Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR 2 9 the U. S. government on the Okanogan reclamation service project Helen Frederick, ’03, will discontinue teaching, and will spend a year in study at the Dekalb State Normal School. She expects to graduate from that institution in one year. Glenn Bainum, '05, will be principal of the Melvin Public Schools next year. Kthel Bushnell, ’04, will graduate from the Chicago Kindergarten Insti tute in June. She graduated from the U. of I. last June, and was valedictorian of her class. Howard Bushnell, ’03, is now in Memphis. Tenn., where he is engineering the construction of a large depot. E. J. Schneiter, '98, is still in Jacksonville, Ind., where he is inventing useful mechanical devices. We all know that he will ultimately succeed in inventing something of great importance, for he has it in him. Horace Bushnell, ’04, is succeeding as an architectural engineer in Seattle, Wash. He graduated from the U. of I. a year ago. Venum Lateer, ’03, is at present in Idaho prospecting with reference to a location for the banking business. Victor Laurence, ’02, graduated from Armour Institute last year, and is now engaged in the Electrical Engineering profession in Chicago. Henry Lundgren, ’07, is planning to take a course of medicine in Chicago next year. Harry Hill, ’07, of foot ball fame is taking a special course at Onarga Seminary. He is captain of the foot ball team. Glenn Mills, ’07, holds an excellent position in the Y. M. C. A. work at Peoria, 111. Morrey Pierson, '07, is studying law at the University of Michigan. Ruth Carlsten, ’08, has been tendered her old position as teacher of the Kemp school at a very material increase in salary. Miss Carlsten will take a special teachers’ training course at the Illinois State Normal University this summer. Lillie Carlson, ’08, will enter the Illinois State Normal University next September, where she expects to remain during the year. —Donald Bainum, ’ll. THE ANNUAL CONTEST AND DEBATE. The keen anticipation which had marked the weeks of preparation for !he Annual Contest and Debate between the P’atoniaa and Athenaeum Literary Societies of the High School had become intense excitement by the night of the Contest; for the performance of the contestants before their respective societies on the previous afternoon, had ma e it evident that the struggle for the cup would be one hard fought along all lines. Early on the f vening of April 30, a loyal army of Platonean soldiers, firm in their resolution to retain as their own the coveted silver cup, won in two similar contests, had marshalled themselves at the left of the rear of Clark’s hall. On the right, drawn up in battle array, swarmed the bands of equally loyal Atuenae-ums, sternly determined to wrest from their opponents that same silver cup. As the clans were gathering to battle, the audience was diverted and the players behind the scenes were encouraged, by mighty cheers from strong young kings. The volume of sound was most tremendous and amazing; and it would have required an earthquake register to tell which society out-rooted the other. There was a happy absence of hissing or any form of malice and nobody minded the noise. It promptly ceased when the contestants appeared upon the stage, and a tense silence which told the deep interest of all the audience, reigned thereafter. The contest for the serious declamation opened the evening’s program. Ruth McCracken, representing the Athenaeum Society, toll! with exceptional skill the story of the regeneration of Jpan Valjean, the hero of “Les Miser-

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2 S THE PA.XT OX I Hill SCHOOL REFLECTOR have moldered into dust, yet the deeds this great man wrought, will live forever. Yes, a century in the political deevlopment of American institutions, and governmental policies—largely conceived by Alexander Hamilton—justifies the probecy of a spokesman at the time of his death. “The name of Hamilton will not die until that dark day shall come when the name of Washington shall be remembered no more.” (Ihr Alumni SUill According to the last school report published, the first class to graduate from the Paxton High School was the class of 1878. It consisted of but five members, three boys and two girls. Edgar N. Stevens was a member of this class. The class of 1878 consisted of but two members, Julia D. Bickett and Florence Moffett, neither of whom are now living. The records do not indicate the graduation of any classes during fhe four years following. Bach year thereafter, beginning with 1883, has added its class to the Alumni roll. The smallest number after the first two classes was six, and the largest twenty-six, and the total number now to whom diplomas have been awarded is 370, of which number 139 were or are boys, and 231„ girls. The present class has the distinction of being composed of the maximum number of graduates, 2G Only two other classes—those of '0G and '07, reached so large a number. Your reporter was asked to gather up some Alumni Notes for this Commencement number of the Reflector. The request, however, came too late for him to make any extended inquiry. The following items of interest were jotted down in an evening's round of inquiry: Harry E. Dunlap, ’84, is now manager of the Bureau of the “New York World” at Washington. D. C. He has gone to the top of the ladder in newspaper work, and is author of a