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

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Tur Sentor ANNUAL. Officers of 1907. HARLOW BACON, Presideut. VINA SCRIPTURE, Vice-President. EARNEST KARLEN, Secretary and Treasurer. Freshman History. THEN school began last September, we were nearly all so little and so young that we were terribly frightened and wanted to at home; but our mammas told us that there was no time like the first day, so with trembling hearts stay And now, to look back, it None of not we entered. was not so dangerous after all. the big people stepped on anyone, even on Baby Lena, for we put her in Lucena’s care. It was quite an ordeal, however, to stand up before anyone and tell about but at length that over and we were in the Academy. was Some of us felt awfully lonesome for our room our conflicts, down stairs, but we kept our eyes open and soon learned to whisper as easily as the others, some of whom had had as many as three years practice. Before we had been there very long we heard a great deal of talk organization and the President and we wondered what it meant. We had never heard that politics held such an import- ant place in the school and were conse- quently somewhat surprised. But Mr. Harris announced that there would be a meeting about class one day it was all explained. of the Freshman Class, and before the had a President, a Secretary and a I do not see why I could not have had an office too, but I suppose it not nominated. I understand that in some classes, all one meeting ended we Vice-President, a ‘Ts Treasurer. was because I was has to do in order to secure an office, is to get someone to nominate him and he will surely be elected. If I had known that then I might have been President and in a year or two I might have been the one to “‘run” the class. Our class history must, of necessity, be short because of the tranquility of our way. Our President was so unfort- unate as to have scarlet fever but other- wise we have been extremely lucky. We think that we will be the banner class of the We were the first to organize our class and we the first in several of the prominent affairs of the school as we are very progressive. have been among school. 3efore school begins again we hope to be larger and wiser, and when we come back next September as Sophomores we will try to imitate our elders as closely as we have done this year. Davis and Slingerland Scholarships. Easels ny the Mrs. Lizzie M. Davis two annual scholar- generosity of ships have been established in the Rome One for the best effort in declamation to be the Slingerland prize; the other for the best Free Academy. known as essay upon some topic designated by the Board of Education, this prize to be known as the Davis prize. Each prize consists of the income from one thousand dollars. This year the prizes amounted to thirty-five dollars each. students of the Junior Classes appeared in the prelim- inary contest. Twelve Senior and The preliminary was to reduce the number of contestants to ten. It was held in the study hall of the Rome Free Academy before a few invited and the judges, Supt. Crane, Mr. Hinckly and Mr. Barringer. A large audience attended the first annual Slingerland prize speaking con- test at Seegar’s Opera House, April 29, 1904. The stage was effectively trimmed with palms and American flags. At eight o’clock the orchestra played two persons selections; Supt. Crane, the only occu-

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12. We were very ignorant of the ways of the great world, but experience, kindly Mr. “the that be”, the faculty, taught us much. aided by Harris and powers Everyone looking at our class predicted a great future for it and marveled at our cleverness, so early shown. Even the grave, old Seniors startled by us out of their usual superior calm, said: Who are these?” And they that knew us said: ‘They are Freshmen; but, O my!” Thus smiled upon benignly, by all the gods and goddesses including Mr. Harris, Miss Higham and Athena, we began our career and during the two years we have the great progress. been in Academy we have made This is especially to be noticed in these few members of our class who were not perfect as Freshmen; the Rowland brothers, who are far less bothersome, and Miss Merrick who has evidently been listening to lectures on dress reform. Most of us show already by unmistak- able signs that we are destined to fill We are sure that Ethel Jones will take the world by storm with lofty positions. her loud and lovely voice. She has her faults but we unanimously accord her Me(r)rit(t). upon that Owens, how can we think of anything than the as affording suitable scope for his vast intellect. We feel sure that the multitudes will listen Hon. Sidney the exhortations of Rev. George Riley. difficult to imagine that most twain, always hunting in one Gazing reverently most noble youth, Spenser less presidency to the eloquence of the solemn It is lovely May Wilson and Lulu Greenfield as settling down into much less worried about Lulu now that Arm-strong to parry the It is plain to Backus; and be swayed by pairs, sedateness, though we feel she has an blows of fortune for her. Tur SENIOR ANNUAL. be seen that Willoughby Pendell. apply- ing himself with noticeable vigor to the task of acquiring knowledge, will devel- skillful butcher. He has already dissected, sliced op into a very doctor-—or and quartered one cat with great success. We have learned with great sorrow that Miss Jacobus contemplates following in this as well as other things the worthy example of her friend and comrade, Miss Mabel Wilson take the veil. Her place will empty in and will ever be our hearts. It is rumored and generally believed that little Clarence boldly kidnapped. We greatly fear that this evil deed has been comit- ted by that dark and dreadful society known as the Cradle- Fox has been some one of Robbers. ‘They were probably attracted by his youth and innocence. Some of our smaller boys have shown as yet no marked talents, but in accord- ance with advice given last year by the feeding them on they We should be quite Senior Class we Mellin’s larger next year. worried about the lack of robustness of Stuart Lake did die young”. are Food and hope will be Edgar Fitzsimmons not know that and we “only the good We fear that the gravest difficulties will and giving the honors to this most illustrious It might be wise fer the Board of Education to create a few new ones to be encountered in deciding class. accommodate some of our extraordinary talents which will otherwise pass un- noticed. Meanwhile let us press on our way as our motto these words which we have so often heard we have begun, taking as the Faculty sing with great gusto: Deeper, deeper let us toil in the mines of knowledge Natures wealth and learnings spoil Win from school and college.”

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14. THE SENIOR ANNUAL. pant of the stage, then arose and briefly explained the nature of the contest. He that the the evening would win the Slingerland prize of thirty-five dollars, the direct result of Mrs. Davis’ bequest to the Academy, and that the second and third prizes were not with the first, supported by the admission fees. stated best speaker of connected being He then announced the first speaker, Mr. Lyle Marcy. Mr. « “Frattor’s Death bed”, by Lippard, with great feel- ing and effect. He brought out the full force of the scene from the dying man’s inquiry to the clergyman, “Can faith (that of a Christian) restore my honor?” to the sad though just reflection the that while America honored George Washington, and Eng- land III; both of them hated despised Benedict Arnold. Mr. Marcy’s delivery was excellent, his Marcy delivered this near close, 1 George and voice full, his manner impressive and well adapted to the subject. Miss Helen Wheeler with a difficult Client”. When General Thomas heard of the trial of a negro, formerly a slave, for murder, he travelled many miles to tell the jury that he was innocent, in appeared next spite of the circumstantial evidence; and when he had described the slaves conduct the jury with Miss Wheeler’s voice was high and at Gettysburg, agreed him. clear, particularly adapted to her piece upon which she had evidently bestowed much care and thought. Miss Janey Bielby’s recitation, “‘Poor Little Joe”, was a simple and pathetic poem about a boot-black who brought home a bouquet for his crippled younger brother, who dies in the midst of plans to go to the country on a visit. Miss Bielby’s voice and appearance were good, her very artistic. She temporarily, to become the strong, cheerful, loving elder brother. interpretation seemed, piece, “The General’s Mr. William declamation, and Hero”. Arnold’s Curtis then delivered a “Benedict Arnold, Patriot This selection dealt with earlier carreer and, after re- capitulating his brilliant Quebec, Ticonderoga and Saratoga, the writer expressed a wish that Arnold had been permitted to die in this last battle, behavior at the decisive conflict of the Revolution, Mr. Curtis’ voice was good, his enuncia- the true orator speaking of heroes-sug gestive tion clear and his manner that of of his subject rather than imitative. After a selection from the orchestra, Mr. Perry M. Henry W. Grady’s “Message from the South”. the oration was that while in theory the North loves the negroes, in practice the South loves them better; that the of Southern people depends upon their solution of the Mr. Armstrong spoke clearly and firmly, entering fully into the spirit of his declamation. Mr. Thomas Connell Armstrong declaimed The idea of welfare negro question. then delivered Ingersoll’s ““Speech nominating Blaine”. After enumerating the moral. mental and political qualifications necessary in a- presidential candidate, the speaker proved Blaine to possess them and nom- inated him as a candidate for the pres- idency. Mr. Connell’s appearance was good and as usual he absolutely identi- fied hinself with his subject. His exposi- tion warmed to enthusiasm very naturally and when he spoke the narte, of Blaine it was in a tone of reverence for a hero. The next speaker, Mr. Walter Evans, told of the nature and composition of the Rough Riders. He described them as cosmopolitan Americans, strong and worthy supporters of the American idea. He sketched their conduct at San Juan and other battles of the Spanish-Ameri- can war with a remarkable vividness. After the orchestra had played ‘The Burning of Rome,” Miss Maud Wilson