Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

Page 17 text:

THE PORCUPINE 15 AA Winter in the White Moun: tains A student who hasewon his way through the prescrib- : ed mazes of a four years’ course in High School fiinds in his hard-earned sheepskin inspiration for high aims. At this important point in my own life day dreams centeres around teaching, and wielding the rod of authority seemed to my inexperienced mind quite the high road to fame. It so happened the year following graduation found me across the continent from home, and thus it came about that a certain district school in far-away New England offered a field for my earliest effort. This spec- ial district was called “The Centre;” of just what it was the hub I cannot say, truly not of social life or business interests. A few quiet farms spread peacefully in its boundaries, and even the whistle of a railroad train came as only a faint echo. To me an air of romance surround- ed the place, partly because of the intrinsic beauty of the spot, and especially because one of the old-fashioned homesteads had been established by my grandfather, and the firm stone walls and rocky pastures were connected with many a story of my father’s boyhood, In the “Cen- tre’ school house my father and numerous uncles and aunts had mastered their Webster’s spelling book and conned their well-worn Adams’ Arithmetic. The building itself, though stiff in architecture and meagerly furnished, had a charm of its own, for it was a survival of the days of Puritan severity, and its straight Cc. M. BRUNER Art Goods 434 Fourth Street

Page 16 text:

14 THE PORCUPINE times reorganizes its own virtues and victories; but in- stead of following up the suggestions of these—instead of hitching its wagon to a star, whenever star and wagon are ayailable-—this wayfarer ScOInsS Wagons and siars alike, and clings to the dusty footpath. He may be buoy- ed up temporarily by a new realization of stre neth, but in the main he simply plods along, vaguely trusting that each step brings him nearer to some v ague millennium. Airships, automobiles and ocean ereylounds alike fail te shame him out of his plodding. Guide posts are of little use; all paths, all points of the compass, are alike to him. There is much needless w: andering, occasionally a mild twinge of regret or repentance for wasted time or strength, but the world in general is usu: uly very well sat- isfied with itself and its method of plodding. What if this generous, flabby creature, with the jelly fish consti- ution, should some day get a definite character , begin to see definite objects, and to act promptly and vigorously upon ifs mistakes and victories!) Would not the millen- nium be at hand? And now the suggestion comes that this comment on the world in general applies almost as fitly to the aver- age man—who may be a merchant, a doctor, a politician, a tsar, a school boy, or even a teacher. This may lead to difficulty, for the average man, recognizing himself in a description, some times acts resentfully, which the world in general never does. On the other hand, the average matt sometimes takes a hint, so that it may be worth while to incur the risk of stirring him up. SSeS Haven MECHANIC’S TOOLS Pocket Knives and Scissors Hardware er ele” «seats aah eke fae Crockery, Enamelled and Tinware Farm Tools, Windmi'ls, Plumbing Co. oe 8 420-22-24 Fourth Street Santa Rosa

Page 18 text:

16 THE PORCUPINE backed seats reminded one of very prim and straight- backed girls and boys dressed in sober homespun. In its prime it had really been a “centre” of a populous neigh- borhood, and many a joyous singing school or exciting spelling match had filled it to its utmost eapacity, even crowding the queer, uncomfortablé benches built along the sides of the room. As a crowning joy to me—a na- tive Californian—was the novelty of a season among the snowy White Mountains, and that, too, in the country- side where the features lay hidden for long months under a heavy white mantle. I never wearied of the beauty of it, though when surrounded by the wide expanse of snow I was always conscious of a certain oppressive loneliness which I have never experienced elsewhere. During the winter I learned a few points about sleigh- ing which may prove valuable to another uninitiated one; such as the fact that it is the better part of wisdom to drive around a snow drift rather than through it, even though it looks soft and harmless; and that on roads covered with “glare” ice the sleigh is expected to slide around until it leads the horse. Walking through soft snow is another thing to know about, and a neat little problem in physics might be based upon t he requisite force exerted in lifting two heavily clad arctic feet a mile and a half through twelve inches of new fallen snow; as to attempting a walk on ice after a thaw and subsequent freeze, much might better be left unsaid. Before the position was assured me, there was the nec- essary preliminary of a certificate. It was with little trepidation that I interviewed the “committeeman’” who was to examine my extensive (?) scholarly attainments. Paul T. Hahman, Ph D. Jerry W. Claypoot Class of ’93 HAHMAN DRUG CO. Prescription Druggists 215 Exchange Avenue Santa Rosa, California The place to buy your Ribas n and Athletic Supporters