Roanoke High School - Acorns Yearbook (Roanoke, VA)

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58 'Qtnnrns uf lkuanukz 1917 offices in the literary societies and clubs and some have been very active in athletics, showing an abundance of school spirit. And now as our high school career has almost closed we do not regret the time spent there but rather feel sorry over the thought of leaving it and the teachers, who have Worked so patiently over us, trying so often to make us understand the importance of study. There are many roads which We may travel through life and we know we must choose one, but We leave dear old Roanoke High reluctantly, Wishing that those who follow may have as happy and successful a schoollife as ours has been. ' HISTORIAN

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1917 HKUIZ115 uf IRUHUIJRB 57 Senior Class History VEN a casual visitor on chapel morning would be impressed by the dignity and earnestness of the pupils in the central row. This group is the Class of l9l 7,,' the largest senior class Roanoke I-Iigh has ever had. Yes, it is wonderful to be a Senior after all those trying years of study which the Class of l.9I 7 had to pass through, and we are glad that so many had the determination to push onward no matter how hard the battle. We entered the l-ligh School in 1914 and had no more privileges than any other rats. We had to endure the smiles and gibes of the Sophomores who, having just escaped from ratdom themselves, felt all the more that we should have our share of humiliation. l-lowever, the Seniors, with their en- couraging smiles, welcomed the new adventurers upon the path of knowledge. They were the leaders and we moved on as if fascinated by their dignity and great store of knowledge. We passed, with these glowing lights ever before us, through the Sophomore and into the Junior Class, It was then that we began to realize that we were children no longer and that much depended upon us. We were organized as the Class of 1917 and became leaders in many of the school activities. But then came the fall of l9l6, when we entered the school as Seniors ourselves-Oh, how glorious to be Seniors! We felt exhilarated at having reached that place of vantage where we could view the other pupils who followed us. l am sorry to say, however, that during the fall we did not feel so kindly disposed toward the rats, for some persisted in thinking they were Seniors and seated themselves quite coolly in the Senior row. Of course, we might smile at them sweetly when in their proper places, but we could not tolerate an intrusion into the Senior row. Now we are Senior A's and troubled by rats no longer, being assured of our exalted posi- tion. We have worked hard and although we have not all been shining stars we have tried to do our best. Many of the girls and boys have held high

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1917 QIZUEIIS ufIRua11ukz 59 My Memory Book T was a day about in the year l95O, when I was ransacking the ancient chests in the garret, that l found my old Memory Book. It brought back to me sweet memories of my younger days and friends, and I immediately extracted it from the heap of discarded rubbish, so that I might look it over in my leisure hours. 'That night as I sat before the glowing fire, in the twilight, I thought of the book and went for it. Resuming my seat I blew the dust from the back and opened the volume. On the first pages were souvenirs, clippings, letters, etc., which reminded me vividly of the happenings and good times at dear old R. H. S. I passed over these hurriedly as I was anxious for recollections of my friends and members of the 1917 Class, which I recall I had collected in the years following my graduation. The first familiar names I saw were those of Branch Spalding and Mal Payne, in a newspaper clipping which gave them special mention for bravery and gallant service in the war that broke out in l925. Opposite from that on the same page was another clipping, giving the names of Misses Jennie Ash, Anna Baker, Eva Bondurant, Myrtle Brumfield, Lyne Semple, Edith Rowland, Elsie Wright, Elizabeth Sanders and Mar- garet Thornton, who had patriotically enlisted as Red Cross nurses in this same war. The next souvenir was a scrap of moving picture film, pasted in, and after looking closely I discerned it to be a farce comedy. At the bottom were the few words, Fay Yost, the greatest comedian and rival of Charles Chaplinf, Turning the page I found a card announcing the engagement of Miss Claudine Avent to a young gentleman from Arkansas. Pasted below this was a stamp from Africa-I wasn't positive, but I think it was from Harley Erb, who had gone there as a missionary to the natives in the jungles. Across from this was a newspaper clipping describing the inauguration of l929, giving the members of the inaugural committee. Those of my acquaint- ance were, Godfrey Arnall, Mary Hill, Minnie Wortman, Massey Newcomb, Madolin Davis, Margaret Watkins, Alfred Davis, and Irvin Wells. Turn- ing to the left-hand corner l found a letter from Edith Davis, relating to me the details of the most magnificent inaugural ball in the annals of history, which she had attended, and of the old friends and acquaintances she met. Mademoi- selle Dujure fFrances Quarlesl, the world's most artistic dancer, gave a solo