Quincy High School - Oriole Yearbook (Quincy, MI)

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mi THE ORIOLE Tiff CLASS PROP HECY Good afternoon, folks! This is station W. F. T. B. broadcasting from the second floor of the Quincy High School building. Our call letters stand for our class motto, We finish to begin. Esther Duncan announcing. We have a real treat in store for you this afternoon. Our program is somewhat out of the ordinary but we are sure that you will enjoy it. We're going to take a little glimpse into the future this afternoon, and now, audience, I must ask you to use your imagination a little. just imagine that this is the year 1942. Are you all ready? Here we go! On the 15th day of June, 1927, just fifteen years ago, twenty-three Seniors journeyed forth from this very institution, seeking to make their way in the world to find what Providence had in store for them. A few days ago I came across a copy of the Oriole the Annual published by the class of '27, of which I am a member. As I looked through it I came upon the pictures of my classmates, and at once my mind traveled back to the good High School days when we were together both in work and in play. I thought first of the activities, the Field Days, the plays, the parties, the operettas, the various organizations and the like, and I took it upon myself to write to these old classmates and see how the world was using them, and as you will see, some of them have climbed to the highest pinnacles, and others are rapidly climbing toward the heights of success. I asked them to reply to this station so that we might have these letters to read at our opening program, as a kind of an anniversary celebration of the event which took place fifteen years ago. Then I thought of the Exams., and how dreadful they and our lessons did seem, and how unjust we thought our teachers were. I have a little rhyme which I committed to memory while I was in High School. Here it is: Here's to the teachers, Long may they live, Even as long as, The lessons they give. But then, our teachers weren't so bad after all, so I have written to them to find out if they still thought that readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic were yet worthy of their time, or if they had given themselves over to other occupations. We have a large pile of letters to read, so I guess we'd better be on our way now. Here is the first one. This is a nice letter, bet it's from a girl. Nice pretty envelope. Iet's see what they have to say. Well, there wasn't much to this. just a show bill. Well for goodness sakes, listen to this! Cecile Ryan, noted actress, appears in the latest Broadway hit, Miss Ivory's Reception . Well, we're not surprised at that, for we are sure you will all remember Cecile in the play , The Pot Boilers which the Dramatic Club put on in High School. Here's one from Yale University. , Yale University, June 10, 1942. Dear classmate of '27: I was quite surprised to receive a letter asking for the occupations of the class of '27, but if you can stand it I guess I can. Since leaving High School, I have entered somewhat into the field of science. As you will see by my stationery, I am one of the Professors of Yale University. I have just completed an experiment that has startled the entire scientific world. It took Michelson forty years to complete his experiment, but it only took me ten to finish mine. After liberating the power of the atom, I put this into practical use, and at the latest trial with this new discovery, we were able to drive the largest steamship in the world on the power of six teaspoonfuls of water. I am now working on an experiment whereby I can pump part of the air out of a room and obtain a partial vacuum so I may be able to study the effect of pressure on the boiling point. To make it more realistic, I am using CO, snow to fool myself into believing I am on Pike's Peak. With best wishes to the Class of ,27. A Prof. Wilfred Myers, LLd. PhD., etc. P. S. Please don't read this over the radio. Sorry Wilfred, it's too late, the deed is done. Here is one from Boston. Boston, Mass. June 12, 1942. Dear classmate of '27: I am now an author. I have just finished a book which promises to meet with the approval of all students all over the world. The name of it is, How to Get Through School Without Studying. I would like very much to be with you on june 15th, but it is impossible. With best wishes to the Class of '27. Q Alton Dobson. We are sure that will be all right with the students but we aren't sure about the teachers. Well, if here isn't a letter clear from Hollywood. Wonder who's out there. f 3 S v rf hiv

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ali THE ORIOLE Tiff CLASS ORATION Classmates, schoolmates, faculty and friends. A few years ago several young men from this community started on a long road which led them thru training camps, across? the Atlantic and into the hell of mud and blood that was France at that time. Some of them retraced that road and are again at home. Others are, now In Flanders Field . I have often wondered what impulse sent those boys there. Was it to save their country? No, any one of them would have told you that the United States was in no immediate danger. Sifted to the bottom, the reason for the most of those boys going across the sea was, they believed in war. Not in war to end war, but in war as an institution and a thing to be used in the settlement of all national differences. History teaches it, our best writers of classical literature advocate it, sociologists accept it as a necessity. Why should they believe in war? Our historys have have been from the very first, stone tablets down to our latest twentieth century edition, not a record of the advance and progress of civilization but the complete record of the war and its heroes. They do not show us the making of civilization, but the destruction of it. Our students who study history in the schools of today, are not taught a critical method of study which would show them the cause of a nation's strength or weakness. They are taught the history of warg to worship its victors, and to hold its losers in con- tempt. We' are not alone in this. Every school, in every country on earth has this same condition. Think of itl The horror and the pity of it. Boys and girls living in this age of enlightenment and free thinking, still receiv- ing those old, old teachings, identical in theory and philosophy to those given four thousand years ago. Ask any boy or girl to list the five men who seem to them to be the greatest. Will they name Shakespeare, our most famous playright, Luther the founder and pioneer of all protestant religion, Bacon, forerunner of modern science? No! Such men have no place in the teachings given to our children at the time when they are choosing their ideals for life, their lists will contain only the names of men who were either leaders in war or were made famous by war occurring during their lives. But let us look for a while on other classes of Americans, the classes who have come in direct contact with war. Here we iind that public opinion is changing. Those who lived thru those trying days of nineteen sixteen to nineteen eighteen, when every mail brought news of the death of some loved one, can never again regain the belief that war is glorious and ennobling. Those few boys who came back suffering from gas, shellshock and the other horrors of modern warfare, did not tell us the stories of bravery and daring we read of in history and fiction. They told us of crouching in the mud and water miles behind the lines directing their fire pumping sharpnel and explosives at an unseen enemy miles away, by means of the mathematical precision of their obser- vation and signal system. In the air service, common reports would have us believe that here at least was real knight erranty. We believed that the airmen set out every morning seeking his enemy, met him in a whirlwind combat in mid-air and either returned a victor, or fell flames, a hero. Contrary to this belief, the men who re- turned, tell us that when sent over the lines they were to engage another plane, only as a last resort, and instead were to observe operations, and wireless back their reports to the gunners far behind the lines. Or perhaps they were sent out on a night raid, gliding high over enemy territory, with muffled exhaust, dropping their ter- rible gas and high explosive bombs, dealing out a horrible death alike to men, women and children. Then for all the world like a boy who has broken a window pane they turned tail in a headlong flight for home. Glorious battle? Heroism? Valor? No, a cold blooded contest between men of science as to who can invent the most horrible and efficient dispenser of indiscriminate death. THAT IS MODERN WARFARE. But we would try to excuse ourselves by saying, we are not to blame, the war was forced upon us . The monarchs of central Europe were to blame, their greed is the true cause. True, but where did they get their country? They received it in early childhood, not from heredity hut through STUDYING HISTORY. YOUR CHILDREN ARE STUDYING IT IN THIS VERY SCHOOL. Their ideas of autocracy and militarism were not given to them by calm thought after they had reached the age of reason, but implanted on their minds in indelible pictured by the vivid imagination of childhood, fed by stories of the glory and pomp of war. It is rather a long step from the feudal castles of Europe to the humble dwellings of our village. But after all, is human nature any different when clothed in overalls than it is when wrapped in robes of velvet? Is the mind of a child going to see things differently because his parents are not millionaires or monarchs? No, nature will take it's course, a child who is led to believe in the glory of war will hold that impression for life. This condition of affairs is worse because it is so totally unnecessary. How much better to tell the child of the men who founded our literature and language, than to drill him on the conquests of armies which, in razing a city, destroy more learning in one day than civilization can amass in centuries. Why not teach him to study the men who used the powers of science to lighten man's burden, instead of the demons who used science only to maim and destroy? Shouldn't we as citizens of today, pass on to be proud? Not the love of conquest, glory and splendor which has been the heritage of the thousand generations which have gone before, but a new freedom and independence of the great God of war, a new love of, Peace on earth, good will towards men. Alton Dobson. f 1 S vlrl hiv

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ali THE ORIOLE Hollywood, California, June 11, 1942. Dear friend: A Was very glad to learn that the class of '27 is going to broadcast on June 15th, and I will be sure to listen in. I suppose that you will be surprised to learn that I am the manager of one of the leading dancing studios in this city. A number of the leading motion picture stars come here for dancing lessons. I enjoy the work very much. With best wishes to everyone at station W. F. T. B. Your old classmate, Nellie Smith. That's fine, Nellie, keep up the good work. Here is a cablegram from far-off Africa. Why I wonder who's way out there. Kimberley, Africa, june 10, 1942. Myrtle Kaiser and myself are busily engaged hunting orang-outangs for the American Zoological Research Soc- iety. Wish we could be at Quincy June 15th. With best wishes for your success. Arlene Gilbert. Well, that's a nice occupation. Isn't it? Well, this writing certainly does resemble that which I used to find on my American Lit. papers when they came back to me at the end of the month. I'll bet anything it is from Mrs. Heydon. Sure enough. Paris, France, ' , June 10, 1942. Dear Class of '27: I have just arrived at Paris, after spending some time in England, where I visited many famous places. I would certainly enjoy seeing the members of my English Literature class and telling them of some of the beauti- ful sights I saw Shakespeare's home and Westminster Abbey, besides many others, but these were the ones which impressed me the most. I am looking forward with great pleasure to a visit to the Louvre Art Gallery soon. Your former teacher, Mrs. Ruth Heydon. We are certainly glad that Mrs. Heydon's ambition has been accomplished. Here's one from Los Angeles. Los Angeles, Cal., June 10, 1942. Dear Class of '27: I must first tell you the glorious news. I only weigh 96 pounds now. I'm just preparing to reveal my secret to the world, for I know what it is to be fat. I think I will write a book, and call it, How I Learned to Re- duce. I'm sure you will all be glad to learn of this. I will sure listen in on june 15th. Please give my best regards to all the Class of ,27. Arthur H. Balfour. Well, if here isn't our old friend, Myrtle Kaiser. Why, Myrtle, I thought you were in Africa. How are you anyway? Fine. I didn't expect to be here. Neither did I, I just arrived here from Paris today. Well People, I guess I'll tum the microphone over to Miss Kaiser now. Well now I wonder what kind of work I'll make of this. This is new work for me, but nevertheless I'll do my best and glad of the privilege. Well could you believe this. It's from our old friend Helen. just listen to this- Dear friends:-As you wrote me and asked me to reply telling of my occupation I will do so now. After graduating from Quincy High School, I joined the Barnum 86 Bailey Circus for which I am running a sandwich stand. I sure wish I could be present at your Program June 15th. in honor of our Worthy Class. I shall never forget our good times together. Your friend, Helen Orcutt. There sure is a surprise. I thought Helen would be a school teacher. Now here is a letter from Des Moines, Iowa. Q I wonder who that's from. Dear Classmates:--Goodness what a surprise to think that old H. S. is to have a broadcasting station. That sure is a good idea. No doubt I will surprise you some by telling you what I am doing. I am a noted Lecturer for the Red Path Bureau. My subject being What Makes Water Wet , a very difficult subject to lecture on. I expect to ilrl hii -22-