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

Page 27 text:

THE 1917 SENIOR ANNUAL CLASS POEM Dimly showing among the clouds That cover the deep blue sky, Penetrating all vapory shrouds | langs a cluster of stars attracting the eye. They sparkle and shine with a brilliant light, And all the wise men passing by 3ehold a star increasing its height, Tis the class of ‘17 rising on high. Up from the ranks of the grammar school, This wonderful class ascends ; All striving together to reach life’s goal Where fame and glory ends. We did not idle away our time On frivolous foolish things, But did each duty as it came in line And now see what just reward it brings. Don’t think our class a bookworm For that is not our aim; We took our work and play in turn, That’s how we've won our fame. In school we worked as students should, We brought our books home, too, In order to learn our lessons good And set example to you. Language to us is merely play, In mathematics we shine; We've studied science day by day Till we're experts in that line. So Juniors, Sophs and Freshmen, too, Just follow in our wake And you'll be forced to say, “By gosh, They certainly aren't a jake.”’ But now the star has reached its goal, It slowly fades away, And so the class of 17 Departs from R. F. A. 25

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THE 1917 SENIOR ANNUAL nn nn eee U UE yEEyEIDEEIEIE EUS SEI ESSE CLASS HISTORY—ANNALS OF ’17. CLASS OFFICERS 1917 TOM H. BARNARD, President JANET G. MacADAM, Vice President HARRY L. SEGAL, Secretary WALTER A. JUERGENS, Treasurer In September, 1913, the Muse of History started a very important work. In that mem- orable month he first took quill in hand to start recording the activities of the class of 1917. Since that time he has written much to our credit and but little to our debit. The time is too short to quote much from his bulky volume of our records, but even in these busy joyful times we can look back over the four short years R. F. A. has been graced with our pres- ence. As Freshmen we truly were prodigies. We first entered this room amid tremendous cheers. How well did they recognize us as worthy members of R. F. A. But on the sad morning after, we were told that cheering the latest greenness was simply a time honored custom. But for all our callow youth we were not inactive. Just before Christmas we decorated the study hall in a way never before attempted. We found it a great success. In athletics, Victory has always been our hallmark. While Freshmen our class team won the Spalding basket ball cup. Again as Sophomores and as Juniors we came out ahead in basket ball. Always, since the day of our entrance, has our class been well rep- resented on the foot ball, base ball and basket ball teams. At the last day exercises we were patronized by the departing Seniors. At that time we could not see that Seniors were greatly superior to Freshmen. Now, strange to say, our views on that subject are completely changed. Regents seemed to hold few terrors for us at the close of the first year and few were left behind to despair their fate in the class of 18. As Sophomores we even surpassed our fine record as Freshmen. We were conspic- uous because of our good work. In 1915 we did more than our share in contributing members for the various teams. Then, too, in our Sophomore year we were looking about for some new way in which to improve. September, 1915, found us as Juniors, our ranks depleted but little by the onslaught of the Regents. As Juniors and Seniors we have been the social leaders of the school. April 28, 1916, is a date made memorable by the work of our class. On that day we gave the best prom ever attempted by a class of R. F. A. As Seniors we were able to give a Hallowe'en party that has set the standard for years to come. In January we held a very successful sleighride. Our Last Day Exer- cises were of a kind hard to surpass. In the two school contests we have always been well represented. In 1916 members of this class wer e awarded both the Davis prize and the first Slingerland prize. In this year’s Slingerland contest certain of our classmates won the first prize for boys, the first prize for girls and the second prize for boys. We of the class of ’17 have established a worthy precedent in the giving of our class memorial. In place of adding to the already plentiful decorations of this building we have devoted our memorial fund to a better cause. In this time of the nation’s need we feel that 27