Rockford High School - RHS Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

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THE ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL t History of the Class of 1909 ACT l. Scene 1. All stage settings a bright, vivid green Loca- tion: llefore Rockford High School. Above the door is a shining statue of Fama, patron goddess of R. H. S., resplendent with trophies brought to her feet hy former classes. As the curtain rises there is a great commotion, and with the aid of opera glasses one can see a large company of small boys and girls entering, some with playthings. They are met and welcomed by a kindly, intelligent looking man and a lady with raven black hair, piercing black eyes, and the original vinegar aspect. The Freshmen Qfor such the small people arej fairly shrivel up for fear, more so when behind a screen they see some older boys, in waiting with red and black paint. In spite of the gentleman and the tiger lady, these boys soon rush out, and with the cry, 1-lail! Class of 'o9! set upon the wee boys with a literal flood of red and black. fCurtain Falls.j Scene 2. The curtain rises, revealing the interior of a school-room. The green scenery is a trifle faded and very mouldy. The cross-looking lady is en- throned behind the desk, spy-glass in' hand. The The new little people are all very busy over a high stack of painfully new books. A teacher here and there smiles at this remarkable industry, and glances significantly at a pile of report cards. A few upper classmen, looking in, turn away with alarmed looks, anxiously feeling for the laurel wreaths on their brows. Guess we'd better look out, they say, 'Tis plain the Naught Niners are here to work! fCurtain.1 ACT II. Scene 1. A schoolroom, much like that in Act I, Scene 2. All green scenery has given place to crimson, black, navy blue, and white. The lady of the vinegar aspect no longer rules at the desk, but in her place sits a Beau Brummel, with red hair and a jolly red face. All the teachers are beaming upon the Sopho- mores, who are somewhat decreased in number but increased in size, and very busy at their books. Thru open windows can be seen some athletic youths performing with balls, and playing antics upon the track, to the wonder and admiration of a new class of Freshmen. I:Curtain.1 Scene 2. Same as Scene I. The company of main actors, though in rather crowded a condition, are working away faithfully. Teachers and other students ex- press unfeined admiration for this enterprising class. There is some dreamy, air-castle talk of a wonderful new building that is to be. lCurtain.1 ACT Ill. Scene I. As the curtain rises there is a great deal of ham- mering, sawing, and disturbance in general, and we see the honorable juniors bravely trying to study amid the tumult of the carpenters. The room is larger and more splendid than before,-all brand new. On the high new platform is a kind, gray- haired lady, keeping faithful watch over the Juniors and Seniors. The report cards still have a flattering

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18 THE ROCKFORD Thoughts for the Future Seniors Ye Sophomores, juniors, and Freshmen, too, XX'ho forth from this school must go some day, Confcss to yourself q'twill be good for youj, just answer these queries-please don't turn away l lf every member in my class XX'ere just such a member as l, What kind of a class, when it comes our turn, XYill go forth from Rockford High? How well will we have upheld the fame Hur predecessors so painfully gained? XYill we leave the 'scutcheon bright and fair, Ur will it be blotted and stained? XN'hat kind of athletics would our school have. lf each promoted them as much as l? How much school spirit would be displayed. lf every one patterned from that of mine? XYhat kind of a bird would our old 'Owl' be. Honored by twenty long years of success, lf no one took any more pains than l 'l'o add a soft feather to his nest? XYhat standing in studies would Rockford have Ainong' other school of our size, lf my work in the classroom was depended upon 'l'o bear oil: the much-longed-for prize? How much of our school life and ways Vvould the 'Annual' display, lf each one did as much as I To smooth the rough fand lonesomej way ? Now, Sophomore. Junior, and Freshmen wee. XN'hat kind of an answer will your answer be? If all its members were just like me. What kind of a class would my class be? HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Asa Senior Looks at June Twenty-Fourth Of all the woes that e'er befell Dear, grand, old Rockford High, The worst of these is sure to come VVheu Naught-Nine says Good-bye . VVe've labored long and faithfully, And no one can deny VVe've added glory to the fame Of our dear Rockford High. Wie have had athletes, not a few, NVho have done battle royal Un gridiron. diamond, track and floor, To prove that we are loyal. VVe've studied all our lessons well Throughall these gladsome days: Upon our record you will find Plenty of bright and shining ,AX's. In every way we've done our best To prove that we are true, Not only to the red and black But also to our white and blue. No wonder, then, this school will mourn, The birds get out of tune. XVhen we from these dear walls depart The twenty-fourth day of June.

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20 THE ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL appearance, and the teachers smile broadly as they say, XYhat can they not do when the new building is all nicely finished? The curtain falls amid a deafening clash of noises of carpentering. Scene 2. The rising of the curtain reveals thc room in Scene 1, now finished off beautifully. The confusion of carpenters has quieted and cleared away. The juniors. decreased still more in numbers, are work- ing most industriously. Anxious puckers have al- ready begun to appear in their foreheads. Yet the reports are still a credit to their labors, and the ath- letes have grown surprisingly in number and glory. The juniors are also well represented in the lland, tilee Club, Debating Society,-in fact, all the organ- izations of the school. liveryone is proud of our heroes and heroines. Only one event marks the pleasure of this scene. .-Xt the close, the kind gen- tleman who first welcomed these people as Fresh- men enters and bids a sad farewell to the mourn- ful study body. ffurtain falls.:I ACT IY. Scene 1. I.-Xll stage settings blue and whitej . The curtain, rising, reveals a very busy scene. ln the foreground the main body of now dignified Seniors is poring over deep volumes, their brows contracted with the mighty concentration of their brilliant intelleets. A group of teachers, now head- ed by a dark young gentleman, look on approvingly from the background. To the left is a group of ath- letes. football, baseball, basketball and track heroes, each crowned with a wreath of fresh laurels. and surrounded by a worshipping throng of lower class- men. At the right is a large table, over which hovers a grand old Owl, the task master of the large company about the table. At their head is a Naught Niner, however,-so of course the old bird is very happy and prosperous. Not far away another group is busy compiling the Annual, CXVith what sue- cess you are witnessj. At the other side of the stage a young orator, resplendent with a well won medal, is vying with a young lady who is deelaim- ing at his side. The teachers are busy piling up the work, For, as they say, 'tis our last chance at this banner class. Scene 2. ltefore R. H. S., as in Act I. Scene 1. .-Xll set- tings bluc and white, draped in black. The beauti- ful statue of Fama is shining with more glorious blaze than ever before. llefore the door is the class of IQO9, increased in stature and wisdom, and, though diminished from its original number, still the largest class ever graduated. All are weeping cotxiously,-athletes, orators, artists and students. The teachers and under-classmen are sadly bidding them farewell. Men and women of the world, too, are here, eagerly beckoning the Seniors forth into society, business. education, philanthropy,-all the different walks of life. Then, each proud graduate receives his or her diploma, earned by slow and pain- ful degrees. and fondly looking back all cry, l are- well, dear Rockford High l fCurtain falls.1 -I.. O. VV. 'o9.