shelby Esperence Mae Shelby was born in Fairview, Utah. She moved to Effingham, 111., and from there to Tolono, where she attended school until she entered our High School as a Junior. She has taken a Latin-German course. She is a member of the Met ’odis: church and is treasurer of the “Standard Bearers.” Her future is as yet undecided. Ralph Stine Ralph Westbrook Stine, our electrician and scientist, has always made his home here. His course through school has been regular. He has completed a Scientific course and excels in that line. Not un-brefriended by the Muse, he has been made class poet. Natural inclinations and his training up to the present time, determine his future career—that of a machinist.

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THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR '3 Side. He entered school with the now out-going class and his course has been regular. He has carried the maximum amounts of Latin, Mathematics and Literature. He was class president in 1908, business manager of the Reflector in 1907-8, manager of the base ball team in 1908. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Pl-atonean literary society and has represented it in debate, oratory, at their annual contests and in literary parts at their entertainments. Ho is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church and a past officer of the Luther League. His immediate future is undecided. He intends to acquire a law education. Ralph W. Kemp Ralph W. Kemp, treasurer C’lass ’09, was born on a farm west of Paxton. There he received his earlier education. He entered the 8th grade at Paxton and has since been a member of Class ’09, pursuing a Latin-Scientific Course. He was a member of tne foot ball team in 1908. His immediate future Is undecided. THE SENIOR BUNCH. — (A Retrospect in Lines and Rhymes) By One of Them. In eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and some in ninety-nine. These Seniors started in this school upon their upward climb. We were started in the lowest class and couldn’t be put back; We never were promoted until floor space was lacked. Wo went through all the eight rooms taking one grade at a time; The first few grades were easy and we thought school life was fine. We struck our worst in the seventh grade and thought it wasn’t fair— The season being summer some few started on a tare. W’ell, our bunch entered P. H. S. in nineteen hundred five; We gradually grew stronger as new members would arrive. We all flunked out while Freshmen in music class and lunch— Teachers said, it will take 3ix years to loose this ugly bunch. But of course they were mistaken, although some few lost their hair: We studied all the harder and got credits by the pair, Boys took lime and mixed with water; painted everywhere. Sophomore! All stayed out at night and barbered little Freshies by the score. But we cut this out when Juniors and took long extended rides When the moon was shining brightly and the stars could serve as guides. Had our banner on the flag pole; had to watch it night and day; There were parties by the dozen—O. I tell you life was gay. So when school commenced this autumn, then we all took Senior seats. We stood and yelled at the Freshies as they filed in white as sheets. Some of our crowd never study, some few have got canned from class. If this bunch gets through this semester, they’ll have to cut this sass. When we come to leave about June, the fifth, in nineteen hundred nine. We’ll be free to roam whe’er we will in the good old summer time. No more snuff, nor stealing clappers, we start forward, flag unfurled; We’ll go out as men and women to conquer our part of this world. Ralph Stine. ’09.