Rock Island High School - Watchtower Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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.QUMMENCEMENT NUMBER 1919 9 Tobecome a great nation, a country must be righ in resources. In this ,IQ excelled. To the basket ball team she gave three stars, of the football eleven she claimed five. As well as in physical ability, she stood high in mental talent. With such a great national wealth ,IQ must succeed. ' A ' - May 28iall former rivalry was laid aside and a reception was given to the Senior state which would secede in a few days. 4 After this therewas only one more year of hard climbing before they would reach the City of Knowledge. The road had been difficult in some places, forcing some to stay behind and others to seek different paths. When the census was taken this year it showed that the population had decreased to 96. From the election held. the returns were for president, Meredith Ackley, vice president, Paul Parker, secretary of state, Kieth Nelson, and secretary' of treasury, Victoria Wilhelm. , Another Watch Tower campaign was held and by the majority of one sub- scription ,I9 was entitled to a second Watch T ofwer party. Not satisfied with these achievements, spring-brought the desire to make some lasting contribution to the progress of the nation. A So on April 25 and 26 the dramatists of the state presented to the public The Fortune Hunter . Through the good management, the earnest work of the members of the caste and the un- tiring efforts of Miss Pearce, the play was a great success. Besides affording much enjoyment it was so great a financial success as to enable the state to add a gen- erousamount to the cause of democracy. Near the end of their sojourn they came to a meadow with an abundance of bright golden daisies. Gf these they gathered large bouquets to take with them to the end of the journey. A Today at the'City of Knowledge stand the citizens of ,IQ. on the banner above their heads these words are inscribed in gold We finish to begin. '54 'lx YM? WB 1 QED Z7 . I W! A 5. 9 tl 33

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'WATCH TOWER 4 N Class History GLADYS MALMROSE HILE making a monogram for the class of ,IQ, each golden letter, as I 'placed it upon the field of black, brought back to me memories of a past year. When thelast stitch held secure the fourth letter, and my reverie was broken, I remembered that a dream of four years had been realized. In 1915 a group of people who had emigrated from various Lands of Smaller Learning to a Country of Higher Scholarship were admitted as a new state to this democracy. Its fundamental principles were friendship, fellowship, and scholar- ship. ' 1 I t The aim of these 290 citizens was to reach the City of Knowledge. But in order to do this they must pass over a long and difficult' road. To insure their safe arrival at their destination they first organized. A popular vote was taken electing 'William McComb, president, Evelyn Hudson, vice-president, Dorothy Cleaveland, secretary of state, and Martha Riddell, secretary of treasury. Their Hrst' great difficulty was to keep from getting lost in this large, strange country. Having mastered the geography of the place they found that the City of Knowledge stood on a high summit at the end of a road called Hard Study. Along this road there were many by-paths. ' Une of these was Easy Street. Those who took this path were left far behind. 9 By the second year they had lost some of their timidness, and having become acquainted, with the customs of this new country advanced rapidly. Une evening at sunset they came to Pleasure Grove. Here butterflies of many colors Huttered about in the air, birds sang sweetly among the cherry blossoms, and fish swam quietly in the shiningslake., This was Japan. They were served with rice and tea by beautiful maidens in flowing garments. As the hours of frolic came to a close, eachpatriot was glad to-exchange the costume of Japan for that of his own country. I ' when the third milestone was reached the road grew steeper, but along the WQYSICIG WSIS trees of ambition spurring them on. The first notorious event was a political campaign between the fourstates of the democracy. The polls opened fit mme Oiclock M011d3Y5OCfOlDG1' 29, and closed four-forty-frve Friday, November 5- fhe returns were given at five o'clock:. ,I9 hadlgecuygd the most Subscriptions for the lVafciz Tower. The bells rang loudly. The command fall in was given and with yells and singing, victorious 719 paraded the country. In appreciation ance party was 'given by the W arch Tower. Since of their work a theater and d that time November 5 has been celebrated as their state holiday. b IE s I I I I . I I Q. I I I I I I I I E I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ,I I I I I I I I I I I I I

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WATCH TOWER Farewell Address PAUL SOMMER HE class of 1919 is about to make its adieus. Associations that have in the course of time become very dear must be severed. Four busy years have passed since we entered upon our High School course - four years that have witnessed the most profound political,economic, and social changes that all history has to record. A system of militarism that for a time ,threatened to crush the peoples of the world under its iron heel has been brought to nought. It should be our mission, together withthe other thousands who take their leave from high schools throughout the nation this month to conserve the fruits of this greal victory. But e're we part it seems fitting that we should gratefully acknowledge our debt to those through whose efforts it has been-made possible for us to appear before you as the Class of 1919. We are the heirs to all the ages. The opportun- ity to come into our own we owe primarily to the great system of public schools that prevails in this country. Had it not been for our public schools many of us assembled would have had little or no education, and our capacity for service would have been correspondingly limited. It has been truly said that so long as the little Red School-house stands, democracy is secure. Uur intellectual development is born of the schools of Rock Island. And while we feela community spirit towards all schools in the same manner that we feel the kinship of the whole human family, yet as we are held by stronger bonds to our parents, so it is with our affection for this particular school. The years we have spent in this building have engendered friendships thatl will endure. We have studied together, we have worked together, we have grownl to know each other and to value the associations that have been formed here. Four years ago our class entered Rock Island High School as Freshmen. We: looked forward to the time when we should don our caps and gowns. We have at lastlreached our goal. The road has often been beset' with obstacles. At times it has seemed that some persons weretaking an unholy delight in seizing upon our youth and innocence. But somehow or other we managed to Hmuddle through. We leave you this ,parting injunction, garnered,from our own rich experience: Hur fC3ChC1'S mean Wellp Qften you will know how mistaken they are, but in the Interests of hafmonlfi C10 as they tell you. They recognize your giant intellects. Only they feel that if they let you know they realize how wonderfully brilliant you are: It mlghf SPOH YOU- But in the endyou will be all the better for it. Look at us assembled here and take courage, Q . . i of .ers 1S such an obligation. They have labored with Us 10118 and faithfully, guiding uswhen we would go astray- speeding us When we would falter, giving courageewhen the way was hard. They have been more than, lf