number of good theatrical plays. During the last Presidential campaign, he traveled with Wm. E. Taft, and was with him on his trip to Panama. Harry E. Hanley, 85, is associated with Day Bros, in their law office in the Stock Exchange building, Chicago. Stanley Sutton, '87, was manager of the Employment Bureau for the Illinois Steel Co. when last heard from. This company employs thousands of men—taking in hundreds of new men every week. Belle Mercer, '90, is conducting a musical studio at Jackson, Tennessee. William E. Nowlin, ’90, is working at his trade in Seatlle, Wa-h. Since leaving Paxton, he spent several months in the Philippine Islands. Harry E. White, ’97, is interested in the shoe business at Memphis, Tennessee. Chas. B. Nicholson, ’95, has been with John A. Roebling’s Sons Co., Chicago, 111., for the last six or seven years. This is the largest company of its kind in the world. Charley enjoys the confidence of his employers and holds a position of honor and trust with them. Harry C. Flora. '97, after spending several years in the IT. S. Army— part of the time in the Philippine Islands, where he was secretary to General Bell, has settled down to railroading on the I. C. R. R. He occasionally visits home folks in Paxton. Arthur White, '95, is practicing medicine in Oklahoma City, Okla. He Is rapidly rising in his profession. Ada Patton, ’97. is now on the library staff, as cataloguer, in the University of Illinois Library. Clara Tcderstrom, ’97, is now a trained nurse in Chicago. Glenn Bicknell. '02, is planning to enter Armour Institute next fall. Harry Hill and James Lund, ’05, will graduate from the U. of I. in June this year. Fred Langford, ’04, holds an excellent position as Civil Engineer with

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3° THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR ables”, as it was wrought through the pure Christlike trust and kindness of the benignant Bishop. Her portrayal of the wild, fierce convict, taught by long years of cruel injustice to fear and hate all men, contrasted with the calm saintly priest, was in point of facial expression, voice and emotion, a very excellent piece of work. The sad sweet wistfulness of the little crippled Gwenn as she wrestled with her problem of sorrow and pain, and the tender charm of the Pilot’s allegory had a pathetic reality as “The Canon Flower”, was recited by Merrie Mills, the representative of the Platonian society. Following the serious declamations were the orations. Wendell Phillip’s noble tribute to the San Domingan negro patriot, Toussaint L’Ouverture. was given by John Karl Moffett, the Athenaeum representative with a fire and earnestness that carried conviction with it. Opposed to this stood Edwin Johnson’s eloquent and dignified recital of Sumner’s lofty words on, “The True Greatness of Nations.” A solo delightfully sung by Marie MoRill, was followed by the humorous recitations. “The Day of Judgment” as it came during a violent storm to two small boys, while they were visiting their aunt in Vermont, and their joyous resurrection from the cellar after a fall through the floor of the chimney bed-room, was all very funny as l»is Richards related the exciting experience in the words of one of the young heroes. The laughable mishaps of the overconfident Mr. Meek during his attempt to prove his prowess as a cook, and his subsequent reduction to the proper humility—of a mere man, were humorously described by Lillie Kelly of the Athenaeum society. Clad in bright kimonas and gay sashes, and with big bobbing chrysanthemums in their hair, the girls’ chorus of the High School made an attractive picture as they sang selections from “The Mikado.” The song of the “Three Little Maids from School,”—Marie McRill, Lucy Franklin, and Merrie Mills—wa3 sung with piquant charm. Then came the debate, the last and most anxiously awaited of all the numbers on the program, since upon it the winning of the cup seemed likely to depend. The question to be debated was: “Resolved: That Immigration to the United States should be Further Restricted by an Illiteracy Test.” The Athenaeum debators, Esther Engstrom and Leon Kelso, had the affirmative of the question and the Platonean representatives, Walter Nelson and Carl Stearns, the negative In every instance the delivery of the speakers was deserving of praise, and the arguments both for and against the question were well-handled. We have listened to no better debate between the societies. After the last speaker on the negative, the decision rested with the judges, who were Prof. Dorman of the University of Illinois, Wm. Wallis, Principal of the Bloomington High School, and M. M. West, Principal of the Hoopeston High School. M. L. McQuiston, President of the Board of Education, D. C. Swanson, our Postmaster, and V. E. Dudman, instructor in Physical Science in our High School, counted the votes as they bad been handed in by the judges. The High School Orchestra relieved the strain of waiting for the judges’ decision by some good music. In a pleasant little speech, Mr. McQuiston announced the winning of the cup by the Athenaeum society, which had secured three out of the five points possible, against two won by the Platonian Society. The oration, and the serious and humorous recitations counted one point each, the debate two, making five in all. Of these the Athenaeum society won the oration and the debate, and received the cup.