Rensselaer High School - Crest and Shield Yearbook (Rensselaer, NY)

Page 28 text:

26 TH li ORACLE able to get over them successfully. At Christmas time, however. it became evi- dent that we were making steadier and more substantial progress than we realized. XVhen February came we could look far enough ahead to see that the detinite end of the lfreshman Foothills was not far ahead, but we knew that steady. unremit- ting climbing would be necessary if we were to be over them within the allotted time. Our leaders, and we had many, for there were more honor students in the lfreshman Climbers than in all the other years together, pressed steadily ahead, and helpful guides spurred us on. Before we realized it, June was upon us, and the lfreshman Foothills were behind us. VVith a rousing cheer we pitched camp and awaited with anticipation the renewal of the climb in the fall. lflarly in September our guides assem- bled us for the next stage of the ascent. A few of our number did not remain with us for the Sophomore climb, and we were sorry to lose them. Scarcely had we started to scale Sopho- more Ridge then we realized that we would have to band every ehfort if we were to make it, On all sides were snares, pitfalls and entanglements. Distractions diverted the attention of some of us at times. and progress lagged until the inattentive mem- bers were induced to focus their entire ef- forts on the task at hand. liarly in the year the class organized because we real- ized that organization would effect better results. The following officers were elected : l'resident .........., .,.,.... b lames lfinke Yice-President .... ..,..,. L Qladys Norton Secretary '..,.., . ,.... Dorothy Goodwin Treasurer ...,. .,.. , .... ......., R ichard Evans From the heights of Sophomore Ridge we could see, just starting up through the lfreshman Foothills, another party of mountain climbers who, like ourselves. were eager to master the High School Rockies. When June came we found that, thanks to the steady efforts made under our skill- ful guides. the teachers, we had reached the summit of Sophomore Ridge, which is at the very foot of Mount junior. Mount junior. which we were now to climb, is the second largest formation in the High School Rockies. We found that the knowledge and skill we had acquired on the way up the Freshman Foothills and Sophomore Ridge, were absolutely essen- tial to the successful scaling of this formid- able peak. ltlarly in the year our members assembled again for the election of its otiicers. The following were placed in office: President ....,...,..., .... C lladys Norton Yice-President .,.. ..... S arah Fasoldt Secretary '.......... .,,. L eslie Fleet Treasurer '..... . ........,....,......,,.,.. Marion Judd XVhile we were engaged in this perilous climb one of our members became ill and suddenly. The loss of Harold lfinkle. one of the most popular students in our class. was a great blow to us all. Our guides. though still anxious to help us in every possible way, allowed us to as- sume more responsibility for the success of our undertaking. It was with less dith- culty than we had anticipated that we ar- rived at the summit of Mount -lunior in the following june, and we knew that we were almost ready to begin the final step of our adventure. In September, 1927. we enthusiastically started to climb Senior Peak, which is sur- mcunted by Graduation Rock. On the thirteenth of this month we elected our offi- cers for the last time, ln the earlier stages of the ascent up the High School Rockies a little slipping back now and then was not particularly danger- ous. On Senior Peak. however, one slip may be fatal to the whole enterprise. There is neither time nor opportunity to remedy the damage. Our guides, While they were still willing to give aid Where it it clear that they ex- was needed, made pected us to carry our full share of re- sponsibility. They pointed out to us that we would presently be climbing the VVorld Mountains alone and unaided. and that the more we relied upon ourselves on Senior Peak the easier it would be for us when we were alone on the next range of moun- tains. It is the ambition of almost every Senior to spend a happy Raster vacation. Then

Page 27 text:

