Prattsburgh Central High School - Franklinite Yearbook (Prattsburgh, NY)

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 21 So, as we leave old Franklin, Bid farewell to the dear old walls, We will take with us the motto, Which we learned within her walls. We will cherish it with the lessons We have learned from day to day, We will profit by its teaching As we go upon our way. Now we say good-bye to Franklin, School of which we're justly proud, And ever, as true Alumni, We will sing her praises loud. Prophecy of the Senior Class of 1917 HEN I was chosen prophetess of the class of 1917 hy the Juniors, I sincerely wished that these were days of old, 'when good fairies, everywhere present, appeared at one's side and fulfilled his desires, for I did so long to know just what the future held in store for each member of the Senior Class. One evening as I was sitting by the iireside, looking intently at the fire, thinking about everything in general, but nothing in particular, I suddenly became lost to the afiairs of this world and seemed to be transported to those of another. Soon my chair was whirling around in space, and I, frightened, called for help. My cry was answered by the appearance of an old woman, who seemed to come from fairyland. Quickly seizing my hand, she drew me on and on, over hills and plains, rivers and seas, until at last we reached a large building which we entered. I at once recognized this building as a theatre. My. godmother, as I will call this strange old woman who had so kindly taken me under her care, led me to a seat, and sitting beside me, told me that my wish would soon he fulfilled for moving pictures were to be the principal event of the evening. I wondered how moving pictures were going to fulfill my wish, but asked nothing, yet eagerly awaited them. The first picture thrown on the canvas was that of an American army being led against the Germans. All the soldiers seemed to be most enthusiastic, for they were waving American fiags and their hats and, judging from the motion of their lips, they were singing, Dixie Landf' At the head of this army rode the commander, a tall, slender girl on a beautiful black horse, whom I thought must he the Joan of Arc of America. On and on they rode, swiftly, eagerly, I was eager to see 2-

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Semor Poem Again a golden year has passed away, Again we come to a commencement day, And ere another day shall come and pass From Franklin there'1l go out another class, And so we gather here with you to-night, We Haunt before your eyes our colors bright. Our colors !' Nature's favorite green Combined with gold of lustrous sheen, Green of the forest, cool and deep, Green of the nnountain's wooded steep, Shimmering green of the waving rye, Greenvof the sea 'neath a stormy sky, Gold of a sunset day in spring, Gold like the flash of a yellow-bird's wing, Gold of the metal whose worth is untold Such are our colors, the green and the gold l To choose our colors was easy But we found our hardest task, In trying to choose a motto As a lesson for our class. We searched the library o'er- - Through the books on every shelf Till the words: He who would conquer others, First must conquer himself, Caught the eye of one of the teachers Who pointed it out to us, And we chose it for our motto Without more worry or fuss. For wherever the future may find us, Wherever our life path leads We must learn to conquer our own desires Ere we can do noble deeds, 'Twill be fight to conquer our tempers, Our selfishness and our greed, 'Twill be iight to keep our convictions And fight to defend our creed, But if we light and conquer, If our victory o'er 'self is complete, We have but to forge on and upward And the world will be at our feet. A

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22 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL who the commander was but was about to give up all hope when finally she turned around, and to my utmost surprise, I recognized Dorothy Stone, the beloved president of the Senior Class. The next scene was that of a jungle in South Africa in which a small group of the natives was shown. In front of one of the huts I saw a tall elderly gentleman, who, while talking to the natives, would scratch his head and then look at his finger nails for inspiration. This action reminded me of a person whom I thought I knew, but could not just remember where I had known him. Turning to my godmother, I asked her who this person was and she willingly told me that it was Park Arnold, the most famous missionary of the time. The moving picture show was followed by a vaudeville performance. I couldn't imagine how this was to affect my wish but that didn't hinder me any from enjoying the performance because I took especial delight in watching the exquisite dancing of the leading actress who was graceful beyond all description. Although rather short and inclined to be fat, she overcame this hindrance by the charm of her personality and the agility of her movements. Suddenly she stopped dancing, came toward the front ofthe stage, held out both hands, opened her mouth and began to sing a most pathetic litte ditty about preserving the walks that lead to the reservoir. As soon asI heard her voice, I jumped up excitedly and exclaimed, Why, thatis Ella McDowell! and almost fell over the balcony railing in my amazement. When the curtain came down on the vaudeville performance, my godmother asked me if I did not wish to see the rest of the Seniors. As that was my desire, I replied that I did. Placing me in her car, she took me down to the poorer section of the city. We stopped in front of an old shanty where we saw a large fleshy woman bending over a wash tub and up to her elbows in soap suds. As she heard us approaching, she looked up so suddenly that her wig, which was insecurely fastened on, fell over to one side, balanced lightly on the side of the tub and then fell into the water. A familiar smile greeted us and my godmother introduced me to Miss Cornelia Pratt. Then we started back to the wealthier part of the city and stopped in front ofa beautiful mansion. My godmother warned me to walk very cautiously and so we went and peeked in at the window. Inside they were holding a grand ball and as I was watching them I saw a distinguished looking lady dressed in silks and diamonds, with extremely high-heeled slippers, which, if truth be told, did make her look a. trifle top-heavy. As she danced a little nearer to the window through which we were looking, I readily recognized my old schoolmate, Erva Wraight, formerly the belle of West Hill, now the belle of this place.