Pekin High School - Pekinian Yearbook (Pekin, IL)

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CfK Pcltintan, 1020 Bennett) anbolpf) bobbins ‘Thou, as a gallant bark from Albion’s coast (The storms all weathered and the ocean crossed) Shoots into port at some well-havened isle. Where spices breathe, and brighter seasons smile. Her beauteous form reflected clear below. While airs impregnated with incense play Around her. fanning light her streamers gay; So thou, with sails how swift, hast reached the shore, ‘Where tempests never beat nor billows roar. —William Cowper. Page Twenty-five

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QTfje Pebintan, 1920 Page Twenty-four

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£fje $cktntan, 1020 Class instorp By Ruth Black, and Marguerite Ehrhardl January 23, 1916! A red-letter day when sixty-five eager little Eighth Graders became proud, self-conscious Freshmen. Yes. we were now Freshmen, and. as we walked down Court Street to buy those wonderful books, whose titles were the mysterious words—-“Latin,” Algebra.” Physiography,” we felt that everyone who saw us could not but know that we were High School Students! We were such an intelligent bunch of youngsters that it took us only a week to learn when and where to present ourselves to the various classes. This knowledge saved us no little embarrassmen t. After a few weeks of High School life, we were prepared to choose our class officers and advisor. This accomplished, we considered ourselves full-fledged Freshmen, and at once we set to work in earnest. Soon pleasure beckoned to us and we gayly skipped from the Road of Toil and became Japanese folk in the P. H. S. Carnival. Again it is January and the earnest little “Freshies” who have so bravely withstood the ridicule and jests of the upper classmen are now supercilious Sophomores. What fun we had at our birthday party. We were all infants at one time as was proven by the baby pictures” which we produced, but as Sophomores we had “put away childish things. That year we enjoyed a hike” (in cars) to a little bungalow in the woods. The “eats” roasted over the coals were delicious. Everyone had a jolly time except several who took home rather painful memories of the occasion, due to the accidental disturbance of a yellow-jacket's nest. Our sister class, the Freshmen, who started upon their four year journey on September I I, 1916, had one advantage. They had the opportunity of immediately entering the new high school building. Their first year was spent mostly in study, although they greatly enjoyed a party celebrating the birthday of the First President.” The first year was over and September 10, 1917 dawned clear and bright, especially for the Beginning Sophomores, who anticipated a year full of study and fun. It was not very long until fun presented itself in the shape of a picnic at the park. This picnic was honored by the presence of all the members of the faculty, and occasional outsiders who stood gazing, when the ice cream was served. There was one contest that year; a prize was to be given to the class in High School, which sold the most tickets for the Art Exhibit. It was only natural that there should be competition between two bright classes such as the Beginning and Advanced Sophomores; and there was! Possibly this accounted for the fact that our two classes were congenial and got along remarkably well together when we united in September 1918, as the Class of 1920. The first social event of the combined classes was a “Costume Party”, the memory of which brings a smile to our faces as we see again those quaint and ridiculous costumes and mischievious eyes glancing from the queer masks. In the spring, two great events occupied our minds (and monopolized our study periods'—the Junior Class Play and the County Meet. Eventually the great days so eagerly anticipated, arrived and passed, and we again picked up our books and began to study (for exams.) With the renewal of school in September 1919, we entered upon our last year as students of Pekin High School. We were older, now. more serious and thoughtful, more closely united for we had shared a common sorrow had lost a loved classmate—yet we rejoiced that he, even though leaving his books, had gone on to follow the Great Teacher. Even though Seniors are sometimes called proud and haughty , they are usually rather hard-working as well; and, as we furiously work through these last few weeks we think, with a little sigh, of our Freshmen days—yet our hearts beat a little faster as each day brings us a little nearer to our Graduation Day—Commencement! And as each starts out alone on the Road of Life he turns and looks back, a little wistfully, perhaps, upon his happy, carefree, joyous High School days. Page Twenty-six