THE ORACLE 25 taught the Class of 1928, who made such a brilliant record, will be ample solace to our teachers even for having to teach the present juniors. Third, the Class of 1928 Distinguished Service Award. This extraordinary award goes to our esteemed principal in recogni- tion of his distinguished service in answer- ing satisfactorily a question put to him some time ago by our class. The question was: Do we graduate F Our principal, after much study and inquiry, discovered the right answer, which was Yes Fourth. the Class of 1928 Literary Award. This award in the form of our combined English papers for the last year of our course. is awarded to Miss Cath- erine Boylan and Miss Madeline Stevens, our Senior English teachers. They may well look forward to a life of wealth and luxury in their old age. for those papers, written by our distinguished members, will become increasingly valuable as time goes on. Fifth, the Hot Milk award. This is more in the nature of an endowment than an award, The Class of 1928 will found a fund for the purpose of supplying the Freshman Class each year with hot milk three times a day. We regard this as a very important and very urgent work, These innocent little tots, the Freshmen, come to school each day with reluctance and rebellion in their young hearts. be- cause they know they must sit through the long session without so much as a sip ofl the hot milk so necessary to the health and comfort of growing infants. The Class of 1928 has put on a campaign for funds for this worthy cause. and we are happy to be able to report, as a result, that we are able to donate as the foundation of the Hot Milk Fund the grand total of seven cents. We hope that others will follow our gener- ous example and subscribe liberally. Sixth. the Scroll Award. To the School Board. who, as we know, are always anx- ious to get anything or do anything that will help the work of the schools, we award a scroll on which have been engrossed the descriptions of these awards we have made to-day. It is our suggestion that these be read from the scroll at the opening of school each day as an inspiration to the generations of students who follow in our distinguished footsteps. Seventh. the Glory Award. Last but not least. To our school, in appreciation of the happy years spent within its walls, we award this model. A model of the 1001721 American. A man of vision, foresight. in- telligence. A man whose name will never drop in history. Colonel Charles E. Lind- bergh. THE MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS OF 1928 BV EDVVI In September, l924. the Class of 19.28 assembled for the tirst time. We had a common purpose, a common ambition-- namely. to climb successfully the formid- able High School Rockies, the famous mountain range whose countless crags and fastnesses have dismayed some of the most courageous young people in America. Al- though we realized all this, every member of the class was eager to begin the perilous ascent. On that pleasant September morning we started off, gay, happy. confident, thinking little of the dangers and troubles that lay ahead. Late in September we were wel- N CHURVH Q cmnecl by the Senior Climbers. at the Freshman reception, which we Cor rather the Class of 19255 enjoyed very much. Our progress at first was slow and awk- ward because we were unskilled in such heavy going. Presently, however. we began to successfully surmount the ob- stacles in our path. Members of our class helped to swell both Glee Clubs of the High School. VVe also prided ourselves on the skill of our baseball team. Now we know that the Freshman Foot- hills were not obstacles of such great ac- count. but at times we became disheartened and felt certain that we should never be

Page 29 text:

TH li 0 R.-XCLE 27 we have a week's rest from our climbing. in order to gather strength for the final spurt to Graduation Rock. It was at that time we planned to visit iVashington. To help meet the expenses of this 'trip we staged two presentations. 'l'he Legend of Sleepy Hollow. and a Railroad Min- strel. 'l'hey were both tinancial suc- cesses. .Xt last lflaster vacation came, and thirty-tive or our number. with two of our guides, embarked on a bus for iVashing- ten. XYe had a very enjoyable time, and stopped over at New York. Atlantic City. Pliiladelphia. Baltimore, iVashington. Har- risburg and Scranton. iYe saw many new sights. and many of us had a new experi- ence.-an airplane ride. VVhen we re- turned home it was with the feeling that we had greatly benefitted by the long trip. With the rest obtained at Easter vaca- tion, we were able to successfully scale Senior Peak. and now we stand on Grad- uation Rock, looking across the valley at the World Mountains up which we must work our way alone and unaided. XVe have conquered the' High School Rockies, and we look back upon our achievements with pride and satisfaction. The pleasant glow of affectionate recollections suffuses us. too. as we review the four long, but happy. years spent together as we struggled side by side, Mountain Climbers of 1028. :Lf . . I 0.o:'.,' ' lg' . ii all ' ' ' V , if it f' 1 tr. . 'zz' French Teacher- I compare my third hour French class to a train of cars-two sleepers and an observation. Latin Teacher-- Very apt. I call my Caesar class the Pony Express. People in 1917- To arms! To arms! lfall in. Flapper in 1027- Two arms! Two arms! Fall in. Sadie lfasoldt- Have you something snappy in rubber bands ? llruggist- No, but we have something catchy in iiy-paper. She- Do you want a hunting license ? He- No. I'm sick .mf hunting, I wan: a marriage license. And now comes the tale of the absent- minded professor who kissed his class and gave his wife three themes to write. llot Meek- iVhat is this awful smell in the library ? Irma XVorden- VVhy. it's the dead si- lence they keep here. iiialt Collins- I'll take six of these cards that say 'You're the only one l love.' jimmy lfinke says: Lives of great men all remind us. As their pages o'er we turn: That we're apt to leave behind us Letters that we ought to burn. And that's the end of my tale. said the cat as he backed into a lawnmower. iYhy half the pages in this novel are blank. Yes, you will notice on page 1120 the hero tells the heroine that he will never speak to her again.