Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

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26 THE SENIOR ANNUAL. The officers of the class are: Presi- dent, Harold Wardwell; Vice-president, Miss J. Miss Evelyn Knapp; Treasurer, John Mildred Brainerd; Secretary, Thomas Jones. President’s Address. Kind Friends: The Class of 1902 ex- tends to you a most cordial welcome to their class day exercises. We sincerely hope that this evening spent with us will be one of unbounded pleasure to you and one to which we can look back With pride. We now appreciate the sacrifice of time and energy which has been made by the faculty in order to further our best interests. From our first year the teachers have kindly assisted, advised and encouraged us. Patiently and faith- fully they have led us along the diffi- cult path of learning. pointments and discouragements they have cheered and helped us and now that we are about to depart from them, we feel more than ever their great in- fluence over us. We do not forget that you, our school- mates, have also helped to make life pleasant. How we would like to stay Through disap- with you, but the time has come for us to bid an eternal farewell to our dear old school. the Class of room which we have so learned to love. Tonight, for the last time, 1902 is assembled in this We leave the pleasant associations with the last four years to enter upon the life. We shall never forget, however, the memories of active duties of our happy school days. For each of us some work awaits the doing; some niche remains to be filled. Let it duties be our endeavor to perform our faithfully. Our lives will be better for the effort, and even though we may be unsuccessful, nobler and the consciousness of having done our best will be its own reward. May we all have many kindly thoughts of Alma Mater back to the days spent in her tender and may we look care as the most happy of our lives. Once more teachers, alumni, fellow students and friends, we extend to you a cordial greeting. HAROLD WARDWELL. Class Prophecy. On a recent visit to Philadelphia I discovered some interesting facts. One day I went down town to send a wire- reached the central office, a very large room where many peopie at their desks seemed exceed- ingly busy. less telegram. I As soon as one of the girls was at liberty I stepped up to send my message and discovered myself face to face with our classmate, Cora Pitcher. I was very glad to see Cora, who took me into her private office. She told me that her scientific work in the Rome High School had been of the greatest benefit to her. She was the head ope- ratorin that large establishment. While

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THE SENIOR ANNUAL. is one thing upon which we pride our- | selves it is originality. Conseq uently, we decided to give an informal recep- tion and dance at Clarke Memorial Hall. occurred on the eve- The affair, which ning of April second, was most enjoya- ble and will doubtless be remembered with pleasure by all who were present. It, perhaps, is needless to assure you of the fact that we are at once the most brilliant, the most clever and the most wonderiul class ever yet graduated from the Rome High School. It is our firm intention to with unusual liancy in the alumni firmament. Malt RoSE McCORMAC. shine bril- The Event of the Year. Departing from the custom of pre- vious classes, embracing straw rides and suppers at country hotels, the class of 1902 turned their attention to the banquet hall where, in company with chosen guests, they might establish the true social position of their class. Therefore, on Wednesday evening, April 2, 1902, they gave a reception and dance in Clarke Memorial Hall, each member inviting three friends. The executive committee, consisting of Miss Elizabeth Searles, Miss Mildred J. Brainerd and Mr. Harold Wardwell, together with Miss Thalman and Miss Beers of the High School faculty, re- ceived the guests. The artistic decorations of the assem- bly room were attractive beyond de- scription. The walls were draped with red and white bunting, while here and there about the room, potted plants and palms added to the pleasing effect. On every hand the class colors of green and white caught the eye. Enticing | cozy corners. were fitted up—one, in | 25 imitation of the class pin, diamond shaped, with the figures 1902 in a green field. Banners of the various colleges denoted that their representatives, who were also Rome High School graduates, were present. Cornell was most prom- inent. Others Yale, Hamilton, Columbia, Hotchkiss, Buffalo University and the Lady Jane Gray school. were Princeton, The pleasing scene presented would have lost most of its charm had it not been for the grace and beauty of the fair maidens and the manly bearing of the gallant youths. Ping crokinole and various other games claimed the attention of many. At the same time, Terpsichore engaged her votaries in the enchanting pong, two-step. Refreshments were informally served at the pleasure of the guests. Late in the evening, the grand march, led by Miss Becker, very prettily carried out. Eva was The ever-pleasing Tommy Tucker, led by the dignified president of the class, gave the desired opportunity to dance with the other This dance ended each one to fellow’s best girl. the evening's festivities. Among the guests present were the following graduates of the High School: Daniel W. Wardwell, Hamilton College; Arthur Wardwell, Harold and Edward L. Stevens, Cornell; Alfred Ethridge, Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn.; Ruth Ethridge, Bruley’s School, New York; Harriet White, Blossvale. Other guests were Misses Mabelle White of Blossvale, Eloise Comstock, Riverside School, New York; Spencer Pratt and Willard Soper, Verona, students at Hamilton College.

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THE SENIOR ANNUAL. 27 she talked my attention was attracted by numerous medals, which she wore. I learned that them because of afterwards she had re- valuable discoveries in the scientific world. ceived her In the course of our conversation I inquired about our other classmates and we immediately resolved to send out telegrams to each of them. I first thought of Mildred Brainerd, the maid with the pleasant chatter and the mirthful Jaugh. I spelled out her name on the key board of the telegraph; for a few moments all was quiet, then I heard a gentle humming sound which told me that I was in communication with my old friend. I asked her what she was doing and she told me that she was training a class of small boys—all minister's sons. I could scarcely un- derstand her quiet and subdued manner. Poor girl, she had probably had a hard struggle, for minister's sons are pro- verbially difficult to manage. I next thought of our demure little friend Beatrix Neiss. I had to wait some time before I received any answer to my call for her. and I knew a. man was at the other end At last I heard a loud buzzing of the instrument. He told me that Miss Neiss was at that time sitting for a famous artist’s Madonna. Then | inquired for Bertha Widmann. I last saw her just before she sailed for Germany. For some reason she did not seem inclined at first to tell me about herself. Finally she was -per- suaded to do so, and hesitatingly spelled out the words which told me that she sang in the emperor's choir, and had that day, as a mark of royal favor, been permitted to christen one of his row- boats. By this time I thought I ought to ask for one of our most distinguished men, our president, Mr. Harold Ward- well. I knew he would be very busy, so I waited patiently until he answered my message. I could tell by the vigor- ous response of the instrument that he had become a second Horace Greeley, even before he told me that he was the manager of a large newspaper trust. He also confided in me that his eve- nings were spent in training boys for the athletic field. As soon as I was through with Mr. Wardwell I called for Evelyn Knapp. I found her in Oneida teaching school. She told me how. near she came to liv- ing in Buffalo; when she was on the train one day the conductor tried to make her a Buffalo, but as she did not have eleven cents he put her off at Oneida. I now thought of Cora Pitcher’s sister, who was to be found at the Hoity-Toity theater. The play was in full swing and of course I could not talk with Jen- | nie, but the manager told me what I | wished to He said that on account of her youth and beauty it had been hard to procure a license for her, but that she was one of the most taking know. | youngsters that had ever been brought before the American public. She was then playing “Dolly Dutton’ in the strong military drama “In the Valley of the Mohawk.” I asked the man if he would read me the cast and when he did so, he led off with the name of Jennie Senn as the star. I was greatly surprised. She was the pride of the soldiers, and it | seemed to me the name of the man who played the part of her soldier hero sounded familiar. I did not think I would hear any more familiar names, but when he mentioned Eva Carpenter as a chorus girl I was ready for